The Friary Community Café and Larder #dundeewestend

Today - and every Thursday - all welcome at the Friary Community Café and Larder!

It is open from 11am-2pm.

Come along for homemade soup and cakes and to pick up some groceries.

Road safety at Ninewells Drive #dundeewestend

A resident recently wrote to me to advise :

"My children attend the Busy Bees nursery by Ninewells Hospital and are dropped off and picked up on foot most days. 

However, this is a daily struggle, as there is no pedestrian crossing that allows safe crossing of Ninewells Drive into Thomas Wise Place. 

At busy times, we often stand by the side of the road for 5-10 minutes whilst holding on to small people!

 This is clearly an unsafe situation and I worry it is only a matter of time before it goes wrong. 

And I’m certainly not alone in this issue, many other parents and people working on Thomas Wise Place share this frustration on a daily basis."

This is a very good point as Ninewells Drive - the main entrance road into the hospital from Ninewells Avenue - can be extremely busy.    

The road is part of the NHS Tayside estate but I sought the views of the City Council's Head of Sustainable Transport & Roads who gave me the following very useful feedback :

"You are correct that Ninewells Drive and Thomas Wise Place form part of the NHS estate.

Dundee City Council and NHS Tayside have been liaising on potential active travel improvements within the estate, and have identified the crossing location.

Dundee City Council is planning to bid for external funding in the summer (when Sustrans reopen the Places for Everyone fund to applications) to progress the design phase of an active travel improvement project at Ninewells estate.

We will brief you on the outcome of the funding application when confirmed.

Should funding be secured for the design phase, NHS Tayside and Dundee City Council will have opportunity to bid for funding from Sustrans for the construction of the works. 

This would require match funding contribution from Dundee City Council / NHS Tayside and a review of allocation requirements would be held after completion of the design phase once project estimates are refined."

I will, of course, keep residents updated.

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee - tonight!

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

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

March sees our 15th birthday and our Zoom meeting is this evening!

Our theme (if you need one) is THE MOON - all welcome!

The Zoom meeting details are :

Topic: Blether Tay-Gither - March

Time: Mar 29, 2022 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83241440387

Meeting ID: 832 4144 0387

Passcode: wormmoon

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 28 MARCH 2022

Blackness Road (at West Park Road) – temporary traffic lights until Monday 28 March for Scottish Water mains repair.

Shepherd’s Loan (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 28 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Perth Road - temporary traffic lights between Glamis Road and Windsor Street from Monday 28 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Glenagnes Road – closed from Monday 4 April for 5 days for carriageway patching works. Access will be maintained for residents.

Soup and Pudding Lunch - all welcome!

A date for your diary!     

A great cause - 'Not inVain for Lee' - supporting mental health - with all proceeds going to Haven Dundee.

Getting things done - Westfield Lane and Perth Road #dundeewestend

I have received complaints about the neglected area of ground on Perth Road at the top of Westfield Lane.

The site owned by JC Decaux who used to have an advertising hoarding there.

I contacted the company about this and have had the following helpful reply :

"I have asked for the regional team to attend to tidy the site."

Dundee's Year of the Older Person - Celebration Concert at the Caird Hall

As part of Dundee's Year of the Older Person (extended for a 2nd year), Dundee Pensioners' Forum has organised a Celebration Concert at the Caird Hall on 2nd April 2022. 

The concert is free - and the Pensioners' Forum is hoping for a bumper audience to enjoy the varied programme.

The event is designed as a thank you to all our NHS staff, care staff and other key workers who worked so hard to bring us through the Covid pandemic and representatives of these groups will be in the audience.

All welcome!

Getting things done - Bellefield Avenue #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who recently highlighted to me pothole repairs needed in Bellefield Avenue.

I have reported this to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership requesting repairs.

An Invitation from Friends of Wighton

From Sheena Wellington :

No Trees to Whisper - a song cycle for soprano and clarinet

Performed by Turning the Elements

Frances Cooper (soprano) Joanna Nicholson (clarinet)

Saturday 26th March 2022 – at 2pm – on Zoom

Join us for the video premiere of this beautiful collaborative new work commissioned by soprano and clarinet duo Turning the Elements, with the support of Creative Scotland.

The inspiration for the project came from Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell’s famous diaries of their Journey to the Highlands and Islands in 1773 -

“ I sat down on a bank, such as a writer of Romance might have delighted to feign. I had indeed no trees to whisper over my head, but a clear rivulet streamed at my feet…. Whether I spent the hour well, I know not: for here I first conceived the thought of this narration”

Poetry was commissioned from Iain Morrison, Dawn Wood and Haworth Hodgkinson, and music from Linda Buckley, Aidan O’Rourke and Gemma McGregor. Three very individual pieces from the poet/composer partnerships are woven together by interludes composed by Joanna, and nature photography by Frances to create a 40-minute film of evocative words, music and images.

Frances and Joanna have performed as Turning the Elements for nearly 10 years, taking this intimate combination of instruments to audiences around the country, and they performed as part of the prestigious Made in Scotland Showcase, curated by Creative Scotland, in the Edinburgh Fringe of 2019. This is the second major work they have commissioned.

We are also thrilled to be Zooming to you from The Weaver's Room in Verdant Works. Thanks to Dundee Heritage Trust's Deirdre Robertson, for making it possible, and Wendy Gammie, for making it work!

The concert is free but donations can be made at www.friendsofwighton.com

Sheena Wellington is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Saturday 26th March, 2pm-3pm (waiting room open at 1.50pm)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85037688867?pwd=SWFXek1uc1ArdjhFeVBLTFIrVms4Zz09

Meeting ID: 850 3768 8867

Passcode: 255139

National Remembrance Day

At the request of St Paul's Cathedral, I am highlighting tomorrow evening's service on National Remembrance Day - all are very welcome!

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 21 MARCH 2022

City Road (Logie Street to Tullideph Road) – closed from Tuesday 15 March for one week for Scottish Water main repair.

Osborne Place (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 21 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Magdalen Yard Road - 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 21 March for 3 days for City Fibre works.

Shepherd’s Loan (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 28 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Perth Road (at Glamis Road) – temporary traffic lights on Monday 21 March for telecommunications mast maintenance.

Perth Road (at Seymour Street) – temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 March between 9.00am and 4.00pm for BT work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Glenagnes Road – closed from Monday 4 April for 5 days for carriageway patching works. Access will be maintained for residents.

Temporary Traffic Order - Glenagnes Road

From the City Council :

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of carriageway patching works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Glenagnes Road, (Blackness Road to Scott Street), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 4th April 2022 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available Blackness Road / Balgay Road / Scott Street and in reverse.

For further information contact 433168.

Executive Director

City Development Department,

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - rail noise complaints - action taken #dundeewestend

I am grateful to all residents who contacted me yesterday about the very noisy vegetation works noise by Network Rail that started overnight at about 3am and disturbed households in the Roseangle, Magdalen Yard Road and Bellefield Avenue areas.

I have made a complaint to Network Rail about its poor notification procedure.   It tells me that households within 200 metres of the rail line line work around Riverside Approach were notified in advance.   I have asked for the list of addresses notified (they could not say if letters were posted or hand delivered) but also made the point that given the noise levels 200 metres were thoroughly inadequate.

I have also queried the need to start this work as early as 3am.   I am continuing to pursue the matter on behalf of residents.

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

I have recently received complaints from residents about the deteriorating state of parts of the road surface of Saggar Street.

I have therefore raised this with the City Council seeking repairs to the road. 

Free orienteering session on Sunday! #dundeewestend

There's a free orienteering session on Sunday - 20th March - at Lochee Park and Balgay Park.

Details below ...

Update from Balgay Bowling Club #dundeewestend

 

Getting things done - Cambridge Street #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who contacted my colleague Michael Crichton recently about the dog bin near to Cambridge Street that had fallen over.

The West End Focus Team reported this to the council and has had a positive response indicating it will be put back in its correct position.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 14 MARCH 2022

Perth Road (at Millbay Gardens) – off‑peak temporary traffic lights until Monday 14 March for footway works.

West Port roundabout – lane closures for one week for BT work.

Blackness Road at junction with Balgay Road - 4 way temporary lights for 4 days from Monday 14 March for City Fibre works.

Strawberrybank (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 14 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Osborne Place (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 21 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Magdalen Yard Road - 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 21 March for 3 days for City Fibre works.

Shepherd’s Loan (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 28 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Perth Road (at Glamis Road) – temporary traffic lights on Monday 21 March for telecommunications mast maintenance.

Glenagnes Road – closed from Monday 4 April for 5 days for carriageway patching works. Access will be maintained for residents.

Another Dundee Women's Festival event!

From the Curator of  Museum Services at the University of Dundee : 

Let’s Go Round Again – the Women’s Angle

Tues 15th March, 6pm - 7pm, D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building

Our current exhibition in the Lamb Gallery, Let’s Go Round Again, showcases work by alumni of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art who studied from 1968-72. 

As part of the festival, this special event invites women artists and designers showing in the exhibition to discuss their time at art school and the challenges they faced as women in a male-dominated art world. 

Taking part in this live in-person discussion are alumni Sheila Mortlock, Anne Skinner, Janet Tod and Dorothy Walker and former staff member Sheila Macfarlane, then Head of Printmaking.

Places must be booked in advance at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-go-round-again-the-womens-angle-tickets-256051094717

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader raises Ryehill Health Centre with Cabinet Secretary for Health #dundeewestend

As recently reported in the Courier (see below), the Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has intervened in the Ryehill Health Centre concerns by raising the issue with Humza Yousaf, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Alex said :

“I have raised the concerns over Ryehill Health Centre with the health secretary at the request of West End Councillor Fraser Macpherson who has already asked NHS Tayside to consider taking over the running of the health centre rather than see it closed and the patients having to be disbursed to other GP practices.

“The impact of having to absorb 5400 patients into other local GP practices would be very significant, adding to pressure in these other practices but also meaning that all the Ryehill patients will have to be found new GPs – a huge task.

“It would make a lot of sense for the health board to take over the direct running of Ryehill and I have asked the health secretary to step in to ensure that NHS Tayside taking over the direct running of the health centre is firmly on the table.”

I had already written to Lorna Birse-Stewart, Chair of Tayside Health Board, and Grant Archibald, Chief Executive of NHS Tayside seeking clarification of the Health Board’s commitment to the 5400 Dundee patients affected by the proposed closure of the Ryehill Health Centre and saying it should do all it can to keep the practice open.

NHS Tayside needs to be much clearer as to how it will support the patients at Ryehill and I have asked for assurances that the Health Board has discussed all the options and will consider taking over the running of the health centre rather than see it closed and the patients disbursed to other GP practices.

NHS Tayside and the Health and Social Care Partnership have to be clear as to how it is tackling the Ryehill medical practice’s decision to relinquish its contract with the Health Board and supporting the thousands of patients involved to have access to GP services locally.

I cannot accept that, after so many years of service to the community, the approach of the Health Board is to simply accept it closes. It must look at the option of running the practice itself to keep it open. NHS Tayside already directly runs four GP practices across Tayside including the Maryfield Health Centre. If it can be done there, it can be done at Ryehill Health Centre.

I am very pleased that Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has now raised this with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care as we need assurances from ministers and from the health board that the proposal to save Ryehill Health Centre through direct NHS Tayside management will be actively considered by the Health Board.

It strikes me as infinitely preferable that the health board keeps the practice open under NHS Tayside management than closes it which would mean thousands of people having to be found a new GP. Adding 5400 people across the other GP practices in Dundee will simply add to the pressure on these practices and the quality of service and I don’t see that as in any way the best outcome.

Temporary Traffic Order - Magdalen Yard Road area

From the City Council :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating City Fibre cable installation works. The Order is expected to be in force for three weeks from 14 March 2022. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (1) Strawberrybank between Perth Road and Magdalen Yard Road, (2) Osborne Place between Shepherds Loan and Magdalen Yard Road and (3) Shepherds Loan between Perth Road and Magdalen Yard Road.

Only one road will be closed at any time.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Perth Road, Windsor Street and Magdalen Yard Road, (2) Shepherds Loan and Magdalen Yard Road and (3) Perth Road, Windsor Street and Magdalen Yard Road.

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS or phone 433082.

From the Friends of St Paul’s Cathedral

The Friends of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee invite you to ‘The Great Holy Work.’

Learn about the story of the building of St Paul’s and the people who built it.

Dr Aileen Black will talk about the extraordinary idea of building a church on the Castle Hill of Dundee. Aileen is a historian and a member of the Cathedral congregation.

After the talk there will be an opportunity to explore the Cathedral and look in more detail at some of the artworks and memorials that tell the story. 3.00 pm on Saturday 12th March 2022, with tea and cake.

Menzieshill Badminton Club at Harris Academy #dundeewestend

Getting things done - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Residents in Millhall Crescent and Newhall Gardens recently asked me if it would be possible to have a section of handrail on the hill up Riverside Drive from Newhall Gardens to the Perth Road.

What has highlighted this is that older residents no longer have access to the Blether Bus that used to serve Newhall Gardens and the only way to access public transport is to walk up the steep hill to Perth Road

I raised this with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and its senior engineer has responded very positively as follows :

"I have looked into the pavement and am in agreement

We will install a handrail on Riverside Drive from Newhall Gardens to Perth Road

I am awaiting a date from my contractor , when I have one I will let you know."

 

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 7 MARCH 2022

Perth Road (at Millbay Gardens) – off‑peak temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 22 February for 3 weeks for footway works.

West Port roundabout – lane closures for one week for BT work.

Scott Street (Glenagnes Road to City Road) – closed eastbound from Tuesday 1 March for one week for Scottish Water mains repair.

Tait’s Lane – closed from Wednesday 2 March for one week for Scottish Water mains repair.

Wright Avenue – closed from 7.30pm on Friday 11 March to 7.30am on Saturday 12 March for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Strawberrybank (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 14 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Osborne Place (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 21 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Magdalen Yard Road - 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 21 March for 3 days for City Fibre works.

Shepherd’s Loan (Magdalen Yard Road and Perth Road) – closed from Monday 28 March for 6 days for City Fibre works.

Perth Road (at Glamis Road) – temporary traffic lights on Monday 21 March for telecommunications mast maintenance.

Glenagnes Road – closed from Monday 4 April for 5 days for carriageway patching works. Access will be maintained for residents.

Getting things done - Graffiti tackled #dundeewestend

Many thanks to all the residents who recently reported an unfortunate spate of graffiti in streets including Pentland Crescent, Morven Terrace, Benvie Road and Pentland Avenue.

I reported all these to the council's Rapid Response Team and grateful for the team's prompt response in tackling these.

Dundee Women’s Festival

Dundee Women’s Festival starts today!

It is an annual event run in the Dundee and Angus area to span International Women’s Day on 8th March.

There's a great programme taking place and you can download it here.

Great initiative by West End Tennis Club for International Women's Day #dundeewestend

 

Temporary Traffic Order - Lochee Road and Cleghorn Street

From the City Council :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating road safety improvement works. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 7 March 2022. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily for all vehicular traffic (1) the right turn into Cleghorn Street for southbound traffic on Lochee Road, (2) the right turn into Rankine Street for northbound traffic on Lochee Road and (3) the right turn into Lochee Road from Cleghorn Street.

Parking at Lochee Road will be prohibited during the works.

An alternative route will be available via Lochee Road, Logie Street, Loons Road, Gardner Street and Rankine Street.

For more details, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS or call 433082.

Tea Dance tomorrow #dundeewestend

After the Community Cafe at the Friary in Tullideph Road tomorrow, there's an Afternoon Tea Dance!

All invited to come along for some tea and some dancing.

Getting things done - Hawkhill #dundeewestend

Residents recently highlighted to me the poor pavement surface on Hawkhill outside Sinderins Court.

I have therefore reported this to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership, requesting repairs.