Getting things done - Norwood Crescent

Constituents have raised with me the issue of the very poor road surface in Norwood Crescent at its junction with Blackness Road - see photo above.

I have raised this with the City Council and asked for repairs to be undertaken.

Roseangle Playpark campaign thanks Tay FM's Cash for Kids! @RoseanglePark @tayfm

This afternoon, I had the pleasure in taking part in a presentation photocall at the Roseangle Playpark to mark the very generous donation of £5 000 to the playpark campaign from Tay FM's Cash for Kids charity.

It was very generous of Cash for Kids to support the campaign and, as you can see below, many local children came along to the presentation with their parents to pass on everyone's thanks!

Great turnout!

And many thanks to the Tay FM Cash for Kids team!

Getting things done - Perth Road

Residents have a requested a bus shelter on Perth Road at either the Rockfield Street or Windsor Street stops, given how exposed it is there.

I raised this with the City Council and the Sustainable Transport Team Leader has advised:

We'll add this to the list of stops requiring shelters and put it through our scoring system.

Dundee Festival of Volunteering 2014 Launch Event tomorrow @DunFestVol2014

Getting things done - Larch Street

Residents have pointed out the lack of a 'Larch Street' sign at its west end, and, confusingly, an 'Edward Street' sign was recently placed at the back of the Fire Station, which is causing confusion with deliveries.   

I took this matter up with the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership who have advised as follows:

"The replacement street name plate for Edward Street recently erected on an existing pole behind the Give Way lines on Edward Street is in the correct location.   However, I would agree that there is nothing indicating the west-most end of Larch Street where it changes from Forest Park Place. 

An order will therefore be raised to erect a new street name plate on low level poles outside numbers 70 and 72 Larch Street within an approximate timescale of eight to ten weeks."

Update on Perth Road Branch of Royal Bank of Scotland

Earlier today, I met with senior Royal Bank officials as part of the campaign to prevent closure of the Perth Road Branch of the bank.

Over 370 local people have already signed my petition that allows residents to oppose the closure and calls on Royal Bank of Scotland to keep the branch open and I handed the petition to the Royal Bank representatives at the meeting.

What was very clear from the meeting is that the bank has decided to close the branch for commercial reasons and I reiterated my request to see usage statistics for the Perth Road branch over the past few years.   When I initially contacted the bank to express concern about the proposed closure, the bank’s response indicated that a key factor in its decision was drop in customer usage of the branch and it cited a 30% reduction in branch transactions since 2010 across its bank network.

Being aware of the fact that the branch continues to be very well used by customers in the local community, I have been asking for details of the actual customer usage at the branch in the past five years.   The bank has had to admit that customer use at the Perth Road Branch has not fallen in way usage has fallen in other branches.    But it has still not provided evidence of usage and seems determined to go ahead with closing the branch.

The bank officials today did give a commitment today to ensure that the transfer of some banking services for RBS customers across the road to the Perth Road Post Office will cover as comprehensive a set of services as possible.   Although that is positive in that it retains some banking services for RBS customers in Perth Road, it does rather rely on its continuance on an agreement with a third party - Post Office Limited.

I would like to thank all local people who have signed the petition against closure and also all who have written to RBS arguing for retention of the Perth Road Branch.    I will continue to argue against the closure of this well-used branch.

I was interviewed on STV News tonight about the issue and you can see this here.   I also spoke on Radio Tay News about the issue earlier today - click 'play' below to hear the interview:

Getting things done - Seymour Street

Residents have complained to me about the very poor condition of the roadway of Seymour Avenue, towards its north end - see right.

I have asked the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership for pothole repairs to be carried out here.

Community Job Shops

Details of our local community job shop at the Mitchell Street Centre are on the above poster, but you can download details of all the job shops across Dundee plus a high definition copy of the poster here.

West End Surgeries

Today is the Victoria Day holiday so my usual Monday ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and at the West Park Centre do not take place.   However, I can be contacted as follows:

E-surgery - e-mail esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk

Phone - Dundee 459378 at any time

My Thursday surgery at Blackness Primary School will take place later this week as usual at 6.15pm prompt.

Free creative writing event

From the Curator of Museum Services, University of Dundee :

Tomorrow, Tuesday 27th May at 6pm at the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, Carnelley Building, University of Dundee

One of the highlights of the Zoology Museum’s events programme, this annual event (now in its sixth year) features poetry and prose inspired by the museum and its founder, written and performed by Creative Writing students from the School of Humanities at the University of Dundee. 

The evening will be chaired by tutor Edward Small. 

Admission is free and there will be refreshments served after the event. 

Please enter by the front door of the Carnelley Building.

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee

THE NEXT BLETHER MEETING

WILL BE IN THE BURGH COFFEE HOUSE

COMMERCIAL STREET 

TUESDAY 27th MAY

7pm to 9pm 

THE THEME FOR THIS MONTH IS.................FAIRIES

HOPE TO SEE AS MANY OF OUR REGULARS AS POSSIBLE....AND SOME NEW FACES MAYBE?

More information about the group can be accessed here.

Time2Give newsletter

Time2Give, the West End's timebank, has recently launched a newsletter, with updates from the timebank and other articles.

You can download the newsletter here.

Time banking is a community based project, which promotes two way volunteering using time as its currency. Timebanks bring the community together and reward people for the help they provide to others in their neighbourhood.   

For further information, you can contact Time2Give by calling Vanya Zaczek on 07530 228810.

Forthcoming Riverside Nature Park events

A Glimpse of a Great Vision

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

A Glimpse of a Great Vision: The D’Arcy Thompson Art Fund Collection

On now - running until 26th July 2014

Tower Foyer & Lamb Galleries, Tower Building, University of Dundee

Monday to Friday 09.30-20.30 and Saturday 09.30-16.30

This major exhibition features the results of a two-year project by the University of Dundee funded by the Art Fund’s RENEW scheme to build a collection of significant artwork inspired by D’Arcy Thompson, our pioneer of life sciences. D’Arcy’s book On Growth and Form had a huge influence on some of the most important artists of the 20th century, and continues to act as an inspiration today. As well as work by notable figures such as Henry Moore, Victor Pasmore, William Turnbull and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, the collection includes recent work by Will Maclean, Andy Lomas and Marion Smith, and specially commissioned pieces created in direct response to the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum by Daniel Brown, Gemma Anderson, Roger Wilson and others. The exhibition features paintings, prints, sculpture, video and computer art, exploring the fascinating links between art and science. It will be accompanied by a new publication designed as a limited-edition artist’s book by David Faithfull.

To tie into the project and the exhibition the following event is running :

Artist’s Talk – Andy Lomas: Morphogenetic Creations

Friday 30th May, 5.30pm

D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, University of Dundee

To launch the exhibition A Glimpse of a Great Vision, digital artist and CG effects supervisor Andy Lomas will give a talk about his work and the influence D’Arcy Thompson has had on him and other digital artists. Andy’s production credits include Walking with Dinosaurs, The Matrix films and Avatar. Inspired by D'Arcy Thompson, he has been exploring how intricate complex organic forms can arise from the digital simulation of morphogenesis. This work is influenced by nature, but with the aim of investigating archetypal forms that can arise emergently from iterative growth-like processes rather than top-down externally engineered design.

He has had work in over 40 joint and solo exhibitions, including SIGGRAPH, the Japan Media Arts Festival, Festival Ars Electronica, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo, the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, and was selected by Saatchi Online to contribute to a special exhibition in the Zoo Art Fair at the Royal Academy of Arts. 

.@scotlibdems are the only party fighting to keep Scotland in Britain and in the #EU #whyiamIN

I'm supporting George Lyon MEP today!

Friends of Blackness meeting

Last night, I attended the latest Friends of Blackness meeting at Blackness Primary School.   Friends of Blackness covers the roles of both Parent Council and Parent Teacher Association.

Mr Ferrier, Head Teacher, reported that the recent school inspection by Education Scotland has now taken place.   The report on the inspection will be published immediately after the school summer holidays - on 26th August.

It was announced that the school's new website has been recently launched and you can access it here.     The Friends of Blackness also have a very active Facebook page that you can access here.

The school's summer fete is on Saturday 7th June at the school - 10am to 12 noon - don't miss it!

Getting things done - Blackness Avenue

Further to last week's Blackness walkabout that I undertook with council officers, I raised the poor condition of a tree bed in Blackness Avenue (see right) where the tree has been removed and a muddy trip hazard is left.

I asked the council's Forestry Section if they could plant a replacement tree and tidy up the bed area.

I have now received the following response :

This years annual street tree survey will be carried out mid / late summer.   All empty tree pits will be identified for potential replacement planting during this survey.   My intention will be to replant in this tree pit and we will top dress with wood chip as a weed suppressant and reduce the trip hazard. 

At present there are provisional plans to carry out tree pruning and felling works in Blackness Avenue and planting works will be carried out next planting season. In the short term prior to planting season I will arrange for the pit to be top dressed with wood chip.

Friends of Wighton forthcoming event

From Sheena Wellington :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library, Wellgate, Dundee

Cappuccino Concert, 24th May, 11am (doors open, coffee available from 10.30am)  

Tickets price £5 at the door.

Neil Paterson, traditional musician and singer

(This will be followed, at 12.15pm, by Friends of Wighton AGM)

Neil Paterson began learning bagpipes at the age of 12 and was taught first of all by his father, Peter.   He spent many years with his local pipe band - Kinross and District - as well as spells with Torphichen and Bathgate pipe band and  Kelty and Blairadam.   In 1991 he took up the Scottish small pipes having saved up every penny he earned to buy a set of Hamish Moore's pipes. A subsequent encounter with local Singer/songwriter John Watt led to the pair performing as a duo in Folk clubs and festivals for a few years. 

Since then Neil has worked with many traditional singers and bands including Pete Shepheard, Tommy Bonar and Jock Duncan as well as Jack Beck, Sheena Wellington, Tich Frier, Colin Ramage and Gaberlunzie. He was also part of 'The Keekin Gless', a group which also included Doris Rougvie,  Pete Clark, Ewen Sutherland and Carl MacDougal.

Together they performed songs, stories, poems and tunes from Perth and Kinross shire.   More recently, Neil has performed with The Carlos Nunez band and  The Chieftains.   Neil also plays tin whistle and Guitar. Much of his playing in recent years has been with 'The Orwell Ceilidh Band' along with his wife, Gail, on accordion. He also plays with 'Cairdeas', an exciting music and song trio which also includes Colin Ramage and Iain Anderson.  Neil also occasionally does solo gigs performing traditional material and some of his own music and songs. 

Getting things done - Douglas Street

Following complaints from residents about a significant amount of fly-tipping in Douglas Street, I contacted the City Council about this.   My thanks go to the Environment Department who reacted promptly and made a good job of cleaning the area up (see below).    I have also asked the department if it can remove the graffiti at the site.

Before

After

Dundee Festival of Volunteering 2014 Launch Event @DunFestVol2014

Road safety concerns - Ancrum Drive at Tullideph Road

Following residents raising concerns visibility exiting Ancrum Drive at the junction with Tullideph Road, I raised the matter with the City Council and have received the following feedback from the Team Leader in the Network Management Team :

I have carried out an initial inspection of this location and from my initial observations there are no sight line concerns exiting Ancrum Drive on to Tullideph Road. 

When exiting there is a bus stop to the north of the junction which will make reduce visibility whist the bus is stopped for a short period for pick up and drop off of passengers. Vehicles would have to pull in behind the bus until it pulls away. 

To the south of the junction there are mature trees in the footway which may affect visibility but I will consult with our Environment Department to clarify if there would be a tree preservation order for these trees. 

I have consulted with our Road Safety Team and there are no records of any safety issues for this junction. 

I will arrange for a more detailed site inspection ... for this junction.

Dr Hilda Spear

Hilda and me at Balgay a couple of years ago

It was with great sadness that I learned yesterday that Dr Hilda Spear has passed away.    Hilda was for many years the Chair of the Friends of Balgay and remained very active on the committee.

Hilda was a lovely lady who did so much for the local community through her work at and campaigning for Balgay Park.   

She will be very sadly missed indeed.

West End Local Community Planning Partnership meeting

Last night, after my ward surgery at Blackness Primary School, I attended the latest West End Local Community Planning Partnership (LCPP) meeting at Blackness Library.    

The LCPP meeting is a good opportunity for representatives from different council departments, West End councillors and representatives from other organisations like the NHS, police and fire and rescue to discuss local issues and matters of concern and, last night, we had a presentation on the proposals to improve the road, pavements, crossings and access at Riverside Drive.

We also had a good discussion on several West End issues.

Blackness area walkabout

Yesterday, along with council officers from Housing and Community Safety Wardens, I took part in a walkabout around the Blackness area.   The six-monthly walkabouts take place in a number of areas (Pentland and Logie are other examples) and are a useful way to look at local issues and problems and ensure these are taken up and resolved.

Here's a couple of issues picked up from yesterday's walkabout:

Eurobins in Peddie Street - I have raised the emptying schedule with the Environment Department

Tree bed in Blackness Avenue - now a muddy trip hazard since the removal of the tree - I have taken this up with the City Council

Time2Give forthcoming event

The West End's timebank, Time2Give is hosting a Coffee Afternoon as part of the Dundee Festival of Volunteering.

It will take place on Tuesday 3rd June from 2pm to 3.30pm at Blackness Library (upstairs meeting room).

Local mental health guitar group RockDee will perform at the Coffee Afternoon, where they will play a short twenty minute acoustic set.  This is their very first live performance so please come along to support them!

Afterwards people can enjoy some tea or coffee and cakes.

.@scotlibdems - the only party fighting to keep Scotland in Britain and in the #EU #whyiamIN

Dundee LibDems have been campaigning across the city for George Lyon, Scotland's hard-working Liberal Democrat MEP.    Today we were campaigning across the West End and Strathmartine areas.

Here's three of my colleagues, Daniel, Kat and Craig, in the Downfield area this afternoon:

Pharrell Williams - Happy - WE ARE FROM DUNDEE!

I was delighted to take part in the making of the Dundee version of Pharrell Williams' "Happy" - produced by Gary Robinson from Wave 102 and directed by Scott Sigsworth.   Released today, its already becoming a viral hit!    

Gary and Scott have done a great job and its great so many Dundee folk have taken part:

Getting things done : Wilkie's Lane

Last August, I had a site visit in Wilkie's Lane with Rev Leszek Wiecaszek, Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church, the Chair of St Josephs Parish Pastoral Council and two representatives of the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership.   

I had raised concerns from residents including members of the church about the state of the footpath at the south end of the lane and at the site visit, the council representatives agreed to progress improvements.

I am pleased to say the path has now been fully resurfaced (see right).

Friends of Magdalen Green Public Lecture & AGM

This evening, I was pleased to attend the Friends of Magdalen Green Public Lecture & AGM at Dundee West Church.     An interesting and entertaining address was given by Murray Nicoll of the Tay Valley Family History Society on West End connections to the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster - a couple of photos below:

Murray Nicoll addresses the meeting

Part of the audience tonight

Angela Mehlert, having served her full term of four years as Chair stood down as did I as Secretary, a post I have also held for the past four years.   The new Chair is Catherine Fairweather and Sandra McDowall is new Secretary.     Christine Thompson stood down as Treasurer earlier this year and new Treasurer is Sharon Dickie.

Angela, Christine & I were all very touched at the kind presentations given to us.    The Friends Committee is a great team and Angela and I are staying on the committee for 2014/15 - Angela as Vice Chair and myself as one of the ordinary committee members.   Much has been achieved over the past year, particularly in relation to the Roseangle playpark campaign, and an exciting year for the Friends lies ahead.

Dundee House disabled access to be repaired, council promises

Dundee City Council has promised to ensure a permanent solution to the broken electronic doors at its headquarters will be implemented by the end of May.

As I indicated on Wave 102 News, I had raised constituents’ complaints that the electronic doors at Dundee House have been out of action very regularly recently and it’s a real difficulty in particular for elderly people and people with disabilities as the manual doors are quite heavy and not that easy to operate.   It is extremely difficult for someone with a pram or in a mobility scooter or wheelchair to use the manual doors.

I contacted the council’s Director of City Development who has advised:

“There is a permanent solution, hopefully, to be implemented by the end of the month.  The doors had undergone a full service only to be damaged, that same day, by a customer leaving the building who forced the doors outward rather than use the pull handle or the automatic mechanism.  This repair was compounded by the suspended ceiling above dropping and preventing the doors from opening.  The ceiling has been repaired and we await the door contractor to come back to re-set the doors.  In addition we are looking to simplify the door signage to better highlight the push/pull nature of use.

There is no cost to DCC in having the doors repaired to date. We are still in the Defects period and the contractor has been responding to issues.”

I am pleased a proper solution is in sight as the current situation is far from satisfactory.   The council’s main public offices should be easily accessible at all times.

Forthcoming event at the Botanic Garden

West End Community Council meeting @DundeeWECC

This evening, I attended a well-attended meeting of West End Community Council.   There was a presentation by Ewan Duncan of Tayside Contracts on the proposal for new facilities at the Riverside Civic Amenity Centre for the recycling aggregates, and purifying waste water and gully waste.

We also discussed the Royal Bank of Scotland's proposal to close their Perth Road Branch.   It is very clear that the community is solidly against this proposal.   You can sign the petition against the closure here.

There was also an update from Solar Cities Scotland on their various projects in the West End, including their energy monitoring project, eco driving lessons and their thermal imaging survey.   You can read more about the work of Solar Cities Scotland here.

Getting things done : Clayhills Drive

I have received residents' complaints about graffiti on the north side of Clayhills Drive (see right).

I have reported this to the City Council's Rapid Response Team requesting that the graffiti is removed.

Dundee City Council meetings

This evening, after my weekly surgeries at the West Park Centre and the Mitchell Street Centre, I took part in this week's City Council meetings.

The Development Management Committee did not have any planning applications from the West End to consider.   After this committee, the Policy & Resources Committee discussed Fire & Rescue and Police matters.

I raised concerns about the rise in the number of deliberate secondary fires across the city and the Fire & Rescue service representative detailed steps the service (and the police) are taking to hopefully reduce this problem in the coming months.

I also highlighted the low detection rates relative to housebreaking - particularly low in the West End.   The police representative assured the committee that resource was being put into tackling this.

Harris Academy Transport Sub Group

This afternoon, along with my ward colleagues, Mr Laidlaw (Depute Head Teacher at Harris Academy) and Dundee City Council transportation officers, I took part in the latest meeting of the Harris Academy Transport Sub Group.

The meeting is a sub-group of the Project Board overseeing the Harris New Build Project and looks specifically at the school transport issues.

What is pleasing is that many of the issues about transport for West End-domiciled pupils have been tackled and bus operations are working well.    However, if any parent/guardian has any concerns about the bus arrangements, do please contact me at home on 459378.    

We discussed arrangements for new S1 pupils coming to the school in August for the first time from feeder primary schools, to ensure full information about transport is given to parents and guardians in advance of the new school year, and also discussed progress towards having travel entitlement added to pupils' national entitlement cards.

Perth Road Branch Royal Bank petition gathers pace

At lunchtime today, I was delighted to be joined by Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, and Dundee Liberal Democrat colleagues, as we collected more signatures from local residents, calling on the Royal Bank of Scotland to save the well-used Perth Road Branch of the bank.    See photo below:

I was interviewed today by Radio Tay News, Wave 102 News and STV News about the issue.   For the next 24 hours you can see the STV interview here.

Please support the campaign by signing the petition here.

West End Community Council Update for May 2014 @DundeeWECC

I have today launched my May 2014 Update to West End Community Council.

The Update covers the following issues:

• Lack of progress regarding parking improvements 

• Pavement - Perth Road at Ninewells Avenue roundabout   

• The Friends of Magdalen Green Annual General Meeting and Public Lecture

You can download the Update here.

The Community Council meets tomorrow night at 7pm at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall in Shaftesbury Terrace.   All residents welcome to attend.

Getting things done : Easson's Angle

Further to my article last week regarding concerns about fallen rubble sitting on the west pavement of Easson's Angle, I have been updated by the City Council as follows:

"The debris which had been dislodged from the wall coping and was lying on the footway in Easson's Angle was uplifted by Tayside Contracts on 6-5-14. 

The Road Maintenance Partnership inspector has reported back that the wall appears to be secure."

Morven Terrace and Ancrum Place sheltered housing

Towards the end of 2013,  I expressed concern about the Housing Department's decision to decommission two sheltered properties at the Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place sheltered housing without advising the sheltered tenants or local councillors.   Amenity Housing is being considered for a relatively small number of sheltered housing properties that the Housing Department is finding hard to let and is offered (without warden services) to persons over the age of 50.

Following a meeting I organised with the tenants at Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place that senior housing department also attended, there was a view from tenants that there is a need to exhaust all possibilities to get new sheltered tenants before any conversion to amenity housing.   These included clarity on the right of existing sheltered tenants aged under 75 to their sheltered TV licence, the position regarding council house sales and amenity housing and the possible viability of providing external lifts to the first floor properties at the Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place sheltered housing to make the upstairs flats more accessible [and therefore attractive] to sheltered tenants.

On the lifts proposal, the Housing Department has now advised me of the estimated costs the council’s architects have come up with:

Cost per block

1. Builder work to form shafts £ 9,900

2. Steelwork, lintels, render etc £ 5,200

3. Roof £ 4,000

4. Lift Car £30,000

5. Power etc £ 4,000

6. Prelims £ 8,000

7. Contingencies (10% as @ budget stage) £ 6,000

sub-total £67,100

8. Fees @8.5% £5,700 

Total £72,800

In response, I expressed astonishment at the cost and received the following feedback from the Housing Department:

The costs provided by City Architects are based on tender rates for similar works for recently competitively tendered projects.

These are substantial works including the need for 6.5m high rendered blockwork lift shaft, foundations and pit for the lift motor, the new lift shaft would have a mono pitch timber and single ply membrane roof. Allowances must be made for integration with the existing stairwell and the existing access deck at first floor level. Alterations to the existing access deck would also be required. 

Within the cost there is an allowance for a new three phase electrical supply required to power the lift, also links to telephone line and fire detection.  An allowance has been made for contractors preliminaries i.e. site set up and ongoing site running costs based on current pricing.   An allowance has also been made for contingencies to cover unforeseen costs which is standard estimating procedure. Design fees etc must also be included.

In addition to the installation costs there would be significant ongoing running costs associated with lifts including health and safety monthly maintenance visits, emergency call out response and reactive maintenance. 

There is no capital or revenue budget provision for such works. These are significant costs. Given that there is an overall surplus of sheltered accommodation within the City, from which the needs of those requiring sheltered housing can be met, it seems it would be difficult to justify such expenditure.

I have replied to the Housing Department stating that over £70k per block appears ridiculously high and the council should be seeking alternative quotes from the private sector.   The department has now agreed to do this and I will keep the tenants of Ancrum Place and Morven Terrace sheltered housing updated as I hear further from the department when alternative quotations are received.

Dundee Festival of Volunteering 2014 @DunFestVol2014

You can download the full festival brochure here.

Pavement - Perth Road at Ninewells Avenue roundabout

Some time ago, I raised with the City Council requests from constituents about improving the footway from Tom McDonald Avenue to the south side of Perth Road, near the roundabout with Ninewells Avenue.   There is no properly made up footway here.

The council gave a commitment to provide a footway but it has not been installed yet and I therefore asked for an assurance it will be done soon.    I am pleased to say that I have now received this update from the council’s City Development Department:

“The Engineers have carried out a site survey for the proposed footway link including drop kerb provision.

This scheme is currently being designed and will then be issued with a works order for construction this calendar year 2014.”

Road surface - Wright Avenue

Constituents have complained to me regarding the poor road surface on Wright Avenue - the road that leads to the Riverside Nature Park and the Civic Amenity Centre.

I raised this with the City Engineer who has responded as follows:

Wright Avenue is now wholly maintained by the Road Maintenance Partnership and is part adopted and part non adopted Council asset (the adopted section shown in blue on the plan below).

Orders were raised to repair a number of potholes from Riverside Avenue to the skips with a timescale for completion of within twenty eight days.

Originally it was planned to have the whole of Wright Avenue resurfaced as part of the proposed Park & Ride Scheme. 

However, now longer term, there is a proposal to create a gully emptying/street sweepings recycling facility at Riverside as part of a spend to save proposal and the whole of Wright Avenue carriageway is currently being considered for upgrading as part of this. 

These proposals are subject to funding being sourced and are not guaranteed to proceed at this stage. As such, Wright Avenue will continue to be inspected regularly and any actionable defects noted will be repaired to ensure safety is maintained.

Victoria Park Primary School : Children's Book Sale

Sale of Children's Books

Thursday 15th May between 6.30pm and 7.30pm 

Victoria Park Primary School

Junction of Blackness Road and Glenagnes Road

Dundee DD2 2AB

Hundreds of nearly new children's books for sale;

Picture books, Primary age and Teen Fiction

All recently published.

Paperbacks £1, Hardbacks £2.

This is the annual book sale of the Dundee and Area Children's Book Group which tests books for the Red House Children's Book Award.

Wednesday activities

This morning, I had useful site visits with roads inspection staff from the City Council looking at poor pavement condition in part of Perth Road and also the poor conditioned road surface at the busy Balgay Road/Blackness Avenue/Blackness Road junction (see right).

With regard to this roads junction, I am pleased to say that the junction will be reinstated with work starting next Monday (12th May) - weather permitting.   The work will take a maximum of 2 days but might be completed in one day.   As temporary traffic lights will be required during the improvements work, these will be put in place only after the rush hour on Monday morning.

Later this morning, I had a very useful meeting with our new senior police officer for the West End (and the remainder of what the police term 'Dundee South') Inspector Gary Ogilvie, at which we discussed West End policing issues.

Earlier tonight,  I attended the Annual General Meeting of Community Spirit - the community group for the "north" part of West End Ward, covering Tullideph, Pentland, Ancrum and the Cleghorn area.   The meeting took place in the Mitchell Street Centre.

Guest speaker was Ian Ford of the Friends of Riverside Nature Park, who gave a very interesting presentation on the development of the park.    Thereafter, I had the pleasure of chairing the actual AGM part of the meeting.    Sandra Myles stood down as Chair after four very successful years in the role and we all thanked Sandra for all she has done for the group and the local area - I'm pleased to say Sandra will still be attending Community Spirit's meetings.   

New Chair is George Chalmers and Len Jamieson is continuing as Secretary.

One final update for today.   Residents complained to me that the dog bin in Logie Avenue at Ashbank Road was "rather full" - as you can see (left) that's rather an understatement!   The Environment Department has assured me this will be urgently tidied.