It is opposite the bottom of Windsor Street and was completed on Thursday.
Another great mural by Paco Graff and grateful thanks also go to Russell Pepper of West End Community Council for making this happen and to SSE for its support of the project.
"I'm informing you that we have a lighting replacement scheme about to commence in the Hawkhill area of your ward, starting on Monday of next week.
We intend to replace all the lighting columns and cable network along the length of the Hawkhill from Brown Street out as far as Peddie Street.
Obviously this is a large project for us and Tayside Contracts will be assisted by a sub-contractor, T N Gilmartins, who will be undertaking excavation works on site.
Works will commence at the city centre end and progress westwards from there.
We will of course, endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum although some traffic management will be required.
Weather permitting, works are expected to last 10-12 weeks."
The service assists older residents who find it difficult to walk the distances – often uphill – to the main service buses.
I recently noticed that Aberdeenshire Council has, with proper safety arrangements including social distancing, announced a restart to its Dial a Bus service that has similar aims. To quote that council :
“We preparing to re-introduce a number of #A2B #dial-a-bus services operated by our fleet of minibuses in a controlled and phased manner.”
I raised this with the City Council and have been advised :
“The Dial A Bus model of operation requires users to pre-book their journeys and this allows the operators to manage the number of passengers using the service at any one time - and the timings of those journeys. From speaking with colleagues from other local authorities I think most minibus services are limited to two passengers on the vehicle at any one time. The Blether Bus model is much closer to a bus service and there is no pre-booking option so we cannot manage journeys in this way.
We will continue to liaise with colleagues at Fleet about vehicle and minibus availability and appropriate protocols that need to be in place before we can safely restart the Blether Bus services.”
I have responded :
“ … surely some out the box thinking is required so what about temporarily converting the Blether Bus to something around the Dial a Bus model? I have constituents in streets like Newhall Gardens who simply cannot manage the hill up to Perth Road.”
I have had numerous concerns from residents about safety outside our local schools and, in particular, the need for all drivers to adhere to the 20mph speed limit at schools to assist pupil safety.
In the run up to the October school holidays I had, in particular, concerns raised about the speed of a minority of vehicles around the West End campus of St Joseph's Primary School, Victoria Park Primary School and Balgay Hill Nursery School, and I asked the city council to reinforce the message about safe, slow driving near schools and was given assurances that this would be done.
The input of Police Scotland on this important safety issue is very welcome.
As one resident pointed out in relation to the bus stop in Perth Road near Step Row :
“Perth Road is a main local community shopping area where people are being encouraged to think/act sustainably, yet the Step Row Stop (with no real-time display) has the main Stagecoach Tayway high profile route timetable still showing the old 10 minute weekday frequency, with appropriate comments from a disgruntled punter.
Add to that 2018 route maps not updated and … it is a far cry from “Bringing Confidence to Public Transport”. Attention grabbing EV and electric bike hire initiatives are all well and good, but the simple public transport basics should not be forgotten, particularly since the operators’ own traditional printed timetables, for now, at least, seem to be hard to find.”
I appreciate that, given the changing bus timetables during the health emergency replacing every paper timetable at bus stops is difficult in terms of resourcing but I have sought and obtained assurances from the that erroneous timetables will be removed.
Hopefully once there is more of a return to normal services and stability in timetables, new and correct timetables can be placed at every bus stop and we will also hopefully see the return of suspended bus services like Service 4 and the Blether Bus in the West End.
REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 2020
Blackness Road (at junction with Bellfield Street for a distance of 25m or thereby in an easterly direction) – closed from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Blackness Road (at Bellfield Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Riverside Drive (at Mayo Avenue) – off peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 27 October for maintenance work to DfT traffic sensors.
Blackness Road (at Glenagnes Road) - temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 October for SSEN disconnection works.
Pentland Avenue (City Road to Scott Street) – closed westbound from Monday 2 November for 6 days to facilitate road safety works.
Glamis Drive – closed from Monday 9 November for 2 weeks for carriageway surfacing.
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 BT cable repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Blackness Road (from its junction with Bellfield Street to approx. 25 metres east), Dundee.
This notice comes into effect on Monday 19 October for 3 working days.
Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.
Alternative routes for vehicles are available Bellfield Street / Hawkhill / Horsewater Wynd / Guthrie Street / Urquhart Street / Blackness Road.
For further information contact 433082.
Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council
I am grateful to the local resident who contacted me recently to say that a young Rowan tree in Victoria Park had been damaged.
I reported this to environment management who very promptly resolved matters. My thanks to the forestry team for a very efficient response.
Before :
As reported recently in the Courier (see below), I have called for the City Council to extend its free parking period in Dundee’s West End car parks given that the coronavirus health emergency situation continues.
The council took the sensible decision during the lockdown in the spring to make all its car parks free to use to assist key workers in the city centre and also people working from home in other car parks that charge across the city including in the West End.
However, it now intends to bring back car parking charges into seven West End car parks next Monday - 19th October - at a time when many local workers are still working from home and may well continue to be doing for weeks to come.
The point about the West End car parks is that they all cover residential areas and so the council is charging people to park near their own homes when they are being encouraged by Scottish Government to work from home. That is a totally ridiculous situation and contrary to the Scottish Government message to work from home where possible during the health emergency.
I therefore wrote to the Director of City Development at Dundee City Council asking for an extension to take place and received the following reply :
“As you are aware, the original aim of the introduction of charges was, as well as generating income, to prevent abuse of the car-parks by commuters and to promote turnover of spaces to support local shops.
As charges in the rest of the city have been reintroduced, I do not think we could justify further suspension of charges in the West End. We did extend the moratorium on charging until the University started back.
I have reviewed and whilst I understand the issues that you raise, we have a committee remit to introduce charges, and now require to discharge that remit.”
I think at a time when the Scottish Government is trying to encourage people to work from home where it is possible, the City Council charging people for the privilege of parking near their homes in the West End is not responsible and sending the wrong message.
These are car parks in residential areas and I think that would be a common sense and helpful thing to continue the parking charges moratorium at this time.
Courier article :
Forthcoming Roadworks for West End Ward
Blackness Road (at junction with Bellfield Street for a distance of 25m or thereby in an easterly direction) – closed from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Blackness Road (at Bellfield Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Riverside Drive (at Mayo Avenue) – off peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 27 October for maintenance work to DfT traffic sensors.
Glamis Drive – closed from Monday 9 November for 2 weeks for carriageway surfacing.
My many thanks to the West End resident for these superb Dundee photos!
The report before committee included this commitment :
“Investigations into potential interventions to reduce both emissions and traffic congestion on the Lochee Road corridor will continue to be explored by the Head of Sustainable Transportation and Roads during the LEZ development process. These investigations will take a route corridor approach and take cognisance of potential traffic displacement onto other, less appropriate roads in residential areas. The route corridor review will also require to consider future bus priority, active travel and traffic congestion.”
As residents know, I have long campaigned on air quality issues, particularly in relation to Lochee Road where, as recently as January 2020, I again highlighted deep concern that, yet again, leading air quality campaigners Friends of the Earth had highlighted air quality concerns in Lochee Road in its Scotland’s most polluted streets survey with Seagate in the city also highlighted in the January national air quality survey.
Whilst I welcomed the commitment to tackle the traffic congestion in Lochee Road, I pointed out at the council meeting that I have been pressing for this for many years, on behalf of my constituents who live in Lochee Road. There are a number of specific and affordable actions I made clear I want to see the council do immediately.
Firstly, tackle the junction with Cleghorn Street where, following minor accidents, the operation of the junction was to be reviewed for road safety reasons. This should tackle the tailbacks of traffic trying to turn into Lochee Road.
Secondly, the operation of the traffic lights at Polepark Road and Dudhope Terrace junctions need to be reviewed. If they were more efficient, we would see fewer tailbacks of cars and therefore a decrease of emissions into the air in the Lochee Road area. Following the committee meeting, I had a lengthy and useful discussion with a senior roads officer at the City Council about this and possible modelling to see what could be achieved by possible lights sequencing alterations.
I have highlighted that, earlier this year, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air published research showing many likely long-term health benefits from the pollution reductions in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, including fewer children developing asthma, fewer preterm births and fewer deaths long-term from better air.
It is therefore vital there is a proactive approach to tackling the air quality issue. I have raised this on numerous occasions with the council in the past and we need to see a situation where no Dundee streets have unacceptable air quality. A significant number of constituents live in the tenement flats on the south side of Lochee Road near to the junction where nitrogen dioxide are unacceptably high. It is therefore important that the council has a clear strategy for improving air quality here.
The proposed city centre low emission zone will help the surrounding area in particular in relation to buses that go up and down Lochee Road that have to access the city centre – they will have to be newer and cleaner. However, detailed work tackling the specific issues at particular streets with air quality issues, like Lochee Road, is vital.
Actions speak louder than words and we do need to see momentum to achieve a proper and lasting solution. Residents deserve to breathe clean air in every street in Dundee.
In order to fill these spaces, there will be a recruitment period known formally as an 'election' where we call for nominations to join the Community Council.
Community Councils play an important role in the local West End community and are an important link between the community and public bodies.
It is important to note that West End Community Council's boundary does not cover the whole of the West End Ward as the Community Spirit Action Group covers areas like Pentland, Tullideph, Ancrim and areas around Forest Park Road, Cleghorn Street and Brook Street - the areas to the north of the ward.
The community council area is therefore most of the south of the ward - roughly everything south of Blackness Road east of Balgay Road, everything in the ward west of Balgay Road, plus the Logie area.
There are also conditions for eligibility in terms of age and being on the electoral register - all this information can be accessed online or in Blackness Library.
As this is a statutory group, there is a process and publicity format for nominations which started from this Monday (5th October) and forms must be completed and returned by 30th October.
More information is on the poster on how to obtain the information required online or via Blackness Library.
The community council is a great way to become involved with our local community so do please consider getting involved if you live in the community council area.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Blackness Road (at junction with Bellfield Street for a distance of 25m or thereby in an easterly direction) – closed from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Blackness Road (at Bellfield Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Riverside Drive (at Mayo Avenue) – off peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 27 October for maintenance work to DfT traffic sensors
FLU VACCINE ADVICE
NHS Tayside is encouraging members of the public in at-risk groups, as well as health and social care staff, to take up the offer of a free flu vaccination.
The seasonal flu vaccination programme has now launched and NHS Tayside will be offering those who are most at risk the opportunity to protect themselves from flu.
• People aged 65 and over, adults with a long-term health condition such as heart, lung or kidney diseases, unpaid carers, and those living with someone who was previously shielding should contact their GP to book an appointment. This year’s flu vaccinations will be delivered in a variety of settings, so your appointment may not take place in your own practice.
• Primary school pupils will be offered the flu vaccination at their school, while parents of children aged 2-5 who are not yet at school, and young people aged 12-18 with a long-term condition should contact 01307 475240 to book an appointment.
• Pregnant women can access immunisation through their midwife.
• All NHS Tayside staff and frontline social care workers are also strongly encouraged to take up the offer of a flu jab to protect themselves and vulnerable people who may be more likely to suffer complications from flu. Staff will be made aware of opportunities to get vaccinated in healthcare settings, care homes and at community pharmacies across Tayside.
The second phase is planned to begin in December and will include those aged 55 to 64 (by 31 March 2021) who would not usually be eligible.
CARE HOME VISITS
We support the right of families to safely visit residents in care homes. Fine out more about what is needed here:
https://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/care_visitors
STUDENT ADVICE
New guidance encourages students to remain on campus if they are able to do so. This guidance covers where students are isolating and require support to allow them to comply with the requirement to self-isolate. The household students are returning to are asked to also self-isolate and states that public transport should not be used.
https://www.gov.scot/news/student-accommodation-guidance-on-visits-home/
STUDENT CAMPAIGN
We have proposed five measures to help support and protect students following the outbreaks at many universities.
https://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/student_catastrophe
NEW GRANT FOR THOSE SELF ISOLATING
People on low incomes will be eligible to receive a new £500 grant if asked to self-isolate. The new Self-Isolation Support Grant will help those who would lose income if they need to self-isolate, such as those unable to carry out their work from home.
This grant is for those who will face financial hardship and will be targeted at people who are in receipt of Universal Credit or legacy benefits, with some discretion to make awards to others in financial hardship.
Applications are due to open from 12th October and will be delivered through the existing Scottish Welfare Fund, which is administered by local authorities.
https://www.gov.scot/news/new-grant-for-those-self-isolating/
PARENT AND BABY GROUP LIMITS
There has been a lot of concern about the limit of five adults at a time for parent and baby groups.
Our colleague Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP raised this directly with the First Minister in Parliament. She agreed to ask the Chief Medical Officer to look at greater flexibility for group sizes.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=399346058130217
QUARANTINE COUNTRIES
Travellers arriving in Scotland from Turkey, Poland and the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba must quarantine on arrival.
They are required to self-isolate at home, or another specified address, for 14 days from 4am yesterday - Saturday 3rd October.
Those arriving from the Azores and Madeira no longer need to quarantine.
https://www.gov.scot/news/quarantine-rules-imposed-on-travellers-from-further-destinations/
INFORMATION
UK Government news: www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications
Scottish Government Updates: www.gov.scot/news
Dundee City Council updates: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
NHS Inform - https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
NHS Tayside website: www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk
Helpline for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice Tel: 0800 028 2816.
Health Protection Scotland Guidance - www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19
Federation of Small Businesses: www.fsb.org.uk/coronavirus
Helpline for small businesses, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Tel: 0300 303 0660.
Ready Scotland Information - www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus
Tayside Cares - www.taysidecares.co.uk
SUPPORT AND ADVICE
This has been an anxious and uncertain time but we want you to know that we are here to try to help constituents in whatever way that we can.
CONTACT DETAILS
WEST END WARD – Bailie Fraser Macpherson
Phone – Dundee 459378 (home)
E-mail – fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk
Facebook updates : www.facebook.com/dundeewestend
I highlighted this to the City Council and the sign has since been removed.
As he correctly pointed out "... with the scaffolding up around the Art Bar, the footpath there is basically inaccessible for folk in wheelchairs/using prams, and must be a hazard for visually impaired people too.
As this sign is basically useless (it points directly at the very visible DJCAD), could it be seen if the sign can be removed? Even without the scaffolding there this sign causes undue obstruction to the pavement."
I completely agreed with this point, contacted the City Council requesting its removal, and this was very promptly done.
I reported this to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and this has now been repaired along with two smaller potholes.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Blackness Road (at junction of Bellfield Street and Blackness Road for a distance of 25m or thereby in an easterly direction) – closed from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
Blackness Road (at Bellfield Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 October for 3 days for BT work.
I am very grateful to the local resident who sent me these lovely photographs of autumn at Riverside!
From Sheila Kinninmonth, Blether Tay-Gither’s secretary :
“Hope you can join us for our September Zoom Blether on Tuesday 29th September at 7pm
The Theme is "Bimbles"
What on earth is Bimbles you may ask, or maybe not! Bimble: informal British. Verb: Walk or travel at a leisurely pace. Noun: A leisurely walk or journey.”
For the log-in details to participate, contact Blether Tay-Gither at sheila@blethertaygither.org.uk
This is continually leaking all over the pavement and down the road.
Residents advise it is exceedingly slippy to walk there.
I have reported the matter to Scottish Water who has confirmed it will investigate the issue and get it resolved.
I have raised this with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership, requesting repairs and am grateful for the very prompt response as the 'before' and 'after' photos indicate :
A great flower update appears in the excellent Ninewells Community Garden blog and can be viewed here.
I raised this with our local environment manager and received the following helpful response :
"This has now been attended to and should no longer be a problem."
REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020
Strawberrybank – closed until Wednesday 23 September for 5 working days for wall maintenance works.
Riverside Esplanade – off-peak nearside lane closure on Thursday 24 September for Scottish Water ironwork repair.
It will cover the global citizenship work being done by the Third Generation Project think tank with pupils at Bell Baxter High School in a really motivating, interesting collaboration.
It will run from 6pm to 7pm online on Tuesday has appeal for schools and a much wider audience too.
All welcome! You can book free tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/developing-a-climate-justice-curriculum-for-scotland-tickets-119213447631.
“We regularly use the steps down to Riverside from the rail bridge down from Newhall Gardens.
They are becoming quite dangerous when wet and also the foliage is really overgrown.”
I have raised these concerns with the local environment manager asking for this to be resolved.
