Shameful neglect of Camperdown Park by Dundee City Council
The deterioration of Camperdown Park has reached an unacceptable level, says Dundee City Councillor for Strathmartine Ward, Cllr Daniel Coleman. The Dundee City Council and its SNP administration have seriously neglected maintenance of the park.
Councillor Coleman said:
“I have received lots of comments from constituents about the state of parts of the park and therefore visited the site recently. I was really shocked by the council’s neglect of what should be a pleasant and relaxing place for people to visit and enjoy.”
The Camperdown estate was originally known as Lundie and was bought by Alexander Duncan in 1682. It has huge historical significance to Dundee. Camperdown House is the largest Greek Revival house remaining in Scotland. It is protected as a Category A listed building but it is now showing the terrible signs of years of neglect.
“The council should be ashamed of the neglect and I have written to the Directors of City Development and Neighbourhood Services demanding action to address the issues urgently.”
The issues include:
+ The state of the Camperdown mansion house: there has been no progress on achieving a positive use for it. There is large amount of weeds around the entrance and steps, which have clearly been left there for a very long time, probably for years. Councillor Coleman has asked that the weeds are tackled and he also sought reassurance about the council’s efforts to secure a positive use for the building going forward.
+ The toilets at the mansion are in poor shape. A member of the council Liberal Democrat Group recently raised one of his constituent’s complaints about the ladies toilet: “there is a leak somewhere as floors were soaking wet, toilet bowls very slow to refill and little water coming out of the taps. As before there was no soap in any of the containers, though someone had left out a bar of soap.”
The council did attend to immediate issues but the toilets are still in embarrassingly poor shape and smell badly.The load of weeds right outside are hardly an advertisement for the council’s ‘maintenance’ of the toilets and the park.
+ The condition of the park furniture needs attention. Councillor Coleman passed by one BBQ table which was badly burnt with a hole in it.
+ The former golf course and driving range screams neglect. There has been no attempt to maintain the overgrowth and it looks to be in an embarrassingly poor condition. Councillor Coleman has sought assurances about progress towards getting private sector involvement to create some golfing facility as the initial proposal for a private sector run 9 hole course failed.
+ The duck pond is full of algae and it looks like it no maintenance has been done for very long time.
+ There is something of a terrible irony of a “Take Pride in Your Park” -sign placed by the council as there has been very little maintenance of the area right next to it.
Councillor Coleman added:
“The ‘couldn’t care less attitude’ of the council’s SNP administration on parks maintenance is a disgrace and the cuts to grounds maintenance and parks staff since 2015 has led to this situation.”
“There are 27 less such staff than in 2015 and that is wholly down to a council administration that lacks ambition for Dundee. The remaining staff are excellent and hard-working, this it is not their fault. The simple fact is that there is no longer enough of staff to effectively manage the parks and open spaces.”
“It is tragic to see the deterioration of Camperdown Park. Dundee City Council has to get its act together and take positive action to improve the situation. The citizens of Dundee are entitled to that.”