Getting things done - Seabraes fencing damage #dundeewestend

Residents contacted me after Storm Arwen at the end of November about the damage to the fencing through the Seabraes site along the path from Roseangle to Greenmarket.

The fencing is owned by Scottish Enterprise and fences off the area that was subject to decontamination works over the past decade.

I am grateful to Scottish Enterprise for promptly ensuring that exposed nails on parts of broken fencing was promptly dealt with and work commenced to repair the fallen sections of fencing.

I asked, on behalf of residents, if the fencing would be repaired or simply removed as the decontamination works were completed some time ago.

The position of Scottish Enterprise is that the fencing will be retained and repaired and has advised as follows :

"The decontamination works on the site were completed in 2017.  

Since then the focus has been on improving onsite drainage and surface water, with remedial work undertaken onsite and in the gardens of (two properties in) Roseangle.  

Discussions are continuing with Network Rail in relation to the use of an outfall pipe which would release the surface water capacity required to develop the site. 

However progress on that continues to be slow given the pipe was installed back in 1990 and locating wayleave is proving difficult."

Bus services changes affecting West End from 3rd January #dundeewestend

Xplore Dundee is making several changes to bus services from next Monday, 3rd January.

+ I am very pleased at the launch of a new Service 6 linking Ninewells with Menzieshill, Elmwood Road, Tullideph Road, Pentland Avenue, Blackness Road and the city centre.  This will operate hourly and is good news as it assists with provision of services around Ancrum Road and Tullideph Road, something I have been campaigning for since the Service 17 was re-routed right along City Road.

+ The Service 9/10 (Outer Circle) is renumbering as Service 10 - a service linking communities to the north of the city.  Service 5 and 10 will interlink to provide a full circular service across Dundee. 

+ There will be some slight timetable adjustments to Service 28 (between 8am and 6pm) to improve punctuality.   Also. the new 'Electric Emerald' buses to go into service on the Service 28 route, Dundee's first zero-emission buses.    I am pictured at the launch event for the Electric Emerald buses which will assist tackle the air quality issues on Lochee Road.

Full details of all the changes are available at www.xploredundee.com/2022Changes

Getting things done - Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road #dundeewestend

Residents have contacted me expressing concern at the speed with which some vehicles approach the roundabout at the bottom of Ninewells Avenue that links the street to Perth Road.    Several have suggested that additional SLOW markings should be added at approaches to the roundabout.

I highlighted this to the City Council and the Traffic and Road Safety Team Leader has responded helpfully as follows :

"I will get one of my colleagues to have a look on site at this roundabout and see if installing a couple of SLOW markings down is appropriate.

SLOW markings can be used to warn drivers of a potential hazard and where speeds need to be moderated. We just need to make sure that there is not an over proliferation of them as they lose their effectiveness as drivers would start to ignore them."

Getting things done - South Tay Street #dundeewestend

Residents will have noticed that there were three street lights at the north end of South Tay Street have not been working, making that end of the street very dark. There was also a light out in the nearby council car park.

I have had several complaints about this and reported this to the Street Lighting Partnership Manager.

I have since had this update :

"We are aware of these lights but unfortunately, we are having issues sourcing components to repair them.

As we have been unable to source replacement parts for the lights, we have removed them and replaced them with some temporary fittings to at least keep the area lit."

Getting things done - Cambridge Street #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who recently contacted me about the street sign in Cambridge Street at the Oxford Street end - it is broken and half of it is missing.

I have therefore asked the roads maintenance partnership to replace it.

Have an enjoyable Boxing Day!

 

A very Happy Christmas! #dundeewestend

Recycling and trade waste collections over the festive season

Dundee household bin, recycling and trade waste collections will be unaffected and remain as normal this festive period.

See the full information about the festive waste and recycling arrangements, including the recycling centres, go to www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/neighbourhood-services/environment/festive-arrangements

Getting things done - Mid Wynd #dundeewestend

Residents have contacted me about the terrible mess of bird droppings on the pavement and handrail on the left side of Mid Wynd.

I asked the council to power wash this but also asked the landlord of the adjacent Ryehill flats to add measures to the building roof edge to stop pigeons perching at the roof edge.

Food assistance over the Festive Season

Faith in the Community Dundee has compiled a very helpful list of available food provision over the festive season, which you can read at :

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DiOEIADwE8DqmGjeRmz4NEmDneYsO9_N/edit

Getting things done - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Residents contacted me about the overgrown foliage on the west side of the part of Riverside Drive going northwards from the roundabout at the Riverside Inn towards the Botanic Garden.

I raised this with the City Council and am most grateful for the work that was subsequently carried out.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEKS COMMENCING MONDAY 20 DECEMBER 2021 TO 7 JANUARY 2022

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) for one week for chimney repairs.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Perth Road (between Riverside Crescent and Riverside Place) - rolling 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 10 January for 5 days for City Fibre works.

Perth Road – westbound lane closure (off-peak) between Blackness Avenue and Windsor Street from Monday 24 January for 10 days for Road Safety works.

Call for action on West End parking charges given "work from home" instruction

I have today strongly criticised Dundee City Council’s lack of action to suspend parking charges in residential areas of the West End, despite the First Minister’s instruction - as a result of the latest COVID situation and the Omicron variant – to work from home if possible.

On behalf of residents, I contacted the City Council to suggest that the council suspend car parking charges while the new “work from home” instruction was in force. However the response from the council’s Head of Sustainable Transport and Roads indicated :

“I can confirm that the Council is not planning to suspend parking charges at this time.”

I am very critical of the council’s inaction on this which flies in the face of the Scottish Government’s instruction to work from home given the latest turn of events on COVID.

The council is placing a disincentive to working from home – something that is not, in my view, a responsible approach.

The West End is unique in the city in having the only Dundee car parks in residential areas with parking charges but without any form of residents’ parking scheme, due to the failure of the administration to make progress on the issue.

We now have a situation where people are being expected to work from home but the council is putting a clear disincentive by taxing residents for doing so.

Because the council will not act to suspend car parking charges, I am taking the bull by the horns and have placed an item on the next City Development Committee which, if successful, would suspend the parking charges meantime.

I would much rather the council had acted responsibly and suspended the car parking charges straight away. Even if I am successful at City Development Committee in getting the charges suspended, committee will not meet until into January, so this is unnecessarily delayed.

West End Christmas Fortnight - the winners! @WEndChristmas #dundeewestend

 

Good news on St Joseph’s and Victoria Park primaries school crossing patroller #dundeewestend

Residents will recall my update in September expressing concern about the proposal to decommission the school crossing patroller point in City Road at Milnbank Gardens – something I, parents and carers felt would be seriously detrimental to the Victoria Park PS and St Joseph’s RC PS pupils crossing here and completely unacceptable.

I had made clear to the City Council my strong objection to any such proposal and I am pleased to say that this - and the objections of parents and carers - has led to a rethink and it has been agreed to pause the process until the end of May 2022 and seek a replacement school crossing patroller meantime.

It is not necessarily a permanent reprieve but helpful meantime.

I will continue to oppose any moves to remove this school crossing patroller in the future should the matter be revisited.

The Head Teachers are today issuing a letter to parents and carers as follows :

“Decommission School Crossing patroller point – City Road at Milnbank Gardens

I refer to my letter dated 10 November regarding the above subject. Children and Families Service has now completed the consultation stage of the proposal to decommission the above point. There has been one response received from a parent/ carer of pupils attending West End Campus Primary Schools in regards to decommissioning this point. After due consideration it was concluded that although this point has not met the ROSPA/Road Safety GB criteria both in May 2021 and September 2021 we shall put on hold the decommissioning process at this stage.

It should be noted the feedback from the parent commented that the current position of the school crossing patroller point is not situated where the parents /children are crossing. Tayside Contracts has carried out a risk assessment of City Road and have situated the school crossing patroller at an appropriate point on the road which is a safe location. The position that parents wish the point to be situated is at the end of Scott Street which has been risk assessed as not suitable.

The point is currently vacant, Tayside Contracts will attempt to populate the point on a temporary basis from January until the end of May 2022. If at this stage the point is assessed and meets the criteria Tayside  

Contracts will appoint a permanent school crossing patroller, if the point does not meet the criteria for a third time then we will commence the decommission process again.

When the post has been repopulated we would encourage parents and young people to use the school crossing point to ensure that the point meets the criteria when it is reassessed. Children and Families and Tayside Contracts Officers will work with members of the parent council to support this process.”

The school crossing patroller post is presently vacant and please see the image advertising the vacancy.

Getting things done - Hillside Drive #dundeewestend

Residents recently contacted me to say that there is no longer any 'no through road' signage at the cul de sac at the north end of Hillside Drive.

I raised this with the roads maintenance partnership and have received the following helpful response :

"Bailie Macpherson - We have had a look at the complaint. We agree and have put in an order for new sign and pole."

Getting things done - Roseangle #dundeewestend

Residents contacted me to advise that the security fencing in front of the empty property at 2 Roseangle had moved and was blocking much of the pavement.

I contacted the City Council about this and am grateful to the Buildings Safety team who have put the fencing back in place.

Riverside West End Girls Academy

 

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 13 DECEMBER 2021

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40 metres) for 4 weeks for chimney repairs.

Greenmarket – temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 14 to Sunday 19 December for BT work.

Getting things done - Menzieshill Road #dundeewestend

A bit of a tale here ...

Some years ago, in two tranches, the long stretch of unadopted and very poor conditioned pavements in Menzieshill Road were upgraded and adopted by the City Council.    I had asked for the street to be added to the unadopted footpaths list, so was pleased at the much better pavements that resulted from this.

However, a section of the footpath on the south side, just west of the junction with Whitefauld Road, was left untouched (and in a poor state).    I queried this on behalf of residents and was advised that it could not be improved under the unadopted footpaths programme as the pavement there had already been adopted by the council.   That did not alter the fact that the pavement there was in a poor state of repair.

I therefore asked that the council add this to the list of adopted pavements to be resurfaced and, after a few reminders about its poor state, was given a promise it would be done this financial year.

... and the pavement improvement has now taken place!      Many thanks to the Roads Maintenance Partnership for a quality result.

Final day of West End Christmas Fortnight 2021! #dundeewestend

Today sees the final day of West End Christmas Fortnight 2021!    

Here's the events today :

12 noon to 4pm – Community Wardrobe – Gate Church – Free clothes/shoes/accessories for everyone. Please book at www.gatechurch.co.uk/carbonprojectevents or call Dundee 221222. 

12.30pm – The West End Christmas Fortnight Primary 6 football competition at Harris Academy.  With thanks to the schools for all their help with this.   P6 teams participating from our local primary schools.   Unfortunately spectators are not possible this year due to COVID-related safety measures.

2pm to 4.30pm - D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum Open Day - Carnelley Building, off Park Place, University of Dundee.    A chance to see D’Arcy’s amazing collection of animals from around the world, as well as the new exhibition The Nature of Empire.   Details and booking at www.tiny.cc/DArcy-Thompson

6.30pm start – Santa Cavalcade round the West End – Dundee Round Table.  Santa will visit the children of the West End!   His sleigh will leave the Clovis Duveau Drive area at 6.30pm and travel round Glamis Road, Blackness Road, Elliot Road, Pentland Crescent, Forest Park Road and Magdalen Yard Road areas.  The Round Table’s Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/DundeeRoundTable 

Getting things done - Pentland - an update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that some weeks ago, I mentioned I had reported to the City Council the path from Saggar Street running along Pentland Crescent towards Pentland Avenue which had the foliage from a rather overgrown tree causing an obstruction.

I have since been given this helpful update from the council's Neighbourhood Services :

"In short we have imminent plans to crown lift this Weeping Willow tree and one or two other Weeping Willow trees in the same area. 

To prune this tree properly we require to use a platform which has been arranged."

Dundee Art Society - Roseangle - Exhibition runs until Saturday! #dundeewestend

 

Barnardos online volunteering event

Barnardos is hosting an online event tomorrow about volunteering opportunities - details below :

West End Christmas Concert tonight - don't miss it! #dundeewestend

The West End Christmas Concert and Community and Business Awards - featuring our local schools, community organisations, West End businesses and churches takes place tonight at 6.30pm.

You can view this online on the Christmas Fortnight Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WestEndChristmas

Many thanks to all who have taken part and a particular thanks to Rev Dr Jim Connolly, David Milne, Felicity Wright, Rick Curran, Greig Thomson and Scott Gordon, all of whom have been instrumental in making the concert and awards a reality!

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 6 DECEMBER 2021

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) for 4 weeks for chimney repairs.

Tay Square – closed on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December for Virgin Media work.

Glamis Drive - road closure at Invergowrie Drive on Wednesday 8 December for one day for City Fibre works.

A Community Christmas - later today! #dundeewestend

“A Community Christmas” is taking place later today in the Miller’s Wynd Car Park as part of West End Christmas Fortnight!   

Many thanks to the Gate Church for organising this.

More details are available here and all welcome!

The Marvellous Menagerie of Alex Heywood

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

Our new exhibition in the Tower Foyer Gallery features digital prints by the artist Alex Heywood.

Alex studied Animation at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, graduating in 2017.

He has since attracted international attention for his unique digital artworks, featuring an extraordinary menagerie of curious yet familiar animals.

Each of his illustrations creates an imaginary world teeming with quirky details. The exhibition features a selection of his work alongside some unusual animals from the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum. 

It will be open Monday to Friday 9.30am-7pm until Friday 17th December.

Booking is not essential but is encouraged – see booking details here.

Getting things done - Eton Street/Oxford Street/Elliot Road #dundeewestend

Residents have drawn to my attention the rusted goalposts at the Eton Street/Oxford Street/Elliot Road playing field area.

I have asked environment management at the City Council to repaint them.

West End Christmas Market and Lights Switch On tonight! #dundeewestend

Not to be missed!   4pm-8pm the West End Christmas Market at the Miller's Wynd Car Park on Perth Road, as part of West End Christmas Fortnight.

Many thanks go to The Little Green Larder and Gate Church Carbon Saving Project for organising the market and don't miss Santa switching on the Christmas Lights at 7pm tonight during the market!

Friends of Wighton event today!

From Sheena Wellington :

For our last concert of 2021 Friends of Wighton can’t provide the usual mince pies and chocolates but we are offering a very special pre-Christmas Zoom treat.

Our guests are the award-winning traditional singer Shona Donaldson and the far-famed Tarland fiddler Paul Anderson MBE (pictured).

Shona Donaldson grew up in Huntly in a musical family, learning the fiddle and attending traditional music festivals including Strichen and Keith. As well as picking up the usual song repertoire, Shona also learned from bothy ballad singers like Jock Duncan and Geordie Murison. Soon, to the delight of her mentors she was winning prizes in the normally male--dominated bothy ballad world.

In 2015, Shona became the first woman to win the coveted Bothy Ballad Champion of Champions title to add to her 2009 Scots Singer of the Year award. She is also an accomplished songwriter.

Paul Anderson MBE is widely regarded as the finest fiddle player of his generation. Having found, at age five, an old French violin under the spare bed in his grandparents’ house, he has gone on from there to win all the major fiddle prizes including the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Championship.

Paul has toured extensively here and abroad and is also well-known as a composer with over 300 works including many for film, television and theatre. His 8 solo albums and over 40 album with other musicians have received international acclaim.

Since lockdown began the couple, who recently celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary, have produced 86 “Live from the Lounge” shows from the Tarland home they share with sons Hector and Roderick. These can be checked out on Paul’s Facebook page.

Sheena Wellington is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Lunchtime Recital with Shona Donaldson, traditional singer, and Paul Anderson MBE, fiddle

Wednesday 1st December 1.15pm – 1.45pm (Zoom available from 1pm)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81867139033?pwd=M3dmd3ErcnZwdVU0KzJyeWVDck5FUT09

Meeting ID: 818 6713 9033

Passcode: 057619

Getting things done - Logie Avenue #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who contacted me to advise that a utility box on the pavement at Logie Avenue near the Sycamore Place junction is exposed to the elements.

I therefore asked the Roads Maintenance Partnership could contact the appropriate utility to have it repaired.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2021

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40 metres) for 4 weeks for chimney repairs.

Blackness Road (at Seymour Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December for BT work.

Perth Road (junction with Invergowrie Drive) - 3 way temporary lights from 29 November for 4 days for City Fibre works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Tay Square – closed on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December for Virgin Media work.

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 November Blether on Zoom!

Tuesday 30th November 7pm to 9pm

Our theme if you want one is "Hills and Glens"

Bringing the theme into the landscape of Scotland for November. Stories abound in the hills and glens, those of real life and those of legend and the supernatural. 

Join us this month and share a story, it could even be a personal anecdote about an experience in the hills and glens.

Log in details are :

Topic: Blether Tay-Gither

Time: Nov 30, 2021 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87986285393

West End Christmas Fortnight 2021 - starts today! #dundeewestend

West End Christmas Fortnight starts today, a whole fortnight packed with events for our local area!

Today's events include :

11am to 4pm - Christmas Fayre at Verdant Works.

11.30am to 1.30pm - Making Dundee Home Soup and Pudding Lunch – at its new home at Meadowside St Paul’s Church halls, 114-116 Nethergate. Will include a stall from the Friends of Magdalen Green.

12 noon to 4pm – Community Wardrobe Saturdays - Christmas Edition – Gate Church – Free clothes/shoes/accessories for everyone. Help us stop good quality clothing going in the bin and learn how to help beat fast fashion. Christmas jumpers and gifts will also be available. Please book at www.gatechurch.co.uk/carbonprojectevents or call Dundee 221222.

A West End community Christmas tree outside Sainsbury’s in the Perth Road will be switched on late afternoon!

You can read more about these and all the other events at www.facebook.com/WestEndChristmas

Employability drop-ins at Blackness Library #dundeewestend

 

Getting things done - Union Place - an update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that, earlier this year, I raised with the Roads Maintenance Partnership the issue of the poor road surface at the southern end of Union Place calling for the road to be resurfaced as it was in poor condition.

I am pleased to say this section of the street was resurfaced earlier this month as the "before", "during" and "after" photos indicate :

Getting things done - Seabraes issues #dundeewestend

I have recently had complaints about a couple of issues in the Seabraes area.

Firstly, one of the handrails on the steps down from the seating area at Perth Road is damaged :

Secondly, there is foliage growing across the handrails of the steps up to the Seabraes bridge over the rail line :

I have reported both matters to the City Council requesting these be resolved.

West End Blethers - extended until Christmas! #dundeewestend

From Dundee Pensioners' Forum :

Our West End Blethers cafe, at The Friary on Tullideph Road on Thursdays, has been extended until Thursday 23rd December.

It is aimed at older people in the West End - and takes place between 12 noon and 2 pm every Thursday between now and then.

We have some funding for transport - so if you need transport, get in touch - details on poster.

Our final event, on 23rd December will have a Christmas theme.

It's a great project - encouraging older people to get out of the house for a wee while to have a cup of tea/coffee, cake, scones, and a bowl of soup. 

The Friary Cafe itself offers a food larder (10 items for £2) and free fruit and vegetables from its community garden.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2021

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) for 5 weeks for chimney repairs.

Briarwood Terrace – closed from Tuesday 23 November for 2 days for carriageway resurfacing.

Riverside Avenue – off‑peak temporary traffic lights from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 November for BT work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Blackness Road (at Seymour Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December for BT work.

Getting things done - Forest Park Place #dundeewestend

At the request of residents, I recently raised the deteriorating road surface in Forest Park Place - particularly the west end near the junction with Forest Park Road - with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership - see photo.

I am pleased to have been advised in reply that the partnership has agreed to add Forest Park Place into the 2022-2023 carriageway resurfacing programme, which is very good news.

Picnic tables for Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

The City Council gave me a commitment some time ago that it would provide more picnic tables for Magdalen Green and take steps to reduce the risk of fire, following one being destroyed by fire some months ago.

I requested an update from Neighbourhood Services at the council and have now been advised as follows by the Service Manager - Environment :

"I can confirm that 6 concrete pads are planned to be installed which the picnic benches shall be fixed to. 

There are currently 4 benches which I understand require some refurbishment which we shall undertake. This will leave two pads empty initially and we are currently costing 2 steel galvanised picnic tables, as yet have not identified budget for these.

The 4 wooden benches will be fitted with galvanised tops in an effort to reduce the risk of fire.

(We) shall contact Friends of Magdalen Green to discuss and agree the location of the concrete pads prior to installation."

Dundee Art Society event - Roseangle - tonight! #dundeewestend

 

Comics and Creature Curation – Creative Workshop

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

This Saturday (20th November) from 2pm to 4pm at the Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee, you can join us for a comics workshop imagining the lives behind the animals in the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum. 

Learn more about comics and create your very own comic strips inspired by the inhabitants of the museum, hosted by comics artist Cat Laird.

We’ll start in the Lamb Gallery where you’ll see both comics and animals in our Drawn exhibition, before heading over to the Zoology Museum.

Places must be booked in advance at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/comics-and-creature-curation-creative-workshop-tickets-199030404297

14% hike in garden waste collection charge not acceptable

I have criticised the proposal by the Dundee City Council administration to hike the Brown Bin charge to £40 a permit for the 2022 collection year and will be opposing the increase in the brown bin charge when it comes before the council’s Policy & Resources Committee next week.

The £5 increase represents a 14% hike – at a time when inflation is running at about 3%. It is completely unjustified and just a way of the council fleecing another £100 000 out of the Dundee public.

I have always opposed having a tax on recycling and felt that this would be a further disincentive to recycling. We should be encouraging more recycling not less and the garden tax increase will make matters worse. The council is trying to stop collecting side waste and increasing the brown bin tax will simply lead to more recycling going into grey bins, undermining their own side waste policy. This is not a good look. If anything, the brown bin charge should be reduced not increased.

West End Ward Community Collective - Thursday 18th November

A West End online event is taking place later this week, organised by the council's communities team.

This will give local residents the chance to give their views on local issues and actions to help further improve the West End.

All welcome - and details below.

UPDATE : Please note change of joining link to https://bit.ly/3Cj44kU

Biggest ever Dundee West End Christmas Fortnight! #dundeewestend

This year’s Dundee West End Christmas Fortnight will be the largest ever in its 21 years, with over 30 events taking place, including a Christmas Market and Lights Switch on in Perth Road, a Santa Cavalcade around the West End, competitions including a West End Primary School Art Competition and a Primary 6 schools football competition, a Christmas Cards initiative to all West End care home residents - as well as online talks and walking tours of the West End.

Although we were able to run West End Christmas Fortnight last year, because of the COVID lockdowns in 2020, most of our events had to run online.

This year, we are back to something much more like normal. During the Fortnight that runs from Saturday 27th November until Saturday 11th December, we will hold well over thirty events – the most we have ever run. Big thanks go to all the Christmas Committee members, community groups, churches and everyone else who has made this happen – community spirit is alive and well in the wonderful West End!

10 000 Christmas Fortnight brochures are being distributed across the West End to promote the fortnight’s events which include :

Thursday 2nd December - West End Christmas Market at the Miller’s Wynd car park and community fridge in Perth Road. Browse Christmas gifts and there will be hot food and drink stalls and music and entertainment. There will be a lights switch-on and a visit from Santa, who will be distributing Christmas goody bags to the children. Many West End shops will have late opening and special offers.

Sunday 5th December - “A Community Christmas” – with carols and a ceilidh, including hot chocolate and cake and taking place in the Miller’s Wynd car park.

Tuesday 7th December -Online Christmas Concert and Awards Night. The West End Christmas Concert featuring our two secondary schools at Harris Academy and St John’s RC High School and our four primary schools – St Joseph’s RC PS, Blackness PS, Ancrum Road PS and Victoria Park PS – along with community contributions. We will also be presenting the 2021 West End Business and Community Awards at the event.

Other events include :

Saturday 27th November

Making Dundee Home Soup and Pudding Lunch.

Community Wardrobe Saturdays - Christmas edition.

A West End community Christmas tree outside Sainsbury’s in the Perth Road will be switched on late afternoon.

Sunday 28th November

Dundee Discoveries – past and present - West End walking tour – Matthew Jarron and Amy Cameron from the University of Dundee on a walking tour of Dundee’s West End, exploring the city’s fascinating scientific history.

Monday 29th November

Children’s Crafts – from Blackness Library. During West End Christmas Fortnight, Blackness Library is producing “craft in a bag” for local children to collect from the library. From today, week one’s craft bag is available – a pine cone owl.

Tuesday 30th November

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries The tale of Meg o' Liff

Wednesday 1st December

West End Carers’ Christmas Arts and Crafts.

Harris Hawks Indoor Hockey - at Harris Academy.

Jean Thomson, The Life and Times of Dundee’s first policewoman - Sarah Aitken, Assistant Archivist, Dundee City Archives

Friday 3rd December

Community Wardrobe - Christmas Edition.

Tea in the Pot – at St Peter’s Free Church.

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries The Banshee Cat of Blackness.

Saturday 4th December

Drawn - a Guided Tour of the Exhibition – University of Dundee museum curator Matthew Jarron will give an informal guided tour.

Sunday 5th December

Public Art Walking Tour of Dundee's West End - University of Dundee museum curator Matthew Jarron gives an informal guided tour of public art in the West End.

Monday 6th December

Children’s Crafts – from Blackness Library - From today, week two’s craft bag is available – a tiny Christmas tree.

West End Community Sports Hub - online – A chance to learn about all the sports groups in the West End.

Wednesday 8th December

West End Carers’ Christmas Sing along, Christmas nibbles and party games.

Family Scalextric Night – Dundee West Church,

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries Remembering the Tay Bridge Disaster.

Thursday 9th December

10th Dundee Girls Brigade Chocolate Night - Dundee West Church Lower Hall

Letters to Logie at Christmas – at Blackness Library.

Christmas Wreath making workshop – at Ninewells Community Garden.

Winter Wonderland – an online journey through art in winter – with Laura Leuzzi – From Lifelong Learning Dundee.

Friday 10th December

Community Wardrobe - Christmas Edition.

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries - Herrings at Hogmanay.

Saturday 11th December

Community Wardrobe – Gate Church.

The West End Christmas Fortnight Primary 6 football competition at Harris Academy.

D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum Open Day - Carnelley Building, off Park Place, University of Dundee.

Santa Cavalcade round the West End – Dundee Round Table. Santa will visit the children of the West End.

Details of all our events can be found here.