Call for artists to put cycling and walking in the picture

An artist is being sought to create public art to promote cycling and walking along the Broughty Ferry waterfront.

A £150,000 contract notice has been issued by Dundee City Council for artists to create art to provide “placemaking” on the route that will encourage walking, cycling, wheeling and that provide enjoyment, comfort and protection”.

It offers six separate opportunities for artists, with the council “looking to gauge the level of interest from suitably experienced candidates for each of the commissions”.

The search comes as the number of cyclists in Scotland has increased five-fold.

Dundee alone has seen a 230% rise in cycling in the past month.

The art will be displayed along the waterfront in Broughty Ferry, which is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound flood protection and cycle path project.

Area councillor Craig Duncan believes the art will be a factor in encouraging people to get on their bikes.

He said: “It’s a good idea. There’s obviously been a huge surge in cycling during lockdown, and you wouldn’t want to have that subside.

“Also, the good thing about the waterfront is that it’s flat all the way along – you can basically get all the way to Arbroath from the city centre. It makes cycling a great option.

“We have to try to encourage it to be continued.”

Those interested in applying for the contract should visit the Public Contracts Scotland website.

It comes as flood protection work in the area moves forward.

Following completion of a temporary working platform along the beach at Douglas TerraceFisher Street, piling works on the latest phase of the £15.5 million Broughty Ferry flood protection scheme will get under way.

Preparatory work included ground conditions and ground water level investigations to help inform the construction of the final scheme, which is designed to reduce the risk of flooding to residential, open space, community and businesses within Broughty Ferry through works along Douglas Terrace, James Place, Fisher Street and Beach Crescent.

The latest phase to construct 1.2km of sea and flood protection walls will also include improvements to the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure between the castle and the west end of Douglas Terrace.