Apologies, no blog entries since the middle of last week, partly because I was in Northern Ireland for a few days with the day job and partly because of the backlog on return! My colleagues and I had the pleasure of meeting the Lord Mayor of Belfast while across in Northern Ireland (see right) and during a tour of City Hall yours truly was invited to model the councillors' robes! See below, right.On return, Shelter and I issued a joint statement about 
availability of housing/tenancy advice from Shelter and other organisations, following the recent issues about termination of tenancies in parts of the Perth Road/Step Row area. The story was featured by the BBC (click on the headline above to view) and the Evening Telegraph. I also spoke on Wave 102 about the issue.
availability of housing/tenancy advice from Shelter and other organisations, following the recent issues about termination of tenancies in parts of the Perth Road/Step Row area. The story was featured by the BBC (click on the headline above to view) and the Evening Telegraph. I also spoke on Wave 102 about the issue.I organised a site visit yesterday with residents/community council representatives and a member of Planning & Transportation staff about the difficulties exiting Windsor Street at its north end. Two of my West End councillor colleagues were also able to attend. I have been promised feedback following this on the parking issue adjacent to the junction.
The City Council issued a news release today about moving forward the parking strategy - this will allow for the consultation I have been pressing for on residents' priority parking in parts of the West End. Here's the news release:
Dundee is set to have a comprehensive car parking strategy that will help contribute to the economy of the city.
Councillors at the city council's planning and transport committee on Monday (June 11) will be asked to approve a central Dundee parking strategy. A report to the committee also focuses on the needs of residents living in and around the city centre.
Planning and transport convener Councillor Fraser Macpherson said: "The strategy aims to ensure that there is a balance between the economic prosperity of the city and safe, sustainable transport.
"Dundee is now a very successful regional shopping centre and a car parking strategy has a key role to play in supporting its vitality by encouraging a high level of turnover of shopper and visitors through suitable quality parking provision.
"It is reckoned that the current level of parking supply in the city achieves the right balance between supporting the economic vibrancy of Dundee while encouraging the use of public transport."
Councillor Macpherson said the focus on the requirements of parking for residents in and around the city centre was a very positive move.
"The council has been encouraging people to live in the city centre areas so we need to look at the best way of accommodating residents' parking in a way that does not adversely affect the overall balanced parking strategy. This is something that will require further consultation and investigation.
"It is also very important that we look at ways of helping people living in areas surrounding the city centre who can, for example, be affected by commuters parking on roads near their properties."
Councillors at the city council's planning and transport committee on Monday (June 11) will be asked to approve a central Dundee parking strategy. A report to the committee also focuses on the needs of residents living in and around the city centre.
Planning and transport convener Councillor Fraser Macpherson said: "The strategy aims to ensure that there is a balance between the economic prosperity of the city and safe, sustainable transport.
"Dundee is now a very successful regional shopping centre and a car parking strategy has a key role to play in supporting its vitality by encouraging a high level of turnover of shopper and visitors through suitable quality parking provision.
"It is reckoned that the current level of parking supply in the city achieves the right balance between supporting the economic vibrancy of Dundee while encouraging the use of public transport."
Councillor Macpherson said the focus on the requirements of parking for residents in and around the city centre was a very positive move.
"The council has been encouraging people to live in the city centre areas so we need to look at the best way of accommodating residents' parking in a way that does not adversely affect the overall balanced parking strategy. This is something that will require further consultation and investigation.
"It is also very important that we look at ways of helping people living in areas surrounding the city centre who can, for example, be affected by commuters parking on roads near their properties."