Preparation work for a £2m improvement programme to Lochee High Street is due to get underway next week.

The first phase of work, funded by the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund will start on Monday (October 12) and involve improvements to pavements and roads as well as providing trees, street furniture, litter bins, benches, cycle racks and improved white lighting.

Existing large speed bumps will be removed and replaced with improved traffic calming measures.

Convener of Dundee City Council city development committee Will Dawson said: "The improvements will help breathe new life into Lochee and will mean considerable benefits for the area.

"The improvements are to be carried out in three phases to minimise disruption to both traders and shoppers and I am sure that the end result will be worth it."

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Phase one, which runs until December 11, will be Lochee High Street from Nicoll's Lane to Methven Street. Contractors will then move on to Methven Street, from December 4 to 18 and from January 4 to 29, avoiding major disruption to Christmas trade and minimising inconvenience to shoppers and traders over this period.

The final phase, Lochee High Street from Methven Street to St Mary's Lane, will be carried out from January 4 to April 2.

During this period a temporary one-way traffic order will be in place along the High Street prohibiting all northbound traffic between the east side of the High Street/Nicoll's Lane junction and the west side of the High Street/St Mary's Lane junction. Pedestrian routes will be safeguarded and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible.

One local company is set to benefit directly from the works after Land and Building Services, based in South Road, Lochee was appointed a sub-contractor to the firm leading the work, Tayside Contracts.

Between a dozen and 14 employees of Land and Building Services will be working directly on the contract, with the firm so local that they will use their own HQ's yard as the site compound.

Local retailers will also benefit with substantial grant funding being made available for enhancements to shop frontages while plans are in place to improve the overall security of the area. Repairs to the swimming pool roof are also to be brought forward as part of the overall strategy.

(GK/BMcC)