DUNDEE City Council’s chief executive has vowed to protect a tree planted in memory of a teenager when Menzieshill High School is demolished.
The facility is set to close its doors later this year and there has been concern about the future of the memorial for Pamela Tully, a former pupil of the school, who died in 1993 from a rare form of leukaemia.
Nearly 650 people have signed a petition demanding the council protect the tree during any redevelopment works on the site.
After consulting with colleagues, David Martin, the council’s chief executive, said the tree — which also commemorates the passing of fellow pupil Ian McShane — will be protected when the school building is knocked down.
He made the announcement in an email to Isobel Tully, Pamela’s mum.
In the email, Mr Martin said: “I can assure you our engineers are planning to protect the tree when the school building is demolished.
“This will involve leaving a retaining wall which would normally be demolished and grading soil to make the site levels safe. I have asked that these works be carried out.
“Looking further ahead, there are no current plans to redevelop the site.
“Our property team is aware of the significance of the tree and, should the land be released for development at a future date, will try to deal with this as sensitively as possible.
“This will include exploring the options for a development scheme which would allow the tree to remain on site.”
But Isobel isn’t convinced with the response.
The 58-year-old said: “I’m not taking it at face value.
“We need to make sure that the tree and plaque are kept where they are.
“Once the site is sold, it will be out of our hands and we need to fight till we get what we want.
“It’s not long until Dundee City Council close the school and every minute we have to try to save the site is precious to us.”
Isobel is now in process of trying to round up local councillors to see if they will publicly back her bid to have the tree’s safety guaranteed following the demolition and any future development works.