Partners and stakeholders with an interest in Dundee Waterfront gathered at City Quay to hear an update on the latest plans for the multi-million pound project.

The meeting, which included representatives of Dundee City Council, developers, contractors, public bodies and local businesses, was told that the next major phase of the work is due to start early in the new year.

Convener of Dundee City Council's economic development committee, Joe Morrow, who hosted the meeting, said: "It is vital that organisations and businesses that have a stake in the massive transformation of the waterfront have a clear understanding of what is going on and what is planned for its immediate future.

"To get to where we want to be there will inevitably be some disruption to the normal patterns of life in that part of Dundee, but hopefully if everyone knows what is going on, how long it is due to take, and most importantly why they are being inconvenienced, then they will be able to join us in keeping their eyes on the ultimate goal - a Dundee city centre connected with the waterfront and boasting some of the most magnificent streetscapes anywhere in northern Europe."

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After a welcome and introduction by councillor Morrow, guests were taken through the timetable of works for the next six months, and given an overview of the project by city council staff.

Originally due to be carried out as part of the bridge off ramp realignment, a contract to build a massive storm water tank is the next major piece of work that will take place.

Although a contract specification is yet to be finalised, the tank which will be sited east of the Hilton Hotel, should be capable of holding hundreds of litres of rainwater run off from the centre of the city.

Cllr Morrow told the meeting: "Without such a huge facility none of the development planned for the transformed waterfront would be sustainable.

"It would all end up swimming in water the first time a high tide coincided with a heavy downpour.

"Although it will be completely hidden underground when it is finished, it is still a part of the jigsaw that is fundamental to the completion of this visionary project."

Guests were also told that the last remnants of the pedestrian bridge which spanned south Marketgait between the railway station and the Nethergate Centre is to be taken down next month.

September is also expected to see the completion of resurfacing works in Gellatly Street, which will leave the road able to cope with the greater volume of traffic expected when the roads network is realigned later in the waterfront scheme.

A leading hotel chain is also close to signing a deal to lease a new building to be constructed on land adjacent to the inner ring road to the south of Nethergate, and an announcement could be made before the end of the year.

The 30-year master plan to reconnect Dundee city centre with its waterfront and transform the streetscape was conceived in 1998 and since then Dundee City Council along with its partners, has been putting some of the many millions of pounds in place that is needed to fund the massive changes.

(GK/JM)