Botanic Garden latest newsletter #dundeewestend

The University of Dundee Botanic Garden publishes an excellent newsletter and you can access the latest one here.

Getting things done - Eton Street #dundeewestend

I am grateful to residents who contacted me about a bad pothole in Eton Street.

I reported this to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and this has now been repaired along with two smaller potholes.

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT – WEST END WARD

Forthcoming Roadworks

Blackness Road (at junction of Bellfield Street and Blackness Road for a distance of 25m or thereby in an easterly direction) – closed from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.

Blackness Road (at Bellfield Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.

Autumn at Riverside #dundeewestend

I am very grateful to the local resident who sent me these lovely photographs of autumn at Riverside!

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

From Sheila Kinninmonth, Blether Tay-Gither’s secretary :

“Hope you can join us for our September Zoom  Blether  on Tuesday 29th September at 7pm 

The Theme is "Bimbles" 

What on earth is Bimbles you may ask, or maybe not!    Bimble:  informal British. Verb: Walk or travel at a leisurely pace. Noun: A leisurely walk or journey.”

For the log-in details to participate, contact Blether Tay-Gither at sheila@blethertaygither.org.uk 

Getting things done - Perth Road #dundeewestend

I am grateful to the residents who have brought to my attention a water leak on Perth Road, opposite River Crescent.

This is continually leaking all over the pavement and down the road. 

Residents advise it is exceedingly slippy to walk there.

I have reported the matter to Scottish Water who has confirmed it will investigate the issue and get it resolved.

Getting things done - Seafield Road #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who have highlighted to me the poor condition of the pavement on the west side of Seafield Road, in front of the Cherry Blossom Nursery.

I have raised this with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership, requesting repairs and am grateful for the very prompt response as the 'before' and 'after' photos indicate :

Ninewells Community Garden September update #dundeewestend

A great flower update appears in the excellent Ninewells Community Garden blog and can be viewed here.

Getting things done - Perth Road #dundeewestend

I recently received concerns about overflowing litter bins on Perth Road east of Harris Academy, following the return of the school last month.

I raised this with our local environment manager and received the following helpful response :

"This has now been attended to and should no longer be a problem."

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020

Strawberrybank – closed until Wednesday 23 September for 5 working days for wall maintenance works.

Riverside Esplanade – off-peak nearside lane closure on Thursday 24 September for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Developing a climate justice curriculum for Scotland

This on line presentation will follow the One World Centre AGM on Tuesday 22nd September.

It will cover the global citizenship work being done by the Third Generation Project think tank with pupils at Bell Baxter High School in a really motivating, interesting collaboration.  

It will run from 6pm to 7pm online on Tuesday has appeal for schools and a much wider audience too.  

All welcome!   You can book free tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/developing-a-climate-justice-curriculum-for-scotland-tickets-119213447631. 

Latest information from 6th/8th Boys' Brigade #dundeewestend

 

Getting things done - steps off Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

A resident recently wrote to me regarding the steps that run from the west side of Riverside Drive near the bridge over the rail line down from the Botanic Garden, writing : 

“We regularly use the steps down to Riverside from the rail bridge down from Newhall Gardens.

They are becoming quite dangerous when wet and also the foliage is really overgrown.”

I have raised these concerns with the local environment manager asking for this to be resolved.

Getting things done - Ancrum Drive lock-ups – an update #dundeewestend

Back in January, before the COVID-19 health emergency lockdown, on behalf of residents, I asked Hillcrest Enterprises as factors if it would consider improving the road surface around the lock-ups in Ancrum Drive as it was very potholed and muddy at the lock-ups.

Hillcrest's Housing Manager (Operations) had advised that “… the cost of tarmac would be prohibitive but we can of course look at some practical repairs and maintenance.”    It was originally hoped to undertake this in the spring but the health emergency prevented this but it has now proved possible to improve the surface as the “after” photos now show.

I am grateful to Hillcrest for undertaking this as the road surface is much improved.

Before :

After :

Loss of bus service 4 and the blether bus : an update #dundeewestend

During the COVID-19 health emergency, some bus services have not run and these have included the “blether bus” service (run by the City Council) and Service 4 (run by Xplore Dundee).    

The council’s Parking & Sustainable Transport Team Leader recently advised councillors as follows :

“As a response to lockdown, declining passenger numbers and the unavailability of bus drivers who were shielding, all bus operators reduced their commercial service offering in March/April 2020.   This meant reduced frequencies on core routes and in some neighbourhoods the suspension of non-core bus services.

With financial support from Scottish Government, the bus industry has been able to slowly reintroduce services and increase frequencies so that passengers could return to services with confidence that they would be able to physically distance themselves from other passengers.   Overall passengers numbers are now hovering between 55% and 60% of pre-covid levels but bus service provision is running closer to 90%.   Within that overall picture of reinstated services, there are two commercial services operated by Xplore Dundee that have not been reintroduced and following discussion with Christine McGlasson, MD at Xplore Dundee, I can advise that there are no immediate plans to bring back either Service 4 (Dryburgh - Lochee - West End - City Centre) or Service 23 (Woodside - City Centre).    Therefore, for the immediate future the residents in these communities will be required to walk further to access other buses operating on the core routes.

Separately, as lockdown approached, the Council took the decision to withdraw its minibus operations from service - including the Blether Bus Services, the weekly Shoppers Bus and the Out & About trips.   More recently we have fielded a handful of enquiries about when these services might restart.  Given the elderly user group that would normally travel on these services, the compact design of the minibuses and the requirement to have these vehicles available for school runs (with additional hygiene measures) it is not our intention to restart these services in the immediate future.    We will keep the situation under review and take guidance from public health colleagues.  We will communicate any decisions with users as best we can using a number of different channels in the weeks ahead.

 The next couple of years will bring major challenges for the UK's bus industry but we will work closely with all the bus operators in Dundee to give them as much support as possible as they face that challenge.”

I have spoken with many residents who miss the services that are currently not running.    For example, the loss of Service 4 adversely affects many older folk in the Magdalen Yard Road, Windsor Street and Roseangle areas as there is no other bus service there and, for many elderly residents, a steep uphill walk to Perth Road to the nearest bus services.    One resident in the area made what I felt was a very good suggestion of asking Xplore Dundee to temporarily do a minor re-routing of Service 17 to cover the area.

I raised this with the Managing Director of Xplore Dundee who replied as follows :

“I know this is very difficult, trust me, and I sympathise greatly with these communities. I understand why your constituent thinks this would be an easy fix and I do appreciate her suggestion, but it is not that easy. The 17 is established as a service for travelling to/from the district centre on Perth Road which would have to be missed in order to serve Magdalen Green and cause problems for existing users. Equally, the 17 is already quite a circuitous route between Ninewells and the City Centre so adding this in would not go down well with those who already use the service.

Clearly, the 17 is a core service carrying many passengers, although sadly many less than pre-Covid -we are currently at 59% of pre-Covid patronage. We believe that deviating from this core service and district centre would only switch off more customers from using the service than we would gain in going into this area. I hope you can appreciate that, despite really feeling for the people who are adversely affected, we could not encourage a further decline to our business in the present circumstances. We are having to make some really tough choices throughout this time as we don't have the resources to do everything.

 I hope this at least answers your question and sorry I can't give you better news.”

I will continue to pursue the issue of the lack of any bus service here and hope that it will be possible to restore Service 4 in the near future.

Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk 2020

Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk is back for 2020 on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September and this year it is a little different!

This year won't be your average walk in the park - we'll be going virtual. It'll be your walk, your route, your way.

The Memory Walk is an opportunity to come together with friends and family to show your support for people living with dementia.

Find out more at www.alzscot.org/memorywalk

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2020

Lochee Road (at Tullideph Road) – off peak temporary traffic lights on Wednesday 16 September for tree cutting work.

Strawberrybank – closed from Thursday 17 September for 5 working days for wall maintenance works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Riverside Esplanade – off-peak nearside lane closure on Thursday 24 September for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Another update during the COVID-19 health emergency

Further update - for Sunday 13th September from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry)

NEW CONTACT TRACING APP

Protect Scotland is a free, mobile phone app designed to help us protect each other, reduce the spread of the virus and avoid further lockdowns.

The app will alert you if you have been in close contact with another app user who tests positive. And if you test positive, it can help in determining contacts that you may have otherwise missed while keeping your information private and anonymous.  You can download it here: https://protect.scot/

NEW LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

We remain in phase 3 of lockdown restrictions as infection rates are too high and accelerating again. This will be the case for some time. The following changes apply from tomorrow, but you are encouraged to follow them now.

The maximum social gathering has reduced to 6 people from 2 households, indoors, outdoors and in hospitality venues. (children under 12 won’t count to the limit of 6).  This also applies to pubs and restaurants.

Exception to limit: Receptions for Weddings, funerals and civil partnership will be allowed for 20 people from different households in hospitality venues.  Workplace, sport, exercise and activity guidance remains as before.

Hospitality- It will become mandatory to wear face coverings when you are moving around in a hospitality venue and not sitting at table. Staff in Hospitality venues will now have to wear masks.

There was no additional reopening of services or offices for the time being.  5th October is the new indicative date for the resumption of: Spectator sports, Theatres, indoor soft play and outdoor events

Call centres and non-essential offices will not be allowed to reopen until at least 1st October- when it will be reviewed again. Working from home remains the default for everyone who can.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-phase-3-staying-safe-and-protecting-others/pages/overview/

SHIELDING

If you have a mobile and NHS Scotland has your number you will receive a text message should the advice in your area change. You will be receiving a letter from the Chief Medical Officer to update you on current plans for those in this category, but there is no plan to reintroduce shielding at this time.

GP SERVICES

Local health centres continue to be open but have changed the way they work.  It is the preference to carry out a consultation online or on the phone as the hygiene and safety measures required for a physical consultation are considerable. 

For more detail, this is the Scottish Government guidance

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-outpatient-and-primary-care-consultations---principles/

TRAVELLERS

Travellers from Hungary and La Réunion will be required to self-isolate at home or another specified address for 14 days on arrival in Scotland from 4am yesterday (12th September).

https://www.gov.scot/news/further-quarantine-measures-introduced-for-travellers-1/

INFORMATION

UK Government news: www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications

Scottish Government Updates: www.gov.scot/news

Dundee City Council updates: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19

NHS Inform - https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19

NHS Tayside website: www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk

Helpline for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice Tel: 0800 028 2816.

Health Protection Scotland Guidance - www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19

Federation of Small Businesses: www.fsb.org.uk/coronavirus

Helpline for small businesses, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Tel: 0300 303 0660.

Ready Scotland Information - www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus

Tayside Cares - www.taysidecares.co.uk

SUPPORT AND ADVICE

This has been an anxious and uncertain time but we want you to know that we are here to try to help constituents in whatever way that we can.

CONTACT DETAILS

WEST END WARD – Bailie Fraser Macpherson

Phone – Dundee 459378 (home)

E-mail – fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk

Facebook updates : www.facebook.com/dundeewestend

Amazing skies!

Grateful thanks to Jim Glover who recently sent me these photos of amazing skies at the waterfront!

As Jim says, "That's why we're Scotland's sunniest city even when it's raining."

Getting things done – Ancrum Road #dundeewestend

A resident recently contacted me as follows :

‘I was wondering if it's possible to get the drains cleared the around Ancrum Road school.   There was a river running past the crossing lights and lots of standing water at school pick up … Is it also possible to ask for the area to be gritted in winter?’

I contacted the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership about this and have received this helpful feedback :

“An order has been raised for the gully machine to attend the gullies opposite Ancrum Road School. Ancrum Road footways are included in a priority gritting route therefore if winter maintenance operations are in process these footways will be treated.”

Getting things done – Miller’s Wynd Car Park #dundeewestend

I am grateful to everyone who, last week contacted me about flooding in the Miller’s Wynd Car Park.

I took this up immediately with the City Council’s parking team and have been given the following helpful response :

“One of my colleagues inspected Miller's Wynd car park again last Monday and Thursday morning and he confirmed that the car park is drying out.

We suspect that it was the heavy rain running down the slope that caused this problem but we will continue to monitor the situation.”

Getting things done – Rosefield Street #dundeewestend

Residents recently drew to my attention two blocked road drains in Rosefield Street.

I took up this matter with the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership and have now received the following positive response :

“An order has been raised for the gullies to be cleared.”

Help celebrate Global Citizenship Month!

The One World Centre is hosting a really exciting online Book Chat on Wednesday 9th September 4pm – 5.15pm. 

The purpose is to bring teachers together to share books they have used with their pupils to help them develop a greater awareness of our world, and consider the role they can play in helping to make it a fairer, better place for everyone.  

Also invited is Barbara Henderson, author of the beautifully written “Wilderness Wars”, to talk about her book and its associated resources for teachers.  

You can listen to teachers talk about their favourite books – fiction and real-life stories - to engage and inspire children and young people. 

And if you have a book on a Global Citizenship theme you’d like to share, that would be even better!

Sign up at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-chat-about-books-with-themes-of-fairness-environment-equality-tickets-117496496183

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2020

West Hendersons Wynd – closed from Monday 7 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing.

Riverside Esplanade – off-peak nearside lane closure on Thursday 10 September for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Strawberrybank – closed from Thursday 17 September for 5 working days for wall maintenance works.

Latest update during the COVID-19 health emergency

Further update - for Sunday 6th September from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry)

CARE HOME VISITS

Professional health and social care services will be able to resume visits. Throughout the pandemic these non-essential visits had been paused.  From Monday 7th September care homes can resume face-to-face care from a wide range of health and social care professionals, including podiatrists, physiotherapists, optometrists, dentists, social workers and mental health and disability specialists.   Activity in indoor communal areas – for example lounges and dining areas – can resume safely too.

https://www.gov.scot/news/health-and-well-being-visits-to-care-homes-to-resume/

QUARANTINE

Portugal and French Polynesia are being removed from the quarantine exemption list. If returning from these locations after 4am yesterday (Saturday) you are required to self-isolate at home, or another specified address, for 14 days on arrival in Scotland.  Greece was also removed earlier last week.  The arrangement is for the whole of these countries unlike the Welsh Government which has adopted a regional approach.

https://www.gov.scot/news/further-quarantine-measures-introduced-for-travellers/

After Willie Rennie MSP questioned the Scottish Government on the weaknesses in the quarantine spot checks, more money is to be invested in the contact centre to employ 25 new contact tracers.

https://www.gov.scot/news/gbp-1-million-to-support-quarantine-efforts/

CHILDCARE

New support is available for the childcare sector to help pay for increased cleaning, new or additional equipment, better outdoor spaces or adaptations to buildings.

https://www.gov.scot/news/help-for-childcare-providers/

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION GUIDANCE

There is revised guidance for colleges, universities and student accommodation providers. 

https://www.gov.scot/news/safe-return-to-campuses/

INFORMATION

UK Government news: www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications

Scottish Government Updates: www.gov.scot/news

Dundee City Council updates: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19

NHS Inform - https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19 

NHS Tayside website: www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk

Helpline for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice Tel: 0800 028 2816.

Health Protection Scotland Guidance - www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19

Federation of Small Businesses: www.fsb.org.uk/coronavirus

Helpline for small businesses, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Tel: 0300 303 0660.

Ready Scotland Information - www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus

Tayside Cares - www.taysidecares.co.uk

SUPPORT AND ADVICE

This has been an anxious and uncertain time but we want you to know that we are here to try to help constituents in whatever way that we can.

CONTACT DETAILS

WEST END WARD – Bailie Fraser Macpherson

Phone – Dundee 459378 (home)

E-mail – fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk

Facebook updates : www.facebook.com/dundeewestend

Lords-and-ladies at Riverside #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the local resident for these photos - she adds :

"I was pleased to find lords-and-ladies on Riverside. 

I thought we were too far north."

Lords-and-ladies (Arum maculatum) with its bright autumn berries, is a valuable perennial for shady borders.

Engage Dundee initiative

Residents across Dundee are being asked to fill out a new questionnaire to help key agencies learn how Coronavirus has impacted on all of Dundee’s communities.

Dundee City Council, Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action and NHS Tayside are working together through the ‘Engage Dundee’ initiative to collect information directly from citizens around Dundee.

The purpose of the questionnaire is to learn more about how individuals experienced services during the lockdown period, in addition to finding out the priorities of Dundee’s citizens going forward.

The feedback obtained through the survey process will inform future local community planning priorities across the city.

You can give your views at http://dee.communitychoices.scot/

Paton's Lane or Patons Lane? #dundeewestend

Further to the recent discussion about the spelling of Strawberrybank (or is that Strawberry Bank?), residents have queried the spelling of Paton's Lane or  is that Patons Lane, without the apostrophe?

I sought the advice of the City Archivist who has helpfully responded as follows :

"The Dundee directories, electoral registers and Ordnance Survey maps include the apostrophe whilst the valuation rolls do not. Curiously the street name appears to be listed both with and without the apostrophe on the One Scotland Gazetteer of addresses.

According to Gillian Molloy's 'Street Names of Old Dundee' the street is thought to be named after James Paton, a manufacturer in Hawkhill who took possession of land in the Seafield area of the Estate of Blackness in 1815."

The photo above is of the lane in the past.   The first door on the right of the photo is numbered 19 and the one next to that 21.   The industrial building is number 23 and according to the 1965 Dundee Directory was occupied by the joinery company McTavish, McAinsh & Sons.

Dundee's virtual Flower and Food Show 2020

The 32nd Dundee Flower and Food Show will take place from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September virtually, due to the COVID-19 health emergency.

The event, which is usually a popular gathering at Camperdown Country Park, attracting in the region of 18,000 visitors, will this year take place exclusively online.

Many of the Show’s traditional exhibitions will continue, including cut flowers, pot plants, fruit and vegetables, which will now be on display via photographs and videos.

Various other familiar sections will be present, as committee members, along with their societies, plant nurseries, chefs, and community groups will be involved.

In addition, there will be some unique inclusions for the festival’s first ever virtual occasion.

More information about this year’s Dundee Virtual Flower and Food Show is available at www.dundeeflowerandfoodfestival.com

Getting things done - Hillside Drive #dundeewestend

I am grateful to residents who highlighted blocked drains in Hillside Drive at its south end.

I contacted the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership regarding this and have received the following positive response :

"An order has been raised to clean two gullies in Hillside Drive."