Getting things done - Perth Road #dundeewestend

Residents have contacted us about the poor state of the BT phone box in Perth Road at the Miller's Wynd car park. Fraser is pictured at the box which is in a poor state of cleanliness.

We contacted BT about this who advised :

"I will arrange for the kiosk to be cleaned within the next 5 working days."

We also asked if the company would consider changing the phone box to a 'red heritage style' traditional phone box as many residents have said this would be more in keeping with the conservation area.

However, the BT response was not positive on that aspect as the company says it will never replace phone boxes like this one with the red boxes - a disappointing response.

Getting things done - Glenagnes Road #dundeewestend

Fencing along part of the east side of Glenagnes Road down from the West End schools campus has been log deteriorated and the land behind it is very overgrown and unsightly.

Residents asked us to try to find out who is in ownership and, with thanks to the council's Private Sector Services Unit, ownership has been traced and the agent asked to have the fence replaced and the land tidied.

Dundee University Swing Dance Society #dundeewestend

The Dundee University Swing Dance Society recently contacted us, advising us :

"We teach and dance timeless vintage dances like lindy hop, charleston and solo jazz.

We are hoping to reach out to the people in the local community and last time we were dancing at the Magdalen Green jazz band concert, a few ladies have reached out to us for more information."

We have assisted the society to get publicity about its classes onto local community noticeboards in the West End.

The society's taster class is tomorrow - Thursday 29th September - at 7pm at DUSA on floor 5.

This event is open to everyone - both students and non-students. You don't need a partner and you don't need any special equipment.

Just bring yourself, clothes/shoes you can move in and some water as swing can get pretty warm.

All welcome and more details at www.facebook.com/events/1119493702013955

Zumba at Victoria Gardens #dundeewestend

Residents are very welcome to join Get Out Get Active Tayside at Victoria Gardens on Blackness Road for Zumba with Nazhat - every Wednesday at 12 noon.

This is a low impact Zumba class consisting of fun, choreographed dance routines designed to get you moving and make you smile!

No sign up required - just pop along and join in.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed until 26 December 2022 at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to 3 weeks for Scottish Water emergency works.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Tuesday 20 September for 2 weeks.

Blackness Road (at Jedburgh Road) – temporary traffic lights for one week for Scottish Water work.

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside Place) – closed from Monday 26 September or Tuesday 27 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works. (We are seeking clarification on the start date).

Forthcoming Roadworks

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Friday 14 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) - closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Tackling unwanted phone calls

We were interested to learn recently that more than 1 million nuisance or scam calls have been blocked in East Renfrewshire thanks to the installation of call blockers which stop over 95% of suspect calls.

A total of 1,033 trueCall units have been installed by East Renfrewshire Council since 2012, which aim to protect older and vulnerable residents from nuisance and scam phone calls.

The roll out of trueCall units is expected to have saved vulnerable households approximately £6m with an estimated 2,033 scams prevented.

We have therefore been in touch with Dundee City Council to see if this could be rolled out in Dundee.

As initially offering this service to sheltered housing and vulnerable tenants would be an obvious place to start, we raised this with the Director of Neighbourhood Services who leads the housing service and have been promised that the department will investigate our request to look into the viability of providing this service in Dundee.

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

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

Once again we are meeting in person at Dudhope Castle this coming Tuesday - 27th September.

Time : 7pm to 9pm

Venue: Dudhope Castle

Dudhope Park

Our theme this month if you need one is "Games."

Join us with a story or just come to listen. There are many types of games that feature in stories, depending on the definition of game; those that are played briefly for fun, celebratory and annual competitions and contests, tricks and pranks, and the games people play.

Join us with a story to tell or just come to listen.

It is not a cafe but we do have access to a kettle and we'll bring some tea and coffee but if you'd prefer, you are welcome to bring your own.

Hope to see you there.   

Road safety at Blackness Primary School - an update #dundeewestend

Residents and parents of pupils at Blackness Primary School have been in touch following Tuesday's worrying incident at the Hawkhill side of the school where an out of control vehicle hit the barriers on the pavement, shortly after the end of the school day. Police Scotland has traced the driver, who has been charged.

One lady was unfortunately bruised although the outcome could have been a lot worse. Thank goodness no-one was seriously hurt.

We immediately asked for barrier repairs as the previous barriers were totally mangled. We were assured by the Roads Maintenance Partnership that a temporary arrangement was put in place soon after the incident and permanent reinstatement will happen as soon as possible.

However, both the school parent council – Friends of Blackness – and ourselves feel that, in light of this worrying incident, a full safety audit must be undertaken in relation to pupil safety existing the school and heading north to Hawkhill.

We requested this of the Head of Sustainable Transport and Roads at the City Council. Pupil safety is paramount so a full review of the safety situation here really is required.

The council's Traffic and Road Safety Team Leader has updated us as follows - "I will have someone have a look at the site to see if there is anything amiss ... I will also have a look at this accident record of this location as a check to make sure there is no other underlying issues."

Getting things done - Roseangle #dundeewestend

Michael is pictured at the Roasengle/Perth Road junction where there are concerns about pedestrian safety crossing.

One resident advised :

"My husband and I have been finding the crossing at Roseangle and Perth Road especially unnerving for pedestrians. Specifically when crossing the top of Roseangle going east/west. The geometry of the road means that cars traveling along Perth Road westwards and making a left turn onto Roseangle don’t need to slow down.

I had a car cut me off like this when I was half way through crossing the other day at intimidating speeds.

Changing the shape of the sidewalk or putting posts out part way would make the angle more acute and require cars to slow to make left turns. I think this traffic calming measure would beneficially impact pedestrians in the area, especially with the newly redone Seabraes park nearby."

We have raised this concern with the council's Road Safety Team Leader and will keep residents updated on this issue.

Kidical mass bike ride next Saturday #dundeewestend

Getting things done - Blackness Avenue #dundeewestend

Residents recently highlighted to us that the 'tactiles' at the crossing in Blackness Avenue at the Sinderins junction are badly deteriorated.

We raised this with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and have received a helpful reply promising replacement tactiles being installed.

HM The Queen

As a mark of respect, there will be no social media posts from us tomorrow, the day of the state funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.

A National Moment of Reflection for Her Majesty will take place at 8pm this evening, which will be marked by a one-minute silence.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works. Start date Monday 27 June for 6 months.

Hillcrest Road - closed at No 23 until 20 September for redevelopment works on existing house. Closures will be intermittent and each should last no more than several days.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to 4 weeks for Scottish Water emergency works.

Cleghorn Street at junction of Rosebery Street – 4 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 5 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road at Forest Park Place – 3 way temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 6 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road between Bankmill Road and Rosefield Street – road closed from Thursday 8 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Easson’s Angle – road closed from Monday 12 September for 6 days for CityFibre work.

Lochee Road - pedestrian lights and road narrowing from Monday 12 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Rosebery Street – 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 12 September for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Tuesday 20 September for 2 weeks.

Fyffe Street – temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 20 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Blackness Road (at Marchfield Road) – temporary traffic lights Wednesday 21 September for loop cutting work.

Blackness Road (at Jedburgh Road) – temporary traffic lights Thursday 22 to Wednesday 30 September for Scottish Water work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside place) – closed from Monday 26 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Lochee Road at Polepark Road - temporary traffic lights from Wednesday 28 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Park Street and Ash Lane – lane closure / road closure from Monday 3 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Monday 10 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Union Street) – closed from Monday 10 October for 9 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) - closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Update on the path from Tait's Lane to Peddie Street #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that we have raised the poor condition of the pathway from Tait's Lane to Peddie Street and yesterday we had a very positive site visit with officers from the council's environment management and a Tait's Lane resident about improving the lane.

It was agreed that the dumped items in the lane will be removed, graffiti tackled and over the winter months the weeds and overgrowth will be removed.

The resident who met us yesterday had the very positive suggestion of community use of the beds to allow local residents in Peddie Street and Tait's Lane who are interested to tend a bed each in the lane.   

There will be engagement with neaby residents about this over the winter months too.   Meantime, if any resident has feedback on this proposal, please get in touch - many thanks.

Elliot Road tennis courts - your views appreciated! #dundeewestend

For some time, residents have raised concerns about the deteriorated state of the Elliot Road playing field's tennis courts.

We had raised this with the City Council and, yesterday, Fraser took part in a very useful meeting including representatives from Dundee City Council, Harris Academy, sports clubs representatives and WECSH, the West End Community Sports Hub.

As an immediate step, Neighbourhood Services at the City Council will undertake some work to get rid of the weeds and roll the surface.

However, the main purpose of the meeting was to have some initial discussions about possible long-term improvements to hopefully create a multi-use games area to provide a multi-sport all weather facility.    This would, should it prove possible, benefit Harris Academy and its curriculum delivery but also have very positive West End community benefit.

We have agreed to take initial steps to look at possible partnership funding and delivery models but meantime Fraser would welcome feedback from residents on this by either Facebook message or by e-mailing him at fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk - many thanks!

Getting things done - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Back in October 2021, Fraser had a site visit with a member of West End Community Council and a City Council officer about several issues on Riverside Drive.

We agreed that some cycle parking provision just east of the car park at the Bridgeview Station Restaurant would be a good idea, particularly as there was plenty space for this.

Fraser raised this with the City Development Department at the council and received a positive response.

It has taken a little time to deliver as it was tied into another project delivery schedule but we are pleased to say it has now been installed.

Dundee Art Society event #dundeewestend

This Friday evening - 16th September - from 7pm-9pm - sees the first in a series of free to attend talks by artists and speakers on varied and colourful topics showing the world of art in all its forms.

This will be hosted by Dundee Art Society at the Roseangle Gallery.

This Friday evening the talk and demonstration is by Karen van de Graaf, portrait artist.

Karen is known for her high speed portraits as an official artist at the Fringe Festival, landscapes, cityscapes and animal portraits and finds the experience she gained at the Fringe enhances the life in her paintings. 

Karen’s art conveys energy and her passion for colour. She uses different mediums including charcoal, watercolour, oil, soft pastel and inks. She enjoys making art using both a traditional approach to painting and a more abstract method.

Cost of living drop-in events

The cost of living crisis is making finances difficult to manage for many households.

To help with this, Dundee Citizens’ Advice Bureau is holding group sessions in Central Library to offer advice and information on the support that may be available the first one is this Thursday.

Dates:

Thursday 15th September, 11am - 12 noon

Thursday 22nd September, 11am – 12 noon

Thursday 29th September, 11am – 12 noon

Thursday 6th October, 11am – 12 noon

For more information, phone 431500.    No booking required, all welcome!

Fraser has been in touch with Dundee CAB's manager who advises "The library approached us to ask if we would be willing hold sessions for their service users.  They are expecting an influx of people using their services.

"So we are going to trial this for these dates and if it is successful, we would be willing to do this across Dundee for service users of other libraries. We could cover fuel poverty and the cost of living crisis."

This is an excellent initiative by Dundee CAB and we hope that, if successful, other locations such as Blackness Library could be considered for future drop-ins.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works. Start date Monday 27 June for 6 months.

Hillcrest Road - closed at No 23 until 20 September for redevelopment works on existing house. Closures will be intermittent and each should last no more than several days.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to one week for Scottish Water emergency works.

Cleghorn Street at junction of Rosebery Street – 4 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 5 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road at Forest Park Place – 3 way temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 6 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road between Bankmill Road and Rosefield Street – road closed from Thursday 8 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Easson’s Angle – road closed from Monday 12 September for 6 days for CityFibre work.

Lochee Road - pedestrian lights and road narrowing from Monday 12 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Hawkhill (at Peddie Street) – temporary traffic lights Monday 12 (9am) to Tuesday 13 September (6am) for Scottish Water work.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Friday 16th September for 2 weeks.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Fyffe Street – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside place) – closed from Monday 26 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Monday 3 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Union Street) – closed from Monday 10 October for 9 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) - closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Temporary Traffic Order - Polepark Road

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 footway resurfacing works. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 16 September 2022. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all southbound vehicular traffic in Polepark Road from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road.

An alternative route will be available via Lochee Road, East Marketgait, Hawkhill, Horsewater Wynd, Guthrie Street and Brook Street.

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS - phone 433168.

Temporary Traffic Order - Easson's Angle and Fleuchar 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 City Fibre duct installation works. The Order is expected to be in force for eight days from 12 September 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) Eassons Angle from Fleuchar Street to Milnbank Road and (2) Fleuchar Street at its junction with Eassons Angle.

An alternative route will be available via Milnbank Road, City Road, Cleghorn Street and Benvie Road.

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

Getting things done - Invergowrie Drive #dundeewestend

Fraser is pictured in Invergowrie Drive where a parts of the waiting restrictions have become faded - particularly in the cul-de-sacs.

We contacted the Roads Maintenance Partnership about this and were given the following positive response :

"I have been in touch with Tayside Contracts to have the double yellow lines on Invergowrie Drive - including the cul de sacs - refreshed."

We are pleased to say this work was undertaken last week.

Temporary Traffic Order - Milnbank 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 City Fibre duct installation works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Milnbank Road (from Rosefield Street to Forest Park Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Thursday 8 September 2022 for 3 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Rosefield Street / Blackness Road / Forest Park Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - Miller's Wynd car park #dundeewestend

Michael is pictured at the Miller's Wynd car park entrance, where the wall was hit by a vehicle and is requiring repair.

We raised this with the City Council and have been assured that an Order for repairs has now been made.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works. Start date Monday 27 June for 6 months.

Hillcrest Road - closed at No 23 until 20 September for redevelopment works on existing house. Closures will be intermittent and each should last no more than several days.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to one week for Scottish Water emergency works.

Cleghorn Street at junction of Rosebery Street – 4 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 5 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road at Forest Park Place – 3 way temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 6 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road between Bankmill Road and Rosefield Street – road closed from Thursday 8 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Easson’s Angle – road closed from Monday 12 September for 6 days for CityFibre work.

Lochee Road - pedestrian lights and road narrowing from Monday 12 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Rosebery Street – 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 12 September for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Hawkhill (at Peddie Street) – temporary traffic lights Monday 12 (9am) to Tuesday 13 September (6am) for Scottish Water work.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Friday 16th September for 2 weeks.

Fyffe Street – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside place) – closed from Monday 26 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Monday 3 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Union Street) – closed from Monday 10 October for 9 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) - closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Environmental improvements for Perth Road area #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that we recently posted 'concept drawings' of possible environmental improvements that could be funded through the Town Centre Fund.

In terms of possible viable projects, three were identified - Pennycook Lane outside the police station, the Miller's Wynd car park and area around the West End Community Fridge and the Sinderins "triangle."

The drawings we previously circulated covered the area round the car park and in front of the police station.

The council's City Development Department has now provided similar drawings for the Sinderins "triange" - a site that, in our view is crying out for an upgrade.

The council would welcome feedback - but firstly a few points the department gave us about the drawings!

* The colours shown on the sketches are not fixed and appear more vivid that they’ll be in real life (that’s just a consequence of the software used for the sketching).

* The existing seating will be removed and refurbished – it is anticipated that the seating will likely be re-used at a later date in Taits Lane.

 

* The design of the seating could be either a modern style similar to https://www.allurban.co.uk/portfolio-items/neoromantico-clasico/ or a more heritage look like the seating already installed at Seabraes. The colour of the metalwork can also be chosen by the community.

 

* No additional lighting is proposed at this stage, though the council would be happy to consider that.

We would add that refurbishing the existing seating and relocating it to Tait's Lane would be most welcome as we have previously raised with environment management the poor condition of the existing seating there.

The last Tay Spinners at Verdant Works #dundeewestend

It was a pleasure recently to meet Andrew Cronshaw whose exhibition "The last Tay Spinners" is currently taking place at Verdant Works.

The exhibition documents one of the last days of jute spinning at Tay Spinners in Dundee before closure in 1998. 

Using colour and black and white photographs, 27 people are shown at work in the mill.    The pictures record the processing of raw jute into finished yarn. 

The exhibition also includes artworks created during lockdown based on the photographs.

Well worth a visit - admission free!

Friends of Royal Victoria Hospital tea, coffee and cake sale! #dundeewestend

The Friends of Royal Victoria Hospital are pleased to be restarting their tea, coffee and cake sale after a pause during the COVID pandemic.

The bake sale will take place at The Bistro on the first Saturday of the month, starting tomorrow - Saturday 3rd September - from 2pm to 4pm.

A beautiful West End garden! #dundeewestend

Many thanks to Mr James Stirton of Hyndford Place for sending us photos of his beautiful front garden, which he has again taken part in the City Council's garden and allotment competition.

Mr Stirton also takes part in vegetable exhibitions too.