Yes but...nothing. V&A will be huge success

Sir, – Among all the praise for the new V&A there has, locally at least, been a lot of “yes but...”.

Yes, but why are they building that huge office block right alongside it?

Well, it is not just an office block: it will be a four star Marriott Hotel, as well as 99 apartments, presumably for sale, and maybe some office space.

Kengo Kuma has approved the building as an “appropriate backdrop”. I trust his judgment.

Yes, but why is there no parking?

Well, apart from the fact that Dundee city centre, by comparison with most other cities, is fairly well-off for parking, is it not about time that we cast off our car fetish?

Yes, but what about poverty and deprivation: could the money not have been better spent on alleviating this?

Well, it could have been spent on this, but it would have made little difference in the long term.

Dundee has a fairness commission which will be reporting in November on its “mission to tackle poverty and deprivation” and there is also now a new drug and alcohol commission so steps are being taken.

Yes, but what about jobs? Well, having the V&A is already dramatically increasing visitor numbers to the city, and we are seeing a huge number of new jobs in the hospitality sector as well as increased business in shops, pubs, taxis and so on.

Dundee has been a poor city for much of my 50 years here but has made huge progress in the last 20 years – with better still to come.

Les Mackay. 5 Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.

Picture: Ross Gilmore. Despite the criticism the V&A and the tower block opposite it has received, the benefits for the city are set to be great, says one correspondent.