Dundee’s resurgence an ‘example to us all’, says culture secretary

economy: Hyslop’s praise - but also warning - for city on the up

Dundee has set the bar high for other cities by emerging from the economic doldrums to carve itself a bright future, according to a Government minister.

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop will say in a speech today Dundee serves as “an example to us all” in the way it has reinvented itself as a city of design following the decline of heavy industry.

She is also to issue a warning about being “smarter” as the public purse is put under increasing strain.

Ms Hyslop is due to speak at the Our Place in Time conference, a Historic Scotland event to unlock the country’s potential.

At the Malmaison Hotel she is expected to say: “Dundee can serve as an example to us all, the city has successfully reinvented itself after the collapse of its heavy industries, designing a new future for itself and its citizens.

“Today the city is rebuilding its expansive Waterfront as part of a £1 billion, 30-year masterplan to create an open, inclusive city of the future.

“At the heart of the Waterfront plan is the creation of the V&A Museum of Design.”

The V&A, which is expected to cost £80 million to build alone, is due to open in 2017, attracting an estimated 270,000 visitors a year. The plan is to make the Waterfront a focal point for Dundee and a hub for business, arts, tourism and modern urban living.

While Dundee enjoys massive capital investment on the Waterfront, the city council and NHS Tayside are having to find savings of £28m and £27m respectively within the next two years.

At Holyrood, Jenny Marra, Labour’s MSP for North East Scotland, asked the SNP Government if it was fair to ask Dundee and Tayside to make such “deep cuts” given the area’s relatively high deprivation and low employment.

Deputy first minister John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government budget has over the last five years reduced in real terms by 10% and in that context the Scottish Government has worked assiduously to protect and to deliver public services.”