V&A is very exciting — but we must get something in return

A MULTI-MILLION pound restaurant with views of the Tay — sounds amazing!

The kind of visitor attraction that wouldn’t be out of place in some of the world’s top cities — Paris, New York, London or Rome.

So to have something like this in Dundee will hopefully be a major boost and will draw people from all corners of the globe.

Because let’s face it, the kind of money that is being spent on the £80 million V&A museum is a major investment and the people of Dundee need to get something back in return.

Not only did we learn about the new eatery in the museum last week, but we also discovered that there are more people sleeping rough in Dundee now than there were 12 months ago.

That’s very concerning and is something we really need to keep sight of while we get excited about the major developments that are going on at the Waterfront.

I’m businessman enough to appreciate that sometimes you have to think out of the box and speculate to accumulate and yes, sometimes chances have to be grabbed. But I also see enough of the other side of Dundee to know that not everyone will agree with this. You’re certainly not going to agree if you’re not entirely sure where your next meal is coming from or where you’re going to sleep tonight. Our local council leaders have assured us they have done their research and they firmly believe that investing big money in facilities such as the museum and the restaurant will ultimately bring profits and benefits to Dundee. I hope it’s not too long before that profit becomes visible and those people who have made the decisions to bring nationally acclaimed tourist attractions to the city can genuinely hold their hands up and feel proud of what’s achieved.

In the meantime, let’s not forget that just a few hundred yards from where it’s all happening there are still people sleeping in doorways or begging on the city streets.

Visitors to Dundee won’t be too happy to have to walk past beggars on their tours round our city, and it’s up to everyone of us to make sure that the best possible side of our city and its people is presented.

While restaurants with views can be good news, let’s not forget the rest.