A Dundonian who led the campaign against a new state-of-the-art women’s custody unit has branded it a “monstrosity”.
The Bella Centre in the city’s Hilltown, which will house up to 16 women at a time, has been hailed as a UK-first in how it deals with female offenders.
It welcomes its first residents on Monday.
The concept received a backlash from the local community when it was first unveiled in 2015, with around 1,300 later signing a petition against it.
Tom Henney, 75, who led the fight to stop the project before its approval three years later, said his opinion on The Bella Centre “has not changed”.
‘We tried everything we could think of’
Mr Henney, who has lived in the Hilltown for the past 24 years, said: “The concept is great but it is in the wrong place.
“What benefits will it bring to the area?
“It won’t bring business and it won’t bring people to spend their money.
“It is a monstrosity in amongst a school and housing, which is why we are against it.
“We tried everything we could think of to stop it but the council was hell bent on selling that land to the Scottish Prison Service.”
Mr Henney said he would rather have seen the land used for accessible housing for disabled people, adding “everyone else still sees it as a prison”.
‘I am not happy at all’
Each woman housed at the facility will receive their own bedroom with an en-suite toilet and a shared fully-fitted kitchen and living room.
Some bedrooms boast picturesque views of the River Tay.
There is a community hub with a kitchen, flat-screen TV, computer, WiFi and a reading corner, while the garden features picnic benches and play equipment for children.
There is also an on-site gym and a healthcare centre.
It is hoped the environment will help the women to reintegrate back into society.
But Mr Henney said many in the area will not be able to enjoy the same luxuries.
He added: “They [the Bella Centre residents] will get appointments and healthcare on site but older people here have to fight to get an appointment at their doctor’s.
“They will get it all on hand.
“It really puts people’s back up when this centre is state-of-the-art and it’s not the same for the housing around about.
“So I am not happy at all and I can guarantee if people were to see inside it they would go daft.
“I cannot see how it benefits the area except from filling a space.”
Locals react to behind-the-scenes pictures
Having their say on the issue on our social media channels, some readers criticised the cost of providing such a facility when many people from Dundee are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
Others echoed Mr Henney’s concerns about the location of The Bella Centre.
Stevie-Joan Murray said: “[I am] dreading this opening right on my doorstep to be honest.
“[It is] bad enough on this street with the Lily Walker Centre.
“It is the worst place to put it.”
Raheel Khan added: “I’m not against the idea of an initiative like this but the decision to locate it in an area that’s being regenerated, and mainly the fact of it being directly opposite two brand new primary schools, is short of farcical.”
Defending the new way of working
However, others defended the facility and the Scottish Prison Service’s new approach to dealing with female offenders.
Jimmy Ballie said: “Possibly taking a positive step like this and giving these women a bit of guidance and hope on their road to general release from prison will be a good thing and help them turn their lives around.
“For some of them it must near enough impossible if they have no secure family help with nothing to physically help them instead of the same old routine.
“So many go on about ex-prisoners constantly reoffending then ending up straight back inside again, so maybe this project should be given a bit more support and praise as changing these women’s lives would be great all round.”
And Dorothy Walker said: “There’s a lot of tormented souls that have never had a bit of luxury in their lives.
“I really hope it works for them.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “The health and wellbeing of all people in our care is a key priority for the Scottish Prison Service.
“The Bella community custody centre marks a significant step change in the way Scotland supports women in custody.
“This will allow us to better support the needs of women in our care, including health and wellbeing needs, as they continue their rehabilitative journey towards reintegration in the community.”
EXCLUSIVE: Inside new women’s custody centre in Dundee that opens next week