ANDREW BATCHELOR: Access to Mills Observatory needs to be improved immensely for further survival

Access road to the observatory (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

I recently submitted a proposal to Dundee City Council as part of their Calls for Ideas initiative – and it’s one rooted directly in lived experience, community feedback, and the very real resurgence of Mills Observatory.

As Dundee folk will be aware by now, Mills has undergone a remarkable turnaround. Working alongside the observatory through Dundee Culture, I helped drive awareness, attendance, and engagement during a period when its future was genuinely uncertain. The results speak for themselves: more than 14,000 visitors in 2024–25 and a 121% increase in footfall. That doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from sustained storytelling, community buy-in, and showing people why this place matters.

Mills hasn’t gone quiet. It’s gone from being at risk of closure to becoming one of Dundee’s most talked-about cultural assets again - although the weather hasn't treated it too kindly for its 90th season.

Success comes with pressure. And it isn't the only issue Mills' faces.

Anyone who’s driven up Balgay Hill will know the access road is tight, awkward, and increasingly busy. Cars meeting head-on, pedestrians sharing narrow verges, limited visibility at night – these are everyday issues now, especially as visitor numbers rise.

For parents with buggies, older residents, or people with mobility challenges, it can feel like an unnecessary hurdle before you’ve even reached the observatory.

So I’ve proposed selective widening of the access road, proper pavements, and low-impact visibility measures such as road reflectors (cat’s eyes), rather than heavier lighting. The aim isn’t to urbanise Balgay Hill.

It’s to make an existing route safer, clearer, and more inclusive while respecting the natural setting and Mills’ dark-sky requirements.

This isn’t about grand infrastructure projects. It’s about small, thoughtful improvements that deliver big community value.

Mills Observatory is a cultural, educational, and tourism asset. It brings families, schools, visitors, and astronomy enthusiasts into the city. Improving access would enhance the visitor experience, encourage repeat visits, and strengthen Dundee’s reputation as a City of Discovery.

It would also support active travel, outdoor recreation, and everyday green space use for dog walkers and locals who already make Balgay Hill part of their routine.

Crucially, better access benefits everyone – not just tourists. Safer roads and pavements help older residents, evening visitors, parents with buggies, and people with mobility needs. They remove physical barriers that quietly exclude people from spaces they should feel welcome in.

What I like about this idea is that it’s low-impact and cost-effective. Cat’s eyes, basic pavements, and targeted road widening aren’t radical concepts. But together, they create safer journeys, stronger connections to green space, and a more inclusive approach to one of Dundee’s most special places.

Dundee Culture exists to champion the city – its people, its places, and its potential. Sometimes that means celebrating success. Other times, it means rolling up your sleeves and feeding into planning processes to help shape what comes next.

Mills Observatory’s revival shows what’s possible when communities care and momentum builds. Now we have an opportunity to make sure the infrastructure around it keeps pace.

Because I believe if the accessibility isn't there, it slips back into a state of where we were around two years ago, where it was threatened with closure.

That’s why I submitted this idea. Because when something is working, the right response isn’t to stand back – it’s to support it properly.