A DUNDEE councillor has pledged to raise a proposal to bring back the city’s long-forgotten one o’clock gun with council leaders next week.

A garrison gun, which was stationed at Dudhope Castle, was put out of commission for over 70 years after complaints that patients at the old Dundee Royal Infirmary were suffering as a result of reverberations and noise.

Moves are afoot, however, to bring back this forgotten part of the city’s heritage, following the infirmary’s conversion to private flats.

Councillor Neil Powrie said, “I support this idea in principle as I think it is a vital part of Dundee’s heritage.

“I support anything which retains the traditions of yesteryear and stops them being cast off into history.

“There seems to be a lot of people who support this move and I think it should be given some serious consideration as it is good opportunity to promote the city.

“It would certainly bring people into the city and add to the new redevelopment of the city centre.

“Edinburgh seems to benefit a lot from their one o’clock gun and it offers them a lot of support for the city’s heritage.

“It is not just a matter of bringing people into the city, however, but is something which would be appreciated and welcomed by the local citizens.”

Council minutes dating back to 1910 detail complaints made by hospital staff that patient conditions were deteriorating due to the stress of noisy gun-shots.

From 1917 the gun was used only to mark New Year and Armistice Day and was eventually removed from the area in the early 1920s.

City archivist Richard Cullen said, “There were a number of references in council minutes dating back to the very early 20th century.

“The complaints were largely about the noise of the gun and the reverberation of the gunshots causing disturbances to patients at the nearby DRI.

“Eventually the practice was stopped around 1921 to 1922.”

Both the Scottish One O’Clock Gun Association and VisitScotland have offered their support to any future plans to reintroduce the gun.

“There is not an official campaign under way at the moment, but it is something which I would be in favour of and which I plan to raise with the administration next week,” Councillor Powrie added.