Getting things done - Ryehill Lane #dundeewestend

Numerous residents have highlighted the poor state of the seating area at the corner of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road.

This is owned by JCDecaux the billboard advertising company and I contacted the about this.

I have since received a positive response :

'I have asked the regional team to get the land tidied and cleared of weeds and rubbish.'

I had hoped that a substantive improvement could have been achieved here through the district shopping areas aspect of the 'Spaces for People' projects funding but this came to nought - a real disappointment.

I will continue to pursue a permanent improvement to what could be a lovely seating area but meantime am grateful to JCDecaux  for giving a commitment to tidy it up.

Access improvements for Lochee Park #dundeewestend

The City Council's Neighbourhood Services Committee recently approved welcome access improvements for Lochee Park.

The Service Manager - Environment has updated me with details as follows :

"I can confirm that the intention is to improve the access for wheelchairs from inside the park so they can more easily move between the park area and the Fruit Bowl facility. 

Where the current service/ vehicle access gates are located, we plan is to improve the surface around the gated area by levelling the area and installing grass Crete tyles, which are heavy duty non slip rubber mats which allow grass to grow through. 

This improvement will allow wheelchairs to move more easily into the Fruit Bowl from the park and the access will continue to be used for service vehicles to drop off and uplift materials as required."

Good news for Tullideph/Ancrum area on bus services #dundeewestend

I have today welcomed news that bus passengers in the Tullideph Road/Ancrum Road area are likely to again have a bus service near to them, after months of being left high and dry without a bus service following Xplore Dundee re-routing Service 17 away from the area.

The re-routing of Service 17 earlier this year so it now goes right along City Road was really bad news for the Tullideph Road and Ancrum Road area as it left them without any bus service.

I felt strongly that every effort should be made to serve Tullideph Road and Ancrum Road particularly because the Morven Terrace and Ancrum Place sheltered housing with many elderly folk has been left without easy access to a bus. Many constituents raised this concern with me.

The council is proposing a new 204 tendered bus service – a service number previously used but this new service would cover a very different route and would miss out much of the old 204 route.

However, the new 204 service route is sufficiently close to the Ancrum Road and Tullideph Road areas that it could be slightly re-routed to cover the area and this needs to be done – otherwise many residents and particularly older folk are left without any bus services.

I took this to Dundee City Council’s City Development Committee when it was agreeing to bus tenders including the 204 and it was agreed that the viability of having the 204 cover parts of Tullideph Road and Ancrum Road would be looked at. The issue is the high camber on the Ancrum Road/Logie Street junction that had to be road tested to ensure safe for a bus to use.

The council’s Team Leader, Parking & Sustainable Transport has advised me :

“The routes are currently being registered with the traffic commissioner and will start on 16 August 2021.    We have agreed the routing of the 204 with the operator (Stagecoach) so that it will operate via Tullideph Road. I am not expecting this to be rejected by the Traffic Commissioner's office.

We will prepare publicity for each of the new services and publicise via the council website in advance of the services operating and communicate with key stakeholders including elected members. I am hopeful of this all being completed next week.”

This looks very positive in giving the Tullideph area a bus service back. I am not pretending it is perfect – it’ll be a daytime hourly service but it is a whole lot better than no bus service at all and I am grateful to transportation officers for taking on my route change suggestion.

It is important that tendered bus services actually cover the areas that are isolated from bus services. Real practical action is needed to ensure the newly tendered services work for local people.

It is also important that the older people across the city who relied on the currently suspended Blether Bus minibus service are given access to public transport and I am assured council officers are also working on that.

Getting things done - path at Harris Academy #dundeewestend

The path that runs down the side of Harris Academy off Perth Road towards Riverside is badly overgrown - see photo.

I am grateful to the residents who highlighted this to me and I have asked the City Council's Neighbourhood Services who have maintenance responsibility here to have it tidied.

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee - tonight!

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

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

Hope you can join us for our July Blether on Zoom.

 

Today - Tuesday 27th July - 7pm - 9pm.

 

This month's theme for those who want a theme is THINGS THAT GROW.

From noses, to beanstalks, to people, to porridge, the stories of the world are filled with things that grow, often larger than life.

Join the storytellers of Blether Tay-Gither tonight as we weave stories on the theme of Things that Grow, or maybe not. 

We welcome stories of any kind or theme on any given month. So do come along with a story or simply join us to listen and have a blether.

Details to join:

Topic: Blether Tay-Gither Monthly Storytelling Club July 2021.

Time: Jul 27, 2021 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81637113784

Meeting ID: 816 3711 3784

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 26 JULY 2021

City Fibre H3G Project – rolling road closures commencing on Tuesday 15 June for 7 weeks. Brewery Lane, Brown Street and South Ward Road to follow in July.

Blinshall Street (Lochee Road to Guthrie Street) – temporary traffic control from Monday 5 July for 4 weeks for Street Lighting work.

Nethergate – closure of the junction with South Tay Street on Monday 26 July for up to one week for carriageway resurfacing.

Abbotsford Street – temporary traffic lights on Wednesday 28 July for telecoms mast work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Lochee Road (at Blinshall Street) – off peak temporary traffic lights from Friday 30 July to Tuesday 3 August for new telecoms apparatus

Lochee Road at its junction with Dudhope Terrace –Prohiibition of some entry and exit manoeuvres for 3 days commencing Saturday 1st August for City Fibre works

Larch Street – closed from 16 August for 6 days for road resurfacing.

Riverside West End Girls Football Academy #dundeewestend

Players wanted!

Free coaching until end of September.

Details below :

Getting things done - Balgay Park #dundeewestend

Residents recently highlighted to me concerns about speeding motor bikes and scrambler bikes going through Balgay Park.

I raised this concern with both the City Council and Police Scotland and have received this helpful update from our local community police sergeant :

"Thank you for bringing the below to our attention.

We will bear this in mind when out on foot patrol and deal with any issues we come across in an appropriate fashion.

I have also advised the Divisional Road Policing Unit Inspector so that traffic vehicles can bear this area in mind when out on patrol."

Temporary Traffic Order - Nethergate

From the City Council :

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

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of carriageway resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Nethergate (at its junction with South Tay Street), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 26 July for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via West Marketgait / Hawkhill / Perth Road / Nethergate

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

This BBQ on Magdalen Green east of the bandstand has sadly seen better days!

At the request of residents, I have asked environment management at the City Council if it can be replaced.

Temporary Traffic Order - Tay Street Lane

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 Scottish Water repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Tay Street Lane, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Friday 23 July for one night (7.30pm to 6.30am).

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

No alternative routes for vehicles are available.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - Lochee Road and Mitchell Street #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who recently highlighted to me the significant damage to the community noticeboard at the Mitchell Street Centre - situated at the junction of Lochee Road and Mitchell Street.

I raised this with the City Council and have since had the following helpful feedback :

"I can confirm that an order was processed for our blacksmith and joiner to carry out required repairs."

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 19 JULY 2021

City Fibre H3G Project – rolling road closures commencing on Tuesday 15 June for 7 weeks.  Polepark Road, Brewery Lane, Brown Street and South Ward Road to follow in July.

Blinshall Street (Lochee Road to Guthrie Street) – temporary traffic control from Monday 5 July for 4 weeks for Street Lighting work.

City Road – road closed between junctions with Pentland Avenue and Rosefield Street for Road Safety Improvement Works.  Starts Monday 19 July for 5 days.

Tay Street Lane – closed overnight (7.30pm to 6.30am) on Friday 23 July for Scottish Water work.

Nethergate (at Tay Street Lane) – overnight (7.30pm to 6.30am) traffic control on Friday 23 July for Scottish Water work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Nethergate – closure of the junction with South Tay Street on Monday 26 July for one week for carriageway resurfacing.

Abbotsford Street – temporary traffic lights on Wednesday 28 July for telecoms mast work.

Lochee Road (at Blinshall Street) – off peak temporary traffic lights from Friday 30 July to Tuesday 3 August for new telecoms apparatus.

Larch Street – closed from 16 August for 6 days for road resurfacing.

City Fibre - closures of Lochee Road (Dudhope Terrace to Black Street) from 1 August for 3 days.

Getting things done - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

A resident recently contacted me about overgrown foliage on Riverside Drive near to the roundabout with Riverside Avenue, stating :

"Branches are overhanging shared footpath/cycle path. 

Because cyclists are higher above ground level when seated there’s a need to “duck” to avoid direct contact with the branches to face or head."

I raised this with the City Council and the foliage has now been cut back.

Temporary Traffic Order - City Road

From the City Council :

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

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of carriageway resurfacing and road safety improvement works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in City Road (between Baxter Street and Milnbank Gardens), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 19 July for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Pentland Avenue / Balgay Road / Blackness Road / Rosefield Street.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Dundee City Council housing allocations policy review

Dundee Federation of Tenants Associations is inviting Dundee City Council tenants to take part in the housing allocations policy review consultation meeting to be held online next Tuesday evening.

Details below :

Botanic Garden event #dundeewestend

From the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden :

The Illyria Outdoor Theatre Company is performing 'The further adventures of Dr Doolittle' in the garden this coming Saturday at 3.30pm. 

Tickets can be booked here.

Bring your all weather wear just in case, and enjoy yourselves suitably socially distanced in the open air.

Visit to the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry at Verdant Works #dundeewestend

It was a real pleasure yesterday to meet with Deirdre Robertson, Chief Executive of Dundee Heritage Trust, at Verdant Works and see the first part of the superb Scottish Diaspora Tapestry exhibition.

The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry has come to Dundee for the very first time after a worldwide tour.

Bringing together artists and communities from 34 countries across the globe, the tapestry explores the vast connections Scots have with the rest of the world.

The first part on Europe, The Baltics and The Americas runs until 20th July with the second part (UK, South Asia, Australia, New Zealand) then runs from 22nd July until 12th September.

The exhibition is very impressive indeed.   It is well worth a visit and you can find out more about the tapestry here.

Getting things done - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Last week, I had a very useful site visit with our local environment manager and a member of West End Community Council about environmental issues in the part of Riverside Drive east of the Bridgeview Restaurant.

We agreed the following :

• Move a dog bin away from the seating area east of the restaurant so the potentially smelly bin is not close to seating and move it further east so there is better spacing between dog bins (there's already one just slightly west of the existing one anyway).
• Provide a new and decent sized litter bin near the seating.

We also looked at the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster Memorial which on its side facing the river is starting to wear, making the writing difficult to read - see below - and removing parts of the mural.

I have since then been in touch with the City Council's public art officer, who has helpfully responded as follows :

"I am presently working on another project which requires lettering into granite and infilled with a paint. I will ask regarding the possibility of refilling the letters. 

However, this probably can be done by a local monumental mason."

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 12 JULY 2021

City Fibre H3G Project – rolling road closures commencing on Tuesday 15 June for 7 weeks.  Lochee Road (Cleghorn Street to Tullideph Road) closed from Tuesday 5 July for 4 days:  Closures of Lochee Road (Dudhope Terrace to Black Street), Polepark Road, Cleghorn Street, Brewery Lane, Session Street, Brown Street, Argyllgait and South Ward Road to follow in July.

Blinshall Street (Lochee Road to Guthrie Street) – temporary traffic control from Monday 5 July for 4 weeks for Street Lighting work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Tay Street Lane – closed overnight (7.30 pm to 6.30 am) on Friday 23 July for Scottish Water work.

Nethergate (at Tay Street Lane) – overnight (7.30 pm to 6.30 am) traffic control on Friday 23 July for Scottish Water work.

Nethergate – closure of the junction with South Tay Street on Monday 26 July for one week for carriageway resurfacing.

Abbotsford Street – temporary traffic lights on Wednesday 28 July for telecoms mast work.

Lochee Road (at Blinshall Street) – off peak temporary traffic lights from Friday 30 July to Tuesday 3 August for new telecomms apparatus.

Getting things done - Roseangle playpark #dundeewestend

I received this very sensible suggestion from a resident who lives very close to the Roseangle playpark :

“ …. would it not be a good idea to have "children playing" signs on approach to Roseangle play park? There are of course the 20mph signs, but people do sometimes rattle quite fast down Roseangle and I think it would be good for drivers to be alerted to the fact that there may well be children around.”

I raised this with the City Council's Traffic & Road Safety Team Leader who has responded positively as follows :

"We will consider the request for signs and I hope that the 20mph zone keep the speeds down.

I will pass it on to one of my colleagues to have a look at and hopefully that this is OK.

We are very busy right now and we are in the holiday period so we are thin on the ground as they say so it will take time.

We will look at it and see what we can do."

Ninewells Community Garden AGM #dundeewestend

The Ninewells Community Garden Annual General Meeting, held on Zoom, with a guest speaker, Rebecca Wade, talking about COP26 what it means and how we can get involved, takes place on Tuesday 20th July at 7pm.

Contact chair@ninewellsgarden.org.uk for zoom link - all welcome!

Getting things done - Pennycook Lane #dundeewestend

In recent weeks, I have had a lot of complaints from residents about the overflowing bins and recycling area at Pennycook Lane - see photo.

I have raised this with environment management to ensure this is tackled.

Getting things done - Perth Road/Ryehill Lane corner site #dundeewestend

Residents have highlighted to me that Perth Road/Ryehill Lane corner site and seating area is again looking very unkempt.

This was in the ownership of JC Decaux who owned the original advertising hoardings at the rear of the site. My understanding is that the company was some time ago wishing to sell the site but I have written to a contact at JC Decaux to ascertain current ownership to get the area tidied.

I had hoped that a substantive improvement of the site could have been achieved through the Spaces for People funding in relation to district shopping centres but unfortunately this was not achieved. It is important, however, that the area is improved as it looks very neglected at present.

Getting things done - weeds at road edges #dundeewestend

In the past couple of weeks, I have had many complaints about weed growth at road edges in numerous streets in the West End - Peddie Street and Hillcrest Road being two examples amongst many.

I contacted our local environment manager about this and have been advised as follows :

"The street spraying in the West End has not started yet.    For various reasons the start of the operation had been delayed and then the quad operator had to self isolate.

We should be able to start some time this week, weather permitting, and I should have another quad freed up within the next week or so which will we will use to help us catch up."

I was interested to read recently that North Lanarkshire Council officials are trialling a new type of weedkiller following a decision earlier this month to extend the local authority's existing ban on products containing glyphosate. Options including hot foam and steam are being tested, and now a different weedkiller product is being tried out.

I contacted Dundee City Council's Head of Environment about this sensible initiative by North Lanarkshire Council and he has responded as follows :

"Yes, I can confirm that officers are considering viable alternatives. I am unaware, however, of the alternative herbicide mentioned and we will contact North Lanarkshire to learn more."

Friends of Wighton - latest update

From Sheena Wellington :

Wednesday 7th July

1.15pm - 1.45pm

Lunchtime Recital with Rosa Michaelson, fiddle

For the Friends of Wighton July Lunchtime Recital, we are delighted to welcome well known musician and researcher Rosa Michaelson.

Rosa will give us an illustrated talk about James S. Kerr, who published the popular fiddle collections of Merry Melodies. In the past 12 months she has been doing research on musical life in Scotland in the second half of the 19th century, focusing on Kerr and dance music. She presented this at the online North-Atlantic Fiddle Convention at the end of June.

Rosa Michaelson was taught the violin at primary school in Edinburgh in the 1960s using the Eta Cohen method, with its repertoire of folk tunes. In secondary school, her violin teacher gave her a copy of Kerr’s Merry Melodies to study, and she played for ceilidhs and in several orchestras. 

Rosa joined the Edinburgh Shetland Fiddlers in the 1970s and was a founder member of the first all-female Scottish traditional music group, Sprangeen. She has been in several ceilidh/dance bands, including the Loose Moose Ceilidh Band. 

She regularly contributes to sessions in Edinburgh and Fife. Rosa is an Honorary SL at the University of Dundee; she works part time in the School of Computer Science, St Andrews University.

Sheena Wellington is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81102543294?pwd=empTQ094bDlvd1h0SWloVmVQdUMyZz09

Meeting ID: 811 0254 3294

Passcode: 400695

Getting things done - Paton's Lane #dundeewestend

I have recently assisted with a couple of issues in Paton's Lane :

+ Last week an elderly resident slipped on grit on the pavement near to the Paton's Lane Abertay Housing Association retirement housing.    She was thankfully not badly hurt but I asked the council's environment management to have the pavement swept and the grit removed.

+ The pathway that runs from towards the top of Paton's Lane to Perth Road, slightly west of the main road junction, is well used by residents but is overgrown and has litter in it.   Again I asked the City Council to have it tidied.

Getting things done - Corso Street #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who recently contacted me about this leaking/mess on the pavement in Corso Street.

I reported this to environment management at the City Council to ensure it is attended to.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 3 AND SUNDAY 4 JULY 2021

Blackness Road (at West Park Road) – temporary traffic lights from Thursday 24 June for 10 days for Scottish Water work.

West Marketgait (Greenmarket to Nethergate) – closed northbound on Sunday 4 July for Scottish Water work.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 5 JULY 2021

Perth Road (at Riverside Drive) – off‑peak temporary traffic control for one week for lining work.

Brook Street, Dundee– temporary traffic lights for one week for City Fibre H3G project.

City Fibre H3G Project – rolling road closures commencing on Tuesday 15 June for 7 weeks. Lochee Road (Cleghorn Street to Tullideph Road) closed from Tuesday 5 July for 4 days: Closures of Lochee Road (Dudhope Terrace to Black Street), Polepark Road, Cleghorn Street, Brewery Lane, Session Street, Brown Street, Argyllgait and South Ward Road to follow in July.

Blackness Road (at West Park Road) – temporary traffic lights until midweek for Scottish Water work.

Surface Dressing – mobile roadworks for 10 Days from Monday 28 June – Newhall Gardens.

Riverside Drive (at Discovery Point) – off‑peak westbound lane closure from Monday 5 July for one week for Scottish Water work.

Blackness Road (at Glenagnes Road) – temporary traffic lights from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 July for BT work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Nethergate – closure of the junction with South Tay Street on Monday 26 July for one week for carriageway resurfacing.

Getting things done - Hillcrest Road - an update #dundeewestend

Back in April, on behalf of residents, I reported the deterioration of the road surface in Hillcrest Road to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and received the following response :

“An inspection has been carried out at Hillcrest Road and there are currently no actionable defects. However an order has been raised to repair non actionable defects when resources are available.

Non actionable defects are minor defects and have no specified timescale for repair. Actionable defects are defects that require intervention i.e. repair within an appropriate timescale dependant on the location and scale of the fault.”

These defects had yet to be programmed in and, as you can see from the photo, the road does need repair so I asked if this could be now done ASAP.

I have now received this helpful update :

"Bailie Macpherson

(The local inspector has now) raised an order for repairs to be carried out."

Getting things done - Bellefield Avenue #dundeewestend

A number of residents have asked if the City Council arrange to clean the road edges/gullies in Bellefield Avenue.   This follows on from some other local streets in the Perth Road Lanes having the gully cleaner visit recently.

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

"Bailie Macpherson

(The local inspector) has asked the gully machine to visit the gullies in Bellefield Avenue."