Slessor Gardens concerts exciting for city, say councillors

Plans in place for summer gigs by Little Mix, Olly Murs and UB40

Dundee City Council has warned traffic delays will be inevitable when “the biggest girl band in the world” play Dundee’s 11,000-capacity Slessor Gardens.

Details of Little Mix’s June concert, described as one of the most eagerly anticipated gigs to be hosted in the City of Discovery for decades, were shared for the first time on Tuesday evening.

Dundee city centre manager Sarah Craig revealed details in a presentation to residents that included crowd control plans. Ms Craig said an urban traffic control team will be employed by the event organiser, Liz Hobbs Group, and a special parking rate offered on concert days in the Olympia, Gellatly Street and Greenmarket car parks.

Litter picking teams will also be on hand to clear up immediately afterwards, it was said. Noise management tests are also being conducted, Ms Craig revealed.

Outlining planned road closures and diversions, Ms Craig said: “Yes, there will be delays. That’s the nature of where the event is and the sheer volume of people.

“When you look at any city where there are large events, there are delays.

“People will need to get used to the fact that this is an events space but we are not talking about every weekend – we are talking about once a month over the summer months. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.

“The concerts will finish at about 10.15pm and the site vacated by 11pm. We will see an exodus of people leaving at that time and everything will be quietening down by 11.15pm.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman confirmed: “Applications for the UB40 and Little Mix events will be considered at the next licensing committee, on March 30, where members of the committee will be presented with detailed reports outlining how issues including traffic management and crowd control will be dealt with.

“These events will be professionally stewarded and policed with members of the multi-agency Safety Advisory Group (Sag) working with the promoters. The Sag is satisfied that these events can proceed safely based on the information provided by LHG Live.”

Although they were warned there would be noise and disruption from the Little Mix, Olly Murs and UB40 summer gigs, members of the City Centre and Harbour Community Council agreed the events are exciting for the area.

The series of concerts is expected to bring thousands of people to Slessor Gardens in May, June and July. Ms Craig said, if successful, it is hoped similar music events would be staged annually.

Community councillor Sheena Wellington said it is exciting for the city centre. Community council chairman Bill Newcombe said: “I think this will be very good for Dundee. The organisation has been done very professionally and we are all in favour.”

I think this will be very good for Dundee. The organisation has been done very professionally and we are all in favour. COMMUNITY COUNCILLOR BILL NEWCOMBE

AP. Thousands of people are expected to watch Little Mix, above, and other acts this summer.