Veteran figures in the Dundee political and civic scene have added their voices to calls for the Frigate Unicorn to be included in the redevelopment of the central waterfront, and to be sited as close as possible to the Discovery.
Councillor Ian Borthwick and Jack Searle, former chairman of Dundee Civic Trust, recalled the heated debate when the issue was first raised 30 years ago.
They believed the opportunity for bringing them together was squandered then, and they hoped it would not be lost now .
They were commenting after The Courier published stunning new images showing how the Unicorn would look if moved from its present isolation in Victoria Dock to the new £1 billion waterfront venture being created.
The Unicorn Preservation Society are campaigning for their 188-year-old vessel to be given such prominence, and are preparing a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to turn their dream into a reality.
They appear to be encountering opposition from the city council, which said there are no plans for the proposal but there are ongoing discussions with the trust about a suitable location within the wider waterfront project.
Mr Borthwick said he remembered the controversy in the 1980s with the former Dundee Project partnership insisting the returning Discovery had to be sited at Craig Harbour and be kept away from the Unicorn.
The ”our way or no way” approach left no room for negotiation and he regretted that the chance to combine the Discovery with the Unicorn was not taken.
”Things have a habit of cropping up again and it is interesting that this issue has returned,” he stated.
”I think mistakes were made then so let’s not repeat the error.
”The Unicorn is a magnificent ship with a rich history, as is the Discovery, and I think bringing them together would create a real focal point and enhance the maritime heritage of the area.
”I think this idea should be seriously considered and should be pursued, if it is possible to do so.”
Mr Searle was director of planning of Tayside Regional Council in the 1980s when he favoured siting the Discovery in Victoria Dock with the Unicorn.
Captain Scott’s antarctic vessel was launched there, and he believed the authentic atmospheric setting would have provided a perfect location for the two ships.
He said: ”The new images are very good and they show what could be possible.
”It looks as if the Unicorn has been placed in the central water feature area and that could be a good place for it.
”I have always thought there is a good case for linking the Unicorn and Discovery in some sort of combined display.
”The Unicorn is a unique piece of Dundee’s history and it is really important that it should be preserved.
”What is needed is for some visionary, imaginative thinking to save the Unicorn and give it the status and setting it deserves.”
There were plenty of examples of projects where historic ships had been brought together in sites which had attracted more historic ships, and these sites had become major visitor attractions.
He thought the success of this idea could be repeated at Dundee’s waterfront.
”The Unicorn is a magnificent ship with a rich history, as it the Discovery”