* I attended a meeting of Blackness Area Residents' Association on Tuesday evening. Amongst the matters discussed was the issue of wheelie bins on pavements and I was able to update the group on the steps the City Council is currently undertaking to address the issue.
* On Wednesday, a very useful visit to Scottish and Southern Energy's headquarters in Perth. The purpose behind this was to see their customer contact centre and, in particular, how they assist elderly and vulnerable people who have suffered a loss of electricity supply. The invitation to visit followed an elderly constituent having a loss of supply recently. It was worthwhile to see how the situation is handled when this happens to a vulnerable person and gave me useful knowledge for assisting constituents further on future occasions too.* This morning, a photocall to launch new electronic car parking signage. Here's me at the launch with Eric Guthrie, TACTRAN Director, followed by the City Council news release below (the new signs also got a mention in tonight's Evening Telegraph - click on headline above to view)
New electronic signage to help motorists in Dundee find available car parking spaces was officially switched on today (Thursday May 1).
The signs provide information about the number of available spaces in 12 car parks around the city's inner ring road and is the result of funding from the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN).
The up-dated signage gives "live" information of major car park occupancy which will help reduce unnecessary traffic going round looking for a parking space.
City council planning and transport convener and Chair of TACTRAN, Councillor Fraser Macpherson said: "There were 12 information signs installed about a decade ago and they have now been replaced by 23 new signs at strategic points along the inner ring road.
"They will help motorists by providing them with information about the availability of spaces in the major car parks around the city centre and there is also improved directional signage to ensure direct links between the inner ring road and adjacent main car parks."
“As well as helping motorists find a parking space more easily, the new information system will contribute to TACTRAN’s Regional Transport Strategy objectives, by helping to reduce City Centre traffic congestion, improving air quality, and assisting public transport operation, through more efficient management of traffic using the City’s transport network”.
The sign legends have been improved with LED displays of the number of available spaces at the nearest car park as well as the cumulative number of spaces should a motorist continue along the ring road.
The system works by detecting vehicular movement at car park entrances and exits, with the information relayed by radio signal from the car park to a control centre at Tayside House. The information is then relayed to the information signs.
The signs provide information about the number of available spaces in 12 car parks around the city's inner ring road and is the result of funding from the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN).
The up-dated signage gives "live" information of major car park occupancy which will help reduce unnecessary traffic going round looking for a parking space.
City council planning and transport convener and Chair of TACTRAN, Councillor Fraser Macpherson said: "There were 12 information signs installed about a decade ago and they have now been replaced by 23 new signs at strategic points along the inner ring road.
"They will help motorists by providing them with information about the availability of spaces in the major car parks around the city centre and there is also improved directional signage to ensure direct links between the inner ring road and adjacent main car parks."
“As well as helping motorists find a parking space more easily, the new information system will contribute to TACTRAN’s Regional Transport Strategy objectives, by helping to reduce City Centre traffic congestion, improving air quality, and assisting public transport operation, through more efficient management of traffic using the City’s transport network”.
The sign legends have been improved with LED displays of the number of available spaces at the nearest car park as well as the cumulative number of spaces should a motorist continue along the ring road.
The system works by detecting vehicular movement at car park entrances and exits, with the information relayed by radio signal from the car park to a control centre at Tayside House. The information is then relayed to the information signs.
* This afternoon, a thoroughly enjoyable visit to Blackness Primary School to the unveiling of the Primary Sevens' creative window shutters, based on the theme of endangered species. These look absolutely superb (and my photo below doesn't do them justice!) - a great result for Primary Seven and for Quality Contact who helped with the project.
* Lastly, tonight I attended the Harris Academy Parent Council, which included a very interesting presentation on pupil support.