Camperdown House will not be open to the public any time soon after it was labelled “not a priority” for Dundee’s cultural strategy.
Stewart Murdoch, director of Leisure and Culture Dundee, made the comment at a meeting of Dundee City Council’s policy and resources committee.
The A-listed building has been described as a forgotten gem of Dundee however, apart from the occasional large-scale event, it remains closed to the public.
Councillor Richard McCready raised the issue at the meeting and said: “Still the taxpayer of Dundee can’t visit that often.
“We have had reports telling us something is going to happen at Camperdown House, but now I need a commitment that something is going to happen.”
Mr Murdoch replied: “Everyone would like to see the public get access to Camperdown House, but it is not a priority.
“It is just not as important as some other things we are doing.”
After the meeting Mr McCready said the response was disappointing.
He said: “I was disappointed to be told that plans to refurbish and find a long-term use for Camperdown House were a low priority in the city’s cultural strategy.
“I think that time after time Camperdown House misses out, which is a real shame.
“I think that the people of Dundee would like to see a long-term sustainable use found for Camperdown House.
“I have seen a number of reports over the seven years that I have been a councillor which have given the impression that something was going to happen at Camperdown House, so far these have resulted in money being spent on the roof, but little else.”
Mr McCready added: “I think that there could be a commercial use for parts of the house, perhaps as a hotel or restaurant, but I also think that there must be public access to part of the house.
“That access should reflect the history of the house, the history of the Battle of Camperdown and Admiral Duncan, the history of the actual house and estate built up by Admiral Duncan’s family, the social history of running a country house, which covers the aristocrats who lived there but which also, importantly, covers the history of the workers who make the house work.”
When contacted by The Courier after the meeting, Mr Murdoch said: “We are really pleased that Camperdown House is included in Dundee’s cultural strategy.
“Up to now it has not had the same level of priority as some other projects, but it is still something that we would love to happen and the inclusion of Camperdown House in Dundee’s Cultural Strategy demonstrates a significant commitment.
“The city council has been working with Leisure and Culture Dundee, the National Trust for Scotland and Dundee and Angus College, amongst others, to examine ways in which the house can be brought back into use.”
* At Monday night’s meeting councillors also welcomed the work done to secure Unesco City of Design status for the city.
At the end of last year Dundee became the first city in the UK to be awarded the award recognising the contribution it has made to design.
Committee convener Ken Guild said: “This shows Dundee is punching above its weight, and not for the first time.”
Councillor Fraser Macpherson said it is an “excellent achievement”, adding that the cultural strategy for the next 10 years was “bold and realistic”.
Mr Guild also praised the “ambitious” plans by Creative Dundee as the council approved a one-off grant of £40,000 to secure a match-funding partnership with Creative Scotland.
The cash will help employ a full-time freelance producer to support its events.