Sir, I haven’t written before now in the hope that the finishing touches had still to be made to the new Olympia leisure centre and car park in Dundee.
Alas, it appears that the work is substantially complete which fills me with even more dismay.
Are there no architects and planners with any aesthetic sense left in Dundee? The whole complex is badly designed, badly located and badly positioned.
Approaching from the west, as well as looking bad, the noise from the ground level ducts is awful, the glazing surrounds are dirty, the glazing and masonry below are streaked with bird mess, the joint between the building and the paving is full of dirt and cigarette ends, water is issuing from the doors beside the entrance and the car park beside the entrance, apart from looking awful, has plywood boarding at the low level.
On both sides of the car park the mesh finish to the elevations looks like a temporary safety feature but seems permanent.
It is dull and boring and allows a view inside which is not attractive, unless one likes looking at bare strip lights.
On the east side there is an attempt to cover the elevation in a shimmering material which still allows a view into the building and gives the appearance of mist rolling in.
All in all a disastrous replacement, which does not bode well for the waterfront development.
Terry Smith. 33 Flass Road, Wormit.
“Cracks” now appearing in new set-up
Sir, I refer to the further cutbacks in policing in Fife, which, like other regional forces, operated very efficiently.
Sadly, as predicted by many, the “cracks” are now appearing in this Police Scotland set-up and it is rather disappointing that the Glasgow-based media team did not have the courtesy to reply to the request for information from The Courier.
The saga appears to be all about political power, which can be a dangerous factor.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
Plenty scope to make savings
Sir, With reference to the article in The Courier (Thursday, August, 22), and relative to the above and Mr Yates’ concerns regarding this matter, I would like to offer the following. I joined Fife Constabulary in 1965 when the strength of the force was 630 and a handful of civilian staff.
At that time there were no chief inspectors or chief superintendents in the force, nor was there a deputy Chief Constable, only an assistant Chief Constable who stood in as deputy when required to do so.
At the inception of Police Scotland, the ranks within Fife Constabulary included a deputy and an assistant Chief Constable, chief superintendents and chief inspectors together with 1140 other ranks and goodness knows how many civilian employees.
As the main purpose of the one police force for Scotland was economic, I can see that the reduction of all these supernumerary staff will lead to an enormous financial saving.
Whether or not, there is a reduction in crime remains to be seen.
Allan Murray. 44 Napier Road, Glenrothes.
Worldwide prestige
Sir, I read Robert Gritton’s letter (August 22), about Dundee’s regeneration and, frankly, I am stumped. Has he no idea what the Victoria and Albert Museum is, or the standing it has in the international arena?
Does he not understand that with this being the first time it has had a presence outside London that by attaching the name “Dundee” to it that the city immediately gains worldwide prestige?
The Dundee V&A will be a magnificent addition to this city and the V&A part is what elevates it above a museum “of Discovery” or “Endeavour” which would have limited, local interest at most.
What other name would Dundonians have chosen, other than perhaps Dundee Tate or Dundee Guggenheim? Personally, I find Robert’s narrow-minded naming suggestion dreadful, if not insulting.
David Martin. 41 Cowgate, Dundee.
Importance of that name
Sir, I refer to a recent reader’s letter which questioned the name of the new museum coming to Dundee.
The V&A in London is an internationally renowned centre and possibly the world’s greatest museum of art and design. To have this iconic name associated with Dundee is tremendous and brings with it enormous kudos.
To even think of watering this down to some very localised branding is to totally miss the point of everything the name means. The actual words are not the point; it’s the worldwide reputation they have that is!
Dundee is a very lucky city to be having the V&A come to town and I, for one, can’t wait. I am pleased for it to bring the history behind its name with it, that’s of interest in a historical context, but really, it’s what it means now that’s important.
Elaine I Stark. 3 Somerville Place East, Dundee.