Three Dundee visitor attractions under threat of closure

Three long-standing public Dundee visitor attractions could be closed in a bid to save £500,000 a year.

Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD) propose to withdraw services at Broughty Castle Museum, Mills Observatory, and Caird Park Golf Course, citing "significant budget pressures".

It has launched a six-week public consultation over the future of the attractions.

Dundee City Council said any potential closures would not be "something that we do lightly".

A council spokesman added: “We understand the attachment that users and communities will have to them.

"At the same time, in the face of severe budget pressures we have a responsibility to focus our shrinking public funds on where they make the biggest difference to all of our citizens."

The council said the consultations "may identify alternative operators, funding streams or uses for the facilities".

Broughty Castle Museum, which LACD describes as a "must-see attraction" on its website, had 39,223 visitors in 2023/24, down from 43,149 in 2019/20.

Its current lease with Historic Environment Scotland runs out this year.

LACD said closing the museum would save about £80,000 per year.

It said memberships at Caird Park Golf Course had risen but the number of rounds played had fallen.

The leisure body said that every round of golf currently being played on the course was being subsidised by Dundee taxpayers at a cost of £9.10.

It said closing the course would save £335,000 a year.

LACD said closing Mills Observatory, Britain’s first purpose-built public observatory, which had 6,654 visitors last year, would save £40,000 annually.

The consultations run until 28 June.