A pair of senior Dundee councillors said money made from the sale of public land should be used to help the communities it belongs to.
Councillors approved the sale of land at Gillburn Road on Monday evening in what is understood to be a seven-figure deal.
Strathmartine councillors Kevin Keenan and Ian Borthwick said the SNP administration has a “dogged determination” to sell off land and want any proceeds to be ploughed back into their community.
In a joint statement, the Labour group leader and independent councillor said: “Currently the council’s administration have a dogged determination to sell land across every area of the Strathmartine Ward.
“These are former school sites; Macalpine, Kingspark, Downfield, Lawside and St Columba’s which are up for sale, under offer, or the transaction just needs to be concluded in the future when the new Baldragon Campus is complete, a further large portion of land will likely go under the hammer, when the old sites of Baldragon, Sidlaw View and Jessie Porter Nursery sites are vacant.
“These combined pieces of land will deliver an enormous capital receipt into the city’s coffers.
“We have, therefore, written to the chief executive seeking a commitment for the people of Stratmartine, Ardler, Kirkton, St Mary’s and Downfield that they will see some of the benefits from these capital receipts.”
Their statement added communities across Dundee are crying out for additional investment.
It said: “Whilst we continue to be supportive of the waterfront, the money raised in Strathmartine ward cannot all go there — our communities are calling out for their share of investment
“We would, therefore, like to see our local community and the people of the Strathmartine ward benefit from money raised through the disposal of its land and open space given that some of our constituents already feel robbed as this open space goes up for sale.
“The trading of open space can’t be a one-sided transaction, our local community must see the benefits.
“We are therefore calling upon the chief executive to give us a cast iron guarantee that money raised in Strathmatine ward will be spent in Strathmartine ward.”
Mr Borthwick added: “I believe that the revenue from the sales should go back into the communities as there are high levels of deprivation.
“If there is a sale of land in any area then, as far as I’m concerned, it should benefit that area.”
