City council presses ahead with waterfront site compulsory purchase order plan
Labour councillors have failed in their bid to delay a move to buy the site of the Hilton Hotel and Gala Casino at Dundee waterfront.
- Published in the Courier : 14.02.12
- Published online : 14.02.12 @ 05.59pm
Group leader Kevin Keenan said the city council should not go ahead with its planned compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the land at Earl Grey Place until councillors had been told how much it would cost.
The 1.2-hectare site is needed as part of the long-term regeneration of the central waterfront and both buildings are to be demolished.
Talks have been held with both companies but city development director Mike Galloway told councillors that no agreement had been reached on an acceptable purchase price. Compulsory acquisition was now seen as an ''essential'' last resort.
The timing of infrastructure works in the area had been changed already and the process of promoting a CPO had to start now to avoid any potential delay in their completion, he said.
But Mr Keenan said the policy and resources committee should defer its decision because councillors deserved to know the financial implications of a decision of such magnitude.
They owed it to the Dundee public to know what the council was getting into, he added.
On a vote, only the Labour group supported a deferral and Mr Guild's motion for the CPO process to get under way was passed.
08.55am - 15.02.2012 Kenny - Forfar, Scotland Report This
How can anyone plan this project and tell us how much it will cost when they do not own the land, have not pre-agreed a price for it and now have to obtain a compulsory purchase. Unbelievable. It's gonna end in tears....
10.15am - 15.02.2012 Stephen - Dundee, scotland Report This
it needs to be demolished - it is hideous and an eyesore and an embarressment to Dundee. Removal can only be a good thing it is a shame that the Hilton cant see the oppertunity that this regeneration will have to its business! They should be for the betterment of the waterfront!
10.23am - 15.02.2012 Jinty McGinty - Dundee, Scotland Report This
They DO own the land though Kenny, it is the lease on it that they need to buy out. Although why on earth they went ahead with any of the project without having secured release of this land, which is apparently crucial, in the first place - its just madness!
10.42am - 15.02.2012 Art - Newport-on-Tay, Scotland Report This
Sounds like Hilton and Gala owners realsie the importance of their sites to the waterfront regeneration and are trying to squeeze every last penny out of the council (and us the taxpayer). The unacceptable face of capitalism?
02.27pm - 15.02.2012 Panda - Arbroath, UK Report This
Unacceptable face of capitalism? Is there any other? Stephen and Art are right, it would seem the owners are salivating at the prospect of short term financial gain while ignoring the long term benefits that this development could bring to all businesses in Dundee, their own included.
08.36pm - 15.02.2012 LM - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Can`t they do the same with Dundee Railway station, which is the first thing many people see on arriving in Dundee?
01.35pm - 20.02.2012 Hilton Gala - Dundee, Scotland Report This
What happens to the 250+ jobs at these two sites??? Any mention of how Hilton Gala and the council are going to help these people who WILL lose their jobs?? Yes I do work at one of the businesses and we do not know what will happen.
03.29pm - 20.02.2012 Mountjoy - Tayside, Scotland Report This
In what way will this benefit the businesses themselves? They have been offered to relocated but this doesn't take into account the cost of furnishing a hotel/casino which would cost both companies millions, aswell as profits lost during this period.
03.34pm - 20.02.2012 Mountjoy - Tayside, Scotland Report This
Also, what happens to the employees during this transitional period? Are the companies expected to pay them whilst they are not working? If not, do they join the ever growing list of unemployed? Companies aren't worried about the cosmetic appearance. They're concerned with profits & their employees
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