A Dundee councillor has accused NHS Tayside of being wrong in felling 42 protected trees at the site in his ward of a new unit for young people with mental health problems.
Coldside member Jimmy Black stressed he was not objecting to the Young People’s Unit at Dudhope Terrace or suggesting there was any unlawful aspect to its construction.
“I am just surprised that they cut down the trees before they get the final go-ahead from the Scottish Government to build this facility,” he said.
“NHS Tayside said they had done everything properly and presented their outline case which has been approved. The next stage in the process is the development of a full business case to be submitted in the summer of 2013.
“I am told almost everything will be OK, but it would not be the first public procurement project where costs may increase at the last minute, where something unexpected is discovered underground or there are other problems which may delay the development.
“Taking down 42 mature trees in a conservation area before the deal is signed, sealed and delivered is premature and wrong. Now that they are down they can’t be put back.”
The SNP administration member continued: “The site has been left looking bare and desolate. Until the project is certain I don’t think they should have cut down the trees.”
The unit (YPU) is to be on the site of the existing YPU at Dudhope Terrace and will include a 12-bed inpatient unit with an education facility and family accommodation.
The North of Scotland Regional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service project is a partnership between Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Orkney and Shetland NHS Boards, which has established a specialist network for young people with complex mental health problems.
The project’s outline has been approved by all five health boards and the Scottish Government. NHS Tayside said the approval of the outline business case was a significant milestone and was designed to enable the boards to progress with confidence that the project will go forward.
“The full business case document will simply re-confirm that the service model remains as per the outline case and provide the Scottish Government with a final cost and programme for the project.” a spokeswoman added.
The initial works included felling diseased and dying trees, and the new development allows significant new planting to provide a range of new long-term specimens and increase the mix of size, age and native species of trees in the woodland.
NHS Tayside said the proposals are designed to complement existing trees that will be retained, and create a carefully balanced combination that helps integrate the new building within the site.
There was a comprehensive tree survey and a 10-year tree and woodland management plan prepared to help ensure the active management and development of the new resource.
An ecology survey found no evidence of nesting birds, roosting bats or any other protected species but NHS Tayside will install bat boxes to mitigate the loss of roosting potential.