January 1988

Station Site Looks Set to be Location for New Ice Rink

A new custom-built ice rink complex on a site north of Dundee Station now looks to be a very real possibility.

Talks between the board of Dundee Angus Ice Rink plc and the Dundee Project partners, particularly the Scottish Development agency, the owners of the land involved, have been taking place about just such a development.

Although the negotiations are said to be at a relatively early stage, both side appear keen to reach an agreement.

An ice rink on the north-of-station site – known at Site Six and presently being used as a car park by Tayside Regional Council – is seen by the Dundee Project as “compatible” with other leisure developments on the central waterfront.

The ice rink board have looked at a number of possible sites for relocation and site six covered by enterprise zone status, is their clear favourite.

But although a move from the Kingsway to the waterfront area is now very much on the cards it will not happen as fast as the ice rink board had originally hoped.

Ideally the board wanted to be well and truly frozen into their new home by the start of the next ice season in September of this year.

However the building work would have had to be underway now for this goal to be achieved.

If an agreement can be reached about a relocation it is likely to mean that any new complex will be completed in time for the start of the 1989 ice season, more than three years after a move from Kingsway to clear the way for a supermarket development on the site of the old rink first emerged.

This will mean ice rink company , currently mid-way through a season in their present home, will be committed to another full season in their near 50 year old and increasingly expensive to maintain building on the Kingsway.

Fortunately the delay has not weakened enthusiasm of the supermarket chain Safeway, understood to be prepared to pay well over £1 million for the old ice rink site, the cash which will provide much of the funding for a new rink.

Ice rink secretary and general manager Mr John Brady told the “Courier” that Safeway still wanted the site. “Safeway have been kept fully in the picture” said Mr Brady. “We still have a good relationship there”.

A number of property developers had been showing an interest in the ice rink site., particularly as much of the surrounding land was being developed for retail purposes, but it was with Safeway that the ice rink board finally concluded a deal.

Then it emerged that the ice rink board was looking at one of a number of options for relocation with the station site being the favourite.

Motorists are Well Prepared

Motorist in Dundee appeared well prepared for the sudden cold snap which turned the wet into ice on city roads yesterday morning, but the same, unfortunately could not be said for many pedestrians.

Tayside Police reported only one very minor rush hour accident despite ice on most routes made even more treacherous by light rainfall.

However the city ambulance service were called by around 10 slips and falls by pedestrians – mostly pensioners – during the early forenoon. The ambulance service warned senior citizens to take extra care.

Most fallers were unprepared for the slippery conditions, but none were seriously hurt.

Shelter’s Plea for Scotland’s Homeless

The number of homeless people in Scotland has increased by 94% according to figures published today by Shelter’s campaign for the homeless. Comparing Scottish Office figures for 1983/84 with those collected by Shelter for 1986/87, the number applying as homeless to various local authorities shows a rise of 14,968 to 30, 859.

For Dundee the list shows a jump in homeless from 210 to 699 or 233%, while in Perth and Kinross it shows an increase of 31% and in Angus 10%.

Fife also shows a marked increase – Kirkcaldy is up by 145%m Dunfermline by 107% and north-east Fife by 66%.

This could get even worse, claims Shelter, if the Housing (Scotland) Bill – which gets its second reading today – becomes law.

All Scottish M.P.s have received a letter setting out nine points of the bill which Shelter says will aggravate the problem. Its main criticism is that there are not enough safeguards for tenants in the bill and if these are not introduced then, single people and young families will be particularly badly effected.

It says Scottish Homes will become one of the largest landlords in Britain, but that there is no provision for tenant representation on its board.

Shelter also attacks what it sees as shortcomings in other parts of the bill, including “assured tenancies” and changes in the legal obligations placed on landlords.

Winter Time is Dancing Time

Don’t Feel out of It Socially.
Learn to Dance now at one of our classes:-
Ballroom, Latin American, Sequence, Keep-Fit, Disco, Rock ‘n’ Roll.
All ages, all stages.
Star Ballroom, Lochee
Telephone: Day 811429; Evening 611388.

Employment

Part-time counter assistant required for butcher shop. Apply in person to David Gewar and Son, 144, Albert Street, Dundee.

J.D. Browns Winter Sale

Huge savings on
Cameras, TV and Video, microwaves,
telephones, answering machines and Panasonic Cleaners.
Ask for our list of bargains.
J.D. Browns, Castle Street, Dundee 26591.

Half Price Perm Offer

Treat yourself to a
New Look for the New Year
L’Oreal Dulcia Vitality Perm
Usually £22
New Year Price £10.95 (including cut and finish)
Please telephone for an appointment or call in for a
Complimentary consultation.
Appointments not always necessary
Essanelle
Hair Salon on the 5th Floor
Arnotts
High Street, Dundee.
(0382) 24022/200039 (salon).

Great Escape by Dark Blues

By A Courier Reporter
Dundee made a great escape at Motherwell, getting away with a 3-3 draw after crashing to 3-0 down five minutes after half-time.

Some Fir Park people were saying their players allowed the Dark Blues out of jail. Another view is that Dundee gave the locals a three-goal start and nearly beat them!

In the first half Dundee were the smoother side but lacked penetration. They contained the home breakaways until just after the half-hour when the ball was whisked to the edge of the penalty area and Ray Farningham scored with a glorious shot.

Just after half-time, Gordon Mair took a clever corner from the right, using the wind to make it a dangerous inswinger. The ball hung in front of goal and the Dundee defenders moved out expecting keeper Bobby Geddes to come for it. Geddes, however stayed on his lime and when the ball bounced high Steve Cowan headed across Geddes and into the net.

A couple of minutes later Paul Smith was fouled near the touchline at the centre of the park and Fraser Wishart sent a high free-kick into the penalty area. Paterson headed down and Smith scored easily.

It looked like curtains for Dundee with a gale in their faces and the rain lashing down. But they produced their Popeye piece; tool the ball up field from the restart and Tommy Coyne sidestepped two defenders at the edge of the box to hit the goal of the game.

A minute later Coyne streaked after the ball as it went across goal and beyond the far post. Keeper Duncan chased, got his angles all wrong, and dived for the ball bringing Coyne down in a heap. The referee signalled a penalty and seconds later signalled a goal as Coyne crashed the spot-kick home.

That was four goals in five minutes and two in a minute from Coyne. What else could this thriller in killer conditions produce?

Dundee made chances and missed them. Motherwell also had opportunities, but fewer of them.

With just three minutes left Dundee took off John Brown, who had a groin injury, and sent on Alan Lawrence, playing three at the back for the last push. It was taking a chance, but it worked. The ball was pushed in front of Ian Angus who ran on to steer it past keeper Duncan and into the net off the far post.

It was a fine finale and the last seconds were tension packed. Dundee came off with a point and, as none of the teams below them in the league had done better, that was satisfactory.

Jocky Scott said that at the end of the day he was delighted with that point. “At 3-0 down you expect to lose” he said “all credits to the players. They came back with a great first goal by Coyne and the penalty meant we got two goals back quickly”

“The loss of two goals in the first minutes of the second half would normally cause heads to go down, but the players lifted themselves and started to play better.”

He added that his players must keep producing that form 90 minutes.

Motherwell boss Tommy McLean thought his side were unprofessional, were their own worst enemies and a point had gone down the drain.

“They were hanging on for their lives for the last half hour,” he said.

Cinemas

Cannon Film Centre, Dundee. (1) “Near Dark” (18), week 1.50, 3.55, 6.0, 8.25.
(2) The live action “Masters of the Universe” (PG), week 1.30, 3.45, 5.55, 8.20.

Victoria, Dundee 26186. Showing until Thursday, January 14, “Hamburger Hill” (18) nightly 7.30 p.m. Closed Sundays.

Slim and Trim

With Jean Kindlen at
Castle Green Leisure Centre
Classes resume on
Tuesday, January 19
Tuesday 10 a.m. to 11 a.m; Tuesday 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. to 11 a.m; Tuesday 7 p.m. to 1.45 p.m.
Thursday 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.