Following a successful pilot pedestrianisation project a city centre street is set for a re-fresh.
Dundee’s Union Street was closed to through traffic last summer as part of the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People programme to create extra room to follow physical distancing guidelines.
Since then the changes have proved popular with traders and customers and as lockdown eases will now get a fresh coat of paint, some minor repairs and new planting for the spring and summer months.
Mark Flynn convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “All the indications are that the changes made to Union Street are welcome and despite some initial scepticism, businesses and customers like what has been done.
“So much so that the temporary street art, signage and annual planting will be brightened up for what we hope will be a bumper spring and summer where locals and visitors have more time and space to use the shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
“Tayside Contracts will start work using quick drying paint tomorrow (Wednesday) for three days, weather permitting, and the temporary road closed signage will be replaced with lamppost-mounted versions.”
The project was supported by UNESCO City of Design Dundee who worked to ensure input from businesses influenced the changes and overall design.
Delivery vehicles still have access between 11pm and 11am and buses will continue to follow alternative routes until the end of the year.
Dundee City Council was awarded £460,000 from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People Fund in May, which as well as being spent on the temporary pedestrianisation of Union Street covers work to introduce 20mph zones and through traffic reduction on various routes.
Funded by Scottish Government and managed by Sustrans Scotland, Spaces for People is a temporary infrastructure programme in Scotland offering funding and support to make it safer for people who choose to walk, cycle or wheel for permitted journeys and exercise, while physical distancing is in place during Covid-19 and as we transition out of lockdown.
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
