December 1987
Prediction of Jobs and Renewal for Dundee
Dundonians can look forward to many hundred of already agreed new jobs in 1988 and several more in the pipeline.
The confident projections of increased business activity in the city in the coming year are contained in a New Year’s message from Mr Grahame McKee, the Head of the Dundee Project.And they are projections which include the development of the £40 million Ford electronics plant in the city, despite reports at the weekend that doubts now surround the development.
Mr McKee says that the construction alone will be creating over 700 jobs in the city in 1988 as work starts on the waterfront development and on new factories and offices, including the major plant at Dundee Technology Park.
“When completed these developments will create almost 2000 permanent jobs in Dundee and that will be good news not only for the people who get these jobs, but also for shops, restaurants, hotels, garages and the many other businesses who will benefit from increased spending power in the local economy”, says Mr McKee.
“The city centre in particular will benefit. Everyone wants Dundee to have a thriving bustling city centre with a diverse range of shops and services rivalling every other city centre in the country”.
“Dundee City Square is being turned into a real showpiece by Dundee District Council with support from the Scottish Development Agency and Tayside Regional Council, and the enhancement of the McManus Galleries and a number of key buildings is pointing the way towards the renewal of the city centre”.
Mr McKee says that the success of Discovery and Unicorn and events such as the McIntosh Patrick exhibition and the Tay Railway Bridge centenary fireworks had shown that visitors will come to Dundee not in hundred but in thousands.
“Tourism is now of major importance to the local economy”, says Mr McKee.
“The great upsurge in community activity – which is leading to the staging of a Dundee Festival during the summer of 1988 – is showing the world that things are happening in Dundee.”
“This is important as it makes Dundee an attractive place for investment by companies who are already here and by companies in other parts of the country and overseas who are showing increasing interest in locating to Dundee.
M.P. Is Confident Ford Will Come to Dundee
Dundee West M.P. Mr Ernie Ross yesterday dismissed reports that Ford have all but given up the idea of setting up a £40 million electronic components plant in the city’s Technology Park.
It has been claimed that Ford are ready to pull out of the deal – which would bring 450 much needed jobs to Dundee because of opposition from other trade unions to a proposed single-union arrangement at the plant between Ford and the Amalgamated Engineering Union.
Mr Ross, however, said there was no such thing as a single-union agreement covering the plant.
“There is only a letter of intent saying that if things worked out satisfactorily there could be a single-union agreement.” He said.
“I think at the end of the day there will be a number of unions who will be party to a single agreement that will cover the plant.”
Mr Ross said he had been in contact with the Scottish Office last week following rumours that Spain was coming into the reckoning again as a possible location for the plant.
“I spoke to the private secretary of Scottish Industry Minister Ken Lang who told me there had been no work from Ford to suggest they weren’t coming to Dundee” said Mr Ross.
I have never been in any doubt that the Ford factory would come here.”
He said what had convinced Ford to choose Dundee in the first place was the package put together by the S.D.A’s Locate in Scotland office, which included not only financial incentives but the availability of training facilities in the area.
Mr Ross said he understood the discussions within the T.U.C. about union representation at the plant were still moving ahead.
He did not believe, however, that Ford would be put off by the discussions nor would they necessarily wait for them to be concluded before beginning work on the Dundee plant.
Talks between T.U.C. general secretary Norman Willis and representative of the 11 unions involved in Ford have been going on since early this month.
A spokesman for the Dundee Project said yesterday they had now information to indicate anything other than that the plant would go ahead.
“When the announcement that Ford were coming to Dundee was made the company said they wanted to make a start early in the New Year and there have been continuing discussions between Locate in Scotland and Ford towards achieving that” he said.
“Progress has been made in those discussions”
“It is not just winning the investment that is important, it is also about helping the company to become established in Dundee and we have been providing Ford with information about the site and training.”
Ford had said they wanted to start the first phase of production by 1989 and be in full production by 1990.
“This is a very tight timetable but the discussions between Ford, Locate in Scotland and the Dundee Project indicate they are very much on target” the spokesman said.
Fat Sams Festive Fortnight
Monday 21st December
Blues ‘n’ Trouble
Wednesday 23rd December
Barbers Fashion Show
Check out the newest looks for the New Year
Doors open 9.00
Thursday 24th December
X-mas Eve
The biggest party of the year as Santa comes to Sams.
Tickets £8. Entry with ticket only. Doors 10.30.
Friday 25th December
X-mas Night
More stuffed than the turkey? Dance off the dinner.
£4.00 advance/£5 at the door. Doors 10.30.
Saturday 26th December
Boxing Day
The last Saturday at Fat Sams 1987.
£3.50. Doors 10.30.
Sunday 27th December
Dance Factory
Wednesday 30th December
Earlier Years
(Non-Alcoholic)
A chance to go to the best night club in town even thought you’re not old enough. Youngster’s party Night.
Only £1.50. Doors 8.00.
Thursday 31st December
Hogmanay
What can we say about Fat Sams legendary Hogmanay bash!
£5.00 advance. £6.00 at the door.
Doors open 9.00.
Saturday 2nd January
Weekend One
The Saturday night not to be missed is the first of the year.
First footing at Fat Sams
£3.50. Doors 10.30.
Sunday 3rd January
Dance Factory
Scotland’s longest running live music club sees the start of another
New Year. Quality always lasts.
Doors open 10.30.
Snow White at Little Theatre
A capacity audience including many youngsters, poured into the Little Theatre, Victoria Road, Dundee last night in anticipation of a traditional family pantomime – and they weren’t disappointed.
From the very first scene of Dundee Dramatic Society’s production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” it was obvious the cast knew exactly what would be demanded of them and were keen to enter into the spirit of the piece.
Jean Smith played her role as wicked stepmother Queen Eleanoria with such venom and relish her every entrance was greeted with an unprompted chorus of boos and hisses.
In contrast, Judey Paris’s Snow White was demure, graceful and pleasantly tuneful, both in solo numbers and duets with Prince Rupert, capably portrayed by Keith Spottiswoode.
No panto is complete with out its dame, and Dougie Cunningham, who doubled as director, threw himself into the role with enthusiasm, appearing throughout in a series of ludicrous, colourful and highly amusing costumes.
Also worthy of comment were feckless huntsmen Widgery and Diggory, played by Christopher Smith and Jimmy Mooney, the latter showing an enviable talent for keeping his head when things didn’t go according to plan.
The seven children playing the dwarfs with great charm, the dancers for the Moira Anderson School of Dancing, and the small but lively chorus, provided an excellent back-up for the principals and contributed to a fun-packed evening.
The production runs until December 19 but, such is the popularity of D.D.S panto’s, all performances have sold out.
Employment
Wanted
Telephone Operators
Evenings & Weekends
To work from local professional telesales office
* Easy Hours
* Easy Money
Experience not essential, full training given.
Jim Lifts Lid on his Bids
By Steve Bruce
Dundee United Manager Jim McLean yesterday lifted the lid on some of the unsuccessful bids he had made to buy new players.
Still angered by suggestions that the Tannadice club are content to leave the money they amassed from last season’s UEFA Cup run and the sale of Richard Gough to Spurs, sitting in the bank, McLean revealed details of a handful of the offers and inquiries he has made this year.
“In March we made an offer for a full-back which would have cost us £300,000, towards the end of June we lost out in a £375,000 bid for Motherwell striker Andy Walker, who went to Celtic instead and within the last week we offered £250,000 for a defender” he disclosed.
“These are just a few examples” he continues, “We also make a recent inquiry about Charlton’s Colin Walsh who unfortunately broke his leg the next weekend and Brighton captain Doug Rougvie whom we were told isn’t available”
“Our failure to bring new players to Tannadice has in most instances been due to the fact that the club’s weren’t prepared to sell quality players”.
McLean also found, in the case of Michael O’Neill (Coleraine) and Neil Woods (Doncaster) that they preferred to move elsewhere. Newcastle and Rangers as it turned out.
Colchester striker Tony Adcock was another man who attracted United’s interest but eluded their grasp, ending up at Manchester City.
While they’ve failed to make big money signing during 1987, there have been additions to the Tannadice playing staff in the shape of Ian McPhee, Hamish French and Alan Irvine (ex Crystal Palace).
• Tannadice ticket office will be open tomorrow until 7 p.m. and Saturday morning from 10-12 for sale of tickets for this week’s match against Rangers at Ibrox.
No Sign of Let-up in City’s Spending Fever
The spending spree continued in Dundee yesterday – almost as if Christmas had never happened – as the sales got into full swing. Tempting bargains brought out shoppers in their thousands.
The city centre was more like a Saturday than a Monday and central car parks rapidly filled to overflowing by mid-morning.
Limited on-street parking spaces were at a premium and some thoughtless motorists were parking anywhere – quite a few on double yellow lines.
Overall, it seems this is not so much the year of the outrageous reductions for the lucky few as more sensible all-round savings for everyone.
Ladies’, men’s and children’s fashion wear, with as much as 50% off many items were in big demand. Most sales had popular consumer goods – like video recorders, hi-fi’s, TVs, personal stereos, video and audio cassettes, clothing, jewellery and toys – being snapped up.
Many shoppers were exchanging gift vouchers and record tokens received as Christmas presents – and more than a few were returning toys and other presents which had proved defective for repair or replacement – but most were buying for cash or for credit.
Hordes of eager shoppers were queuing outside Marks and Spencer’s, Murraygate, before the doors opened, and the volume increased until it was almost impossible to move. A spokesman for the store said that in 17 years in the retail trade he had never witnessed such enthusiasm from the public.
There was a similar situation in Debenhams, High Street, where customers were reported to be standing shoulder to shoulder. The volume of sales has been great” a spokesman added.
“Unbelievable” crowds were at Littlewoods, Overgate, with shoppers once again waiting outside the doors at 9 a.m. ready to descent on a host of cut-price items.” It has been absolutely fantastic – the store has been packed all morning and we are expecting it to get even busier throughout the afternoon,” said a spokesman.
After a slow start, business at Boots, Reform Street, picked up during the morning and reached levels similar to those of last year’s sales. “It is always very gratifying to see so many people in the store and, thanks to our huge reductions; most items are selling very quickly”.
Arnotts, High Street, does not start its big sale today, but even so the store was particularly busy.
The Wellgate Centre was packed from early in the morning, with shoppers eager to purchase goods from the wide range of shops, many of which began sales yesterday morning. A spokesman for the centre management said this caused a slight problem with congestion in the car park.
“From around 11 a.m. onwards it was extremely busy, and it was a case of waiting until a car left before getting a space.
This thought was echoed by British Home Stores, whose premises in the centre were “going like a fair”.
Employment
Wanted
Telephone Operators
Evenings & Weekends
To work from local professional telesales office
* Easy Hours
* Easy Money
Experience not essential, full training given.
For further details telephone 0800 833588 (free call)
Strathvision
The Hi-Fi Ship
Television * Video * Hi-Fi Sales
For the Best in Loudspeakers
Visit
Strathvision
52, Overgate, Dundee.
Telephone (0382) 28900.
Top Players at Dens on Sunday
Some of Scotland’s top players will be included in the Premier League Select which meets Dundee at Dens on Sunday in the Jim Duffy Testimonial match (reports Steve Bruce).
Aberdeen’s Jim Leighton and Robert Connor, Roy Aitken (Celtic), Hearts pair Gary Madkay and Craig Levein, Rangers’ Avi Cohen and either Paul McStay or Tommy Burns of Celtic will be available for selection. Dundee are still awaiting written confirmation from Arsenal that Charlie Nicholas will be allowed to guest for them.