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ANDREW BATCHELOR: Dundee can make the Wellgate centre work again

Wellgate shopping centre exterior, Dundee.
Can the Wellgate centre regain its place as a prime Dundee shopping destination? Steve MacDougall Date; 14/11/2022

I always find it sad walking through the Wellgate.

The shopping centre is a much-loved part of our history. It was the go-to place for Dundee shoppers for decades.

But in the past decade or so, the Wellgate has become a shadow of what it used to be, despite unsuccessful attempts to revive its fortunes.

Who else remembers when a new cinema was proposed for the centre?

There’s been no sign of that happening since the centre changed hands for £1.4 million last December.

It’s time this faded gem was given some much-needed TLC.

image shows the writer Andrew Batchelor next to a quote: "The Stack Leisure Park is full of life once again. If we were able to revive it, we can do it for the Wellgate too."

There’s lots of debate at the moment about how to breathe new life into Dundee city centre in general.

But the Wellgate seems to be overlooked in a lot of the discussions. So I’d like to make a case for how it can be revived in particular.

And there is one word that should be at the centre of all all of this – accessibility.

Wellgate centre could put Dundee on 5G map

Accessibility is key here.

Accessibility to technology can improve the experience for shoppers.

black and white photo shows a busy Wellgate shopping centre in 1986.
Christmas Shoppers in the Wellgate Centre in 1986.
Photo shows a much quieter Wellgate centre as it is today, with just a handful of shoppers.
The Wellgate centre in Dundee is a pale imitation of its heyday. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson.

Making the units more accessible to small traders can widen the Wellgate’s appeal.

And making the whole city centre more accessible to shoppers can make it easier for people to get there.

It will take design, creativity, and technology to make it happen. But all of these things are in Dundee’s DNA.

Take technology for starters.

Other shopping centres are reinventing themselves as smart malls by integrating 5G technology.

There are all sorts of benefits for the supply chain, order tracking and in-store operations. But 5G can also make shopping faster and easier for customers.

photo shows the ornate clock in the Wellgate centre.
The Wellgate centre in Dundee was famous for its clock: could 5G technology be the big draw in future?

The L+Mall in Shanghai was the first in the world to integrate 5G technology. The SQ Mall in Camberley in England has since followed.

Dundee is already home to a Scottish 5G Centre. Why not give the city something to shout about by making the Wellgate the first 5G integrated shopping mall in Scotland?

It’s time for some independent thinking

Independent retailers could be the Wellgate’s secret weapon.

black and white photo shows the busy Wellgate Market Hall in 1983.
A bustling Wellgate Market Hall packed with traders and shoppers in 1983.

There are plenty of start-up businesses in Dundee that could be making use of the units which are currently lying empty.

The Wellgate has already shown it’s an ideal place for creators.

Look at the fashion shoot that was held there earlier this year.

photo shows fashion modes in the Wellgate centre, Dundee.
The Wellgate centre, Dundee, provided the backdrop for a recent sustainable fashion show. Image: Lydia Smith.

More recently, the Women’s Business Station has opened a hub in the centre.

By charging low rents the Wellgate could offer independent retailers the chance of a leg-up – while also giving shoppers more reasons to visit.

But in order to make the Wellgate a success, we need to look at making the city centre more appealing to shoppers in general.

Women's Business Station chief executive Angie De Vos outside the base in the Wellgate centre, Dundee
Women’s Business Station chief executive Angie De Vos outside the base in the Wellgate centre, Dundee. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Free parking, or cheaper parking at least, would go a long way towards making the area more accessible and encouraging people to go shopping and attend events.

The Wellgate was the place to go in its heyday.

With a little investment and encouragement I’m sure the crowds could be persuaded back.

The Stack Leisure Park is full of life once again. If we were able to revive it, we can do it for the Wellgate too.

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