11 October 2013

'Dundee and the Tay: How Railways Changed the Waterfront' - public lecture on 17th October

The economic benefits and ecological damage brought to Dundee by the development of the city's railways will be revealed at a public lecture next week.

Professor Rob Duck, Dean of the School of the Environment at the University of Dundee, will explore the dual consequences of mid-19th century railway construction in the lecture at the Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, on Thursday, 17th October.

The present-day £1billion redevelopment of Dundee's waterfront is set to transform the relationship between Dundonians and the River Tay, but Professor Duck will argue this is not unprecedented and that much of the plan centres upon righting the wrongs of history.

'The construction of railways through Dundee and right along the riverfront was remarkable as a feat of engineering and no doubt helped create economic prosperity for many,' he said. 'However, this development also brought widespread havoc and devastation along the shores of the Tay.

'The lines from Arbroath and Perth were built on embankments that isolated large lagoons from the main water body. The city lost its famous recreational beaches and limpid waters while communities and their livelihoods became cut off from the river. Since natural drainage had become impeded, sewage became concentrated on the landward side of the embankments leading to pestilence and disease.

'The current regeneration of the central waterfront is very exciting for many reasons, not least the fact it will connect the people of Dundee with their river once again and hopefully redress problems that were caused by the development of railways in the 19th century and roads in the 20th.'

The talk takes place as part of the Engage Dundee Evening Lecture series. Organised to showcase the work of academics within the University's College of Arts & Social Sciences, lectures are part of a wider Engage Dundee initiative by CASS to disseminate knowledge locally and globally in order to make a positive difference to the social and cultural wellbeing of society.

'Dundee and the Tay: How Railways Changed the Waterfront' takes place in the University's Dalhousie Building at 5.30pm on Thursday, 17th October.

The lecture is free and will be followed by a drinks reception. Places can be reserved by calling 01382 381184 or emailing cassoffice@dundee.ac.uk.

More information is available at www.dundee.ac.uk/cass/events/

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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