Stop the bulldozers and revive the city

Sir, – I read with interest the differences of opinion over the redevelopment of the waterfront.

Being a Dundonian who has not lived in the city for 30 years, returning in October 2017, I already see many sites in and around the city which could be redeveloped without spending millions on something else.

Reform Street, Dunsinane, Technology Park (now vandalised) to name a few – there are empty shops and offices all over Dundee.

Things haven’t changed. Remember the sixties? The Overgate could have been like The Shambles in York.

The old Overgate lasted from the 1600s. The next lasted from the sixties till – well, it’s all new again. The Wellgate opened in the midseventies and all that has happened is to move the main shopping area to the Overgate. There is a finite amount of money to spend.

Also Tayside House has been and gone. So why try again with another £15.5 million?

Stop using bulldozers and bricks and think.

Give incentives to new businesses to locate in our city in sites and buildings already there.

Dundee looks derelict in places.

Why the centre ? Let’s face it, most places I see are 10 minutes from the centre. The city is not very big!

I could say a lot more...

Gordon Mitchell. 4 Caledonian Court, Eastwell Road, Dundee.

A correspondent argues Dundee city centre should be revived before any new developments.