Dundee ready to embrace its time to shine

Sir, – I have lived in Dundee for 50 years and I am very proud of the city, particularly the progress made over the last couple of decades in transforming the city from the dark and dreich place it used to be, into the progressive modern city it is now.

Dundee is widely recognised and lauded nationally and internationally for the progress it has made, but unfortunately this progress does not seem to be appreciated by many of its citizens.

I hear people who live here say “why would anybody want to come to Dundee?”, “V and A... what’s that?”, “waste of money” and so on.

But Dundee now has so much going for it.

Are people aware of how many jobs are coming, or have already come, from the huge number of new holiday accommodations in the city?

Not to mention the V and A itself, the new railway station, the proposed Marina in Camperdown and Victoria Docks, the fairly recently beautifully refurbished High Mill at Verdant Works, the refurbished Discovery and the planned refurbishment of the Unicorn, the not too long since total refurbishment of the wonderful McManus, all bringing business and further attraction to the city.

The city has done a great job of selling itself to the outside world, but maybe not such a good job to its own citizens, which leads me to my point: I think that we need a campaign within the city, for the citizens, to publicise the progress made, using the commendations from outwith, but linking this to the economic benefits, highlighting the number of new jobs, and the new businesses, which have come, and will come, to the city, ultimately to the benefit of all. Les Mackay. 5 Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.

Dundee’s tourist attractions have helped sell the city to the world.