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Members of the public who wish to share their views on the Waterfront Project will have their comments posted here....

Date	Name	Comment

18/08/2008	Administrator	Forum launched (latest comments listed last)

04/08/2009	Sven van Sweeden	What really becomes apparant when you look at all the streets leading to the city centre you see cars and a small section of footpath. Why not utilise a few streets as pedestrian zone with cycle paths now is the time to do it. By the way it would be a cheaper alternative. Make the city centre a safer and more environmently friendly place no cars on the main event square. Even when it does mean a tunnel get it right and make our city a safe and nice place to be. This is a small price to pay to open up the waterfront once and for all
04/08/2009	Les Banks	Pedestrian comfort is a priority factor for us. Accommodating cyclists is also important. In fact we expect to make substantial use of the Central Civic Space in regard to both of these. In fact one aspect of pedestrian comfort we need to give thought to is weather protection for the winter months. The new pedesrian crossing close to the station, that replaced an unloved overbridge demostrates how we intend to give greater priority to pedestrians and make it comfortable to cross the streets. Very early in the ideas stage for the Waterfront radical proposals such as diverting the Tay Road Bridge to an alternative landfall and putting the through road traffic underground were examined. The tunnel idea had to be dropped because there is already a tunnel there carrying the railway north towards Aberdeen. Trying to get below this and link with the Tay Road Bridge and also up again to meet with East Marketgait and East Dock St proved impossible. It was equally impossible to link in to West Marketgait.
08/08/2009	John Campbell	Why is there so much high building work going on at the City Quay area? Surely this will be detrimental to the over all plan for the waterfront?
10/08/2009	Les Banks	The offices being built close to the Tay Road Bridge by the UnicornPropery Group are not particularly high at 5 storeys. This is not unusual in the city centre.
12/08/2009	John Fraser	I recently returned to Dundee to visit family from Cheshire and was very impressed with the city quay development. I hope that you develop some of the themes in that area and that you will continue to consult with both locals and visitors to achieve your vision...
12/08/2009	Les Banks	The animation is coloured in this way to try to let people understand that the street blocks will probably comprise different and separate building in the same way as street blocks in the existing city centre. It is unlikely there will be many developers interested in doing whole street blocks. Even if there are some we expect each street block to be mixed use - some office , some flats and some ground floor commercial use, and the different colours kind of help explain this. We are establishing a Design Advisory Group including representatives of the Dundee Civic Trust, City Centre Action Group (traders group), City Centre and Harbour Community Council, Dundee Historic Environment Trust, University of Dundee Architecture School, Dundee Institute of Architects. This group will help us evolve the urban design aspects. However I would say that we think one approach might be to reflect on the city's heritage and the historic connection there was with the Baltic ports, where the waterfronts and city centres were, and are, quite colourful. In fact historically Dundee High St was probably quite colourful, ref. Gardyne's Land. Equally stone would be very acceptable but cost will probably creep in as a factor, so there might not be as much as some people might like. One basic factor however has to be how do we distinguish Dundee from other places. Many new waterfronts and major redevelopment schemes, for instance in central Manchester, Salford Quays Glasgow Harbour or Leith have a similarity of architecture and currently fashionable materials. This I think will be the starting point for our Design Advisory Group.
28/08/09	Dean Harper	I applaud the work going into improve Dundee's waterfront area in order to make the most of it. I have to say its about time although many of the new offices already constructed around this area would seem to me to detract from the area. For example the tax office. There were incredible views from Marketgate/Nethergate right down to RRS Discovery and across to Fife before these building went up. I simply cannot understand the reason for ruining this view. However this is not the reason for this post. I read with interest the plans for the new road layout for the waterfornt with the two boulevards to carry traffic through this area. Have the planners thought about putting the roads underground in a tunnel, like the railway currently is? This would make this area so much more pedestrian friendly and of course negate the need from traffic lights all over the place, which only serve to cause traffic problems at peak times.
03/09/09	Les Banks	Thanks you for your interest in the Waterfront Project. Indeed one of the first options to be considered many years ago now was to try to put the through traffic underground. The problem however is the railway tunnel. You have to get under it to get to and from East Dock St. Connecting from this to the Tay Road Bridge would also be problematic. We genuinely feel the arrangement proposed is the most practical.
23/10/09	Robin Nisbet	I am a MEng student of civil engineering at the university of Dundee. I wandered if it would be possible to attain assisstance in gathering some extra materials from you that you may have. Of major interest would be the sketchup drawings (or similar used to produce the picture of the website) of the waterfront development at it's current stage and at its completion in 2031. Also of significant interest would be the documentation relating to traffic flow and traffic management both now and either outline or full investigation towards the 'grid iron' solution.
29/10/09	Les Banks	The sketchup model simply shows the final waterfront development. We do not have it for the current position. This is an enormous file that is currently being updated with a programme that gives landform and the adjecent city centre. We can not give this out. If there are particular views that you would like then we might be able to provide those in jpeg format. With regard to traffic information. The eventual Waterfront roads layout is not intended to allow for traffic growth. The current dual carriageway format from the Rverside Roundabout to Trades Lane is simply replaced by the east bound boulevard, which is the carriageway on the north part of the layout, and a west bound carriageway, which is the carriageway on the south part of the layout. These have similar capacity to the current dual carriageway. We have traffic modelling done for us by consultants on the existing and eventual layouts that demonstrate that it works. I will enquire if there is traffic flow figures from this that can be given out.
25/10/09	Ciaran Grewar	Do the council have a copy of the plans for the new station
26/10/09	Les Banks	Thanks for your interest in the Dundee Waterfront Project. With regard to the rail station there are no firm plans. We have a sketch idea to illustrate the Waterfront Project's ambitions and to start discussions with the various rail interests. This appeared in the local paper. We will probably be uploading some of these images to the web site after the next Waterfront Board meeting. Attached are the images I think appeared in the Courier if it is of any help.
26/11/09	John Kirkland	I notice a new stage of work just starting behind the casino, I have looked at your animation but can’t estab;ish whether it is a new building or other civils work. I would be very grateful if you could advise what the work is and who is undertaking it for you.
26/11/09	Les Banks	The work being undertaken next to the Hilton is the installation of a storm tank by AMCO
02/12/09	Stewart Findlay	Congratulations on the waterfront development up to now. It looks great and has made a huge difference to that area of town. I have a few questions though... The website (www.dundeewaterfront.co.uk) does not seem to have been updated in months. Why is this? Have any buyers been found to complete the FM Developments flats? Is the 'Wave' to be built? Do you have a rough timeframe of when the next works will start. I know that the water storage tank is currently being bulit but whats next? Any more word on the V&A on the Tay?
03/12/09	Les Banks	There are weekly updates to the road traffic reports and most of the other content is pretty static but we have not updated the forum for a while and will endeavour to do that asap. I have no update on the FM development. The next phase will start in May 2010 with the removal of the bridge ramps. An international design competition will be announced in early 2010 for the V&A.
12/01/2010	Taylor Flynn	I am a sixth year pupil from St John’s High School and am studying advanced higher geography. I am writing to you to request some information about the waterfront regeneration project that is happening in Dundee. The information I need is essential for my questionnaire, which is part of my Geographical Study; which contributes to 40% of my overall grade. The information I would like to know is: - The name of a few regeneration projects - The locations - If possible, the amount of money spent on each - The reasons why certain locations were chosen to be the focus of regeneration projects eg. the criteria that must be met - Pictures of the projects - Feedback you have had about the projects from locals, tourists etc I would be extremely grateful if you were able to help me with information about the waterfront regeneration project in Dundee.
12/01/09	Les Banks	The Dundee Waterfront Project is a good topic to include in your studies. It is a very large and complex project so I am not quite sure how to answer your questions. I think the best initial approach is for you to look at the presentations on the website http://www.dundeewaterfront.com/waterfrontpresentations.htm If you have any more detailed questions plese come back to me. For your information in addition to the funding indicated on the first presentation, in 2009 Scottish Enterprise committed a further £33.01m of funding to the project. Also you might want to include something about the Victoria and Albert Museum outpost that is being considered. There is quite a bit in today's Courier on this.
12/01/2009	Richard Bowles	I have read many people's comments querying why some or all of the traffic at the new central waterfront will not be relocated underground, and I have to concur with many of the points made. I note that your justification for the division of these news spaces and the water's edge is due to the railway tunnel. Can you please explain why traffic could not have been placed in a tunnel running through a more central location, with the new city blocks being modified slightly to suit. This would have created one coherent central space, with a direct relationship with the water. Also, would it not have been possible to put all the traffic from the road bridge onto the ring road? I think most people would put up with a few more traffic delays caused by the extra traffic if they had a truly fantastic city space to be proud of. It is the east west division of this central space which greatly spoils the masterplan.
12/01/09	Les Banks	thanks for your comment. We are pleased so many people are taking an active interest in the Dundee Waterfront Project. Attached are illustrations of the Proposed Road Network and the Tunnel location. Various ideas for dealing with the traffic from the bridge and across city traffic were considered in the early appraisal stage around 1999 / 2000, including would a tunnel work for the through traffic. The South Marketgait, a dual carriageway, is part of the Inner Ring Road. The proposed road arrangement simply pulls those carriageways apart, the North Boulevard carrying the East bound traffic and the South Boulevard the West bound traffic. With regard to the Bridge Traffic this does connect with, and put all the traffic onto, the Inner Ring Road, since it meets with both the North and South Boulevards. With regard to putting all the East - West traffic movement below ground the rail tunnel clearly is an impediment. If you take a line from say Riverside Drive to East Dock St there is no alternative to going under the rail tunnel. There are two other aspects to this. The traffic heading along Riverside Dr comes from East Dock St and from the East Marketgait (Inner Ring Road) and a bit from the West Marketgait. Equally traffic heading for East Dock St also comes from West Marketgait as well as Riverside Dr. Of course some traffic coming in Riverside Dr and East Dock St is heading for city centre destinations so needs to connect with the new network of streets proposed in the Waterfront. To create a road tunnel the road has to drop at a fairly gentle gradient. The bridge ramps give you an idea of how much length of ramp is needed to give headroom and of course this is exacerbated by needing to get under the railway tunnel. There also needs to be extra width in Riverside Drive and East Dock St to accommodate local traffic continuing at ground level and the East - West road dropping into a tunnel. This would be expensive as well as a practically difficult I trust this explains why the road arrangement is theway it is.
08/03/10	Moyra Finlay	Having lived in this city for more than 70 years I am very interested in the Waterfront Development. We have lost many of our historic buildings, such as the Royal Arch, and I would like to see how the old Customs House features in the plan. This is currently one of the city's eyesores, along with the Tay Hotel, and I would hope that these buildings are to be restored sympathetically in the waterfront development plan. We have a unique waterfront and so far I am not impressed with the architecture of the blocks of flats along the front. Perhaps you would tell me how the above-mentioned buildings fit into the overall plan. Moyra Foley, 231 Strathmartine Road, Dundee. Tel 811946.
08/03/10	Les Banks	Customs House is part of the portfolio of Unicorn Developments who have developed the city quay both commercial and residentail and Dundee One (2 x 50,000 sq ft office development, one of which is pre let to the Scottish Police and Forensics. Customs House & Harbour Chambers is being marketed as hotel/restaurant development from 38 - 80 bedrooms retaining where possible many of the internal period features. They are in discussions with Dundee City Council and Historic Scotland to ensure it is developed sympathetically.
11/04/10	Don Maclean	Just viewed the animation and we were appalled at the brash and tasteless appearance of the buildings proposed in the multi- coloured (blue, red orange, etc.) decor. This is totally out of step with the beautiful waterfront that we have. Can you assure us that these proposals will be rejected and some stylish and appropriate building will be constructed. In addition can you confirm that the Tay Hotel will be retained in a re-furbished condition.
12/04/10	Les Banks	The animation is a first early step towards developing marketing material and to start the discussion about Urban Design. The "multi coloured" effect is just to try to illustrate that the large development street blocks might be a series of individual buildings rather than super blocks. We are also conscious that many people feel cities are becoming homogeneous and new development looks similar in all cities, therefore we need to consider how to try to make Dundee different. Colour might become part of this, though, as you say, not the brash colours as illustrated. If you look at the High St, historically Dundee was probably quite a colourful place. Gardyne's Land is thought to be typical of that period. Also people tend to admire buildings such as the Bank of Scotland at the junction of Nethergate and West Marketgait, and the DC Thomson buildings at Meadowside and these are quite strongly coloured. I attach some Dundee references for illustrative purposes only. The ambition is indeed to have elegance and quality. There are no plans to remove the Tay hotel and indeed planning approval was granted last year for refurbishment and development as an Aparthotel and residential use. The owner has not indicated how or when a start will be made.
29/04/10	Sarah Buchan	I feel the regeneration is going to be a good thing for dundee city centre... i moved here nearly 6 years ago and like the city. i agree with previous comments about perhaps making more pedenstrianised zones. I do feel that as a resident and i have heard from others that the feeling is there that there is a lack of parking available to us that pay the yearly amount to have a residents paarking permit so perhaps making the smaller streets permit only would help? i know that the payments on the street i live on in particular does bring in alot of money towards projects but it feels alot of money being paid out and then struggling to park outside our own homes.
10/05/10	Les Banks	Your comment re the residents parking scheme falls outside my remit, the Dundee Waterfront Project, however I have obtained a departmental view in response. It is important the city centre has a residential content, and it is also vital that the primary functions of business and retailing are actively supported. There are many businesses in Exchange St. Castle St and Commercial St. Parking is therefore a difficult issue. While I understand residents will always want to park close to their flat, it is vital that there is a turnover of parking close to the type of shops in Exchange Street, Castle Street and Commercial Street. The residents parking scheme in Dundee we feel is fair balancing both needs. Residents can even park in the multi storey car parks. There are no plans to review this situation in the short term , however we are likely to review the City Centre Parking Strategy around about 2012 / 2013.
04/05/10	Gill Town	If pedestrian "comfort" is so important to the developers - why have the waterfront footpaths been stopped up on various occasions without any prior warning and why is the footpath behind the Hilton still closed? If a road was closed "Until Spring" I think car drivers would be objecting loudly - I see the notice near the Olympia pool is now even less specific about the length of time the path will be blocked!
10/05/10	Les Banks	The closure of the path along the quayside in front of the Hilton Hotel is to enable completion of the work to the Storm Water Tank needed for the Dundee Waterfront Project. The outfall to the tank and the associated chamber required work to and through the sea wall, hence the need to close the path. An appropriate traffic order was published advising of the closure. To be safe this order allows for closure longer than the time it was hoped the work would actually take in case of unforeseen difficulties. In reality when the sea wall was eventually exposed circumstances were not as had been hoped. A redesign was required. However the work eventually has gone well and it is hoped to re-open the path in late June, which many would consider to be spring time. We understand this path is popular and of course in the Dundee Waterfront Project Plan a widening and enhacement is envisaged eventually. It is not intended to have it closed any longer than necessary. Please find attached a photograph of the work taken from Tayside House that might help explain this contract.