Places for everyone - Perth Road events! #dundeewestend

As I previously highlighted, West End Community Council has received funding through the Places for Everyone fund which is administered by Sustrans Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, to develop ideas to enhance a section of Perth Road around the district shopping centre.

Here’s some of the numerous events and opportunities for anyone with and interest or passion for the Perth Road to get involved and share your ideas. 

Have your say on what works, what needs to be improved and what the priorities are. 

All events are free!

Harris Education and Recreation Association AGM #dundeewestend

Friends of Magdalen Green AGM #dundeewestend

Café Science Dundee: How Does Your Barley Grow?

Dr Sarah McKim will discuss how genes control barley development, and how this knowledge can be used.

Cereals provide more calories to the human diet than any other source. They are also critical for brewing and distilling whisky, our most valuable export. However, we are only just beginning to understand how cereal crops grow and develop, and how this can affect the quality and amount of grain produced.

Dr. Sarah McKim will talk about how knowledge gained from new genetic research developed at Dundee can help improve barley crops.

Café Science events are free and everyone is welcome. There is no need to book in advance but arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Getting things done - Brook Street #dundeewestend

Residents in the Brook Street area and in Pleasance Court have drawn to my attention the problems they have ensuring the bus driver sees they are waiting at the bus stop on Brook Street's north side (opposite Brook Close), due to the lack of a bus bay and vehicles parked right across the stop.     

This also makes it a challenge to get on the bus, as passengers have to get through a line of nose-to-tail parked vehicles to get to the bus.

I asked the City Council if a bus bay can be created at the stop and have had the following positive response from the Parking and Sustainable Transport Team Leader :

"We will be undertaking some bus bay marking over the next couple of months and I have added this list to the site where action is required."

West End Community Council meeting tonight #dundeewestend

The Community Council meets this evening at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall at 7pm - all residents welcome!   Here's the agenda :

WEST END COMMUNITY  COUNCIL  MEETING

TUESDAY 14th MAY 2019 AT  7.00PM

LOGIE AND ST JOHN`S (CROSS)  PARISH  CHURCH  HALL

(ENTER FROM SHAFTESBURY  TERRACE  -  OFF  BLACKNESS  AVENUE)

1. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES

2. MINUTE OF MEETING APRIL 9TH  2019 AND  MATTERS  ARISING

3. CORRESPONDENCE

4. APPOINTMENT OF COMMUNITY COUNCILLOR

5. POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE

6. COMMUNITY FRIDGE UPDATE

7. PERTH ROAD PLACEMAKING PROJECT UPDATE – Russell Pepper

8. NISSAN (BARNETTS) GARAGE

9. TECHNOLOGY PARK CONDITION OF UNITS

10. PERTH ROAD UPDATE 

11. PLANNING  UPDATE 

12. OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED ON BEHALF OF WECC

13. AOCB – MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT

14. DATE  OF  NEXT  MEETING – Tuesday 11th June 2019 

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 13 MAY 2019

West Marketgait (North of Nethergate) – off-peak lane closures for 3 weeks for pedestrian crossing upgrade works.

Perth Road (at Roseangle) – off-peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 14 May for BT work.

Riverside Drive (at Riverside Avenue) – off-peak (9.30am – 3.30pm) stop/go traffic control from Tuesday 14 May for 3 days for fencing/landscaping works.

Community Fridge Information Evening #dundeewestend

Friends at the End - cuppa and chat

SEW : Together – The Legacy of Marion Stewart

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

Sew: Together – The Legacy of Marion Stewart

Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee

This exhibition presents a tribute to textile artist and designer Marion Stewart (née Gracie, 1931-2017), who worked for many years at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, where she taught embroidery and stitched textile design to generations of students. 

Marion had a formidable work ethic and always pushed her students to achieve at the highest levels. She was also renowned for her quick wit and sense of humour. Above all, she was an inspirational teacher and an important role model for professional married women. She encouraged the formation of the influential textile group Embryo in 1980, and many of her students have gone on to forge successful careers in art, design and education. 

The exhibition features work by Marion and by many of the students who were inspired by her. It has been curated by Frances Justice and Sheila Mortlock in association with the University of Dundee Museum Services. Grateful thanks are due to Graham Stewart and many of Marion’s former colleagues and students.

The exhibition will run from 11th May until 20th July and will be open Monday to Friday (9.30am-7pm) and Saturday (1pm-5pm).   Admission is free.

Getting things done - phone box - Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

Residents have pointed out to me that the traditional red phone box on Magdalen Green is badly in need of painting - see photo.

I contacted BT Payphones requesting this and have received the following response :

"I have requested for the payphone to be repainted.

The commercial officer will make a decision in the next 10 working days."

I am pleased to say that repainting has now been agreed to and the cleaning of the phone box's inside I also asked for has been carried out.

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 Street Lighting Column reinstatement works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Nethergate (eastbound between Tay Street Lane and West Marketgait), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 12 May 2019 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

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

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and Architecture Degree Show

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and Architecture Degree show celebrates the success of graduating students from DJCAD and the Department of Architecture, within the School of Social Sciences. 

For 10 days from 17th May, the Matthew and Crawford buildings transform themselves into one of the country’s biggest galleries showcasing the culmination of several years of creative development and hard work.

Go to the Degree Show website.   It will provide a snapshot of the work undertaken by the hugely talented students, but to fully appreciate the diversity, please visit the show and join in wishing the 2019 graduates every success in the future!

Full details here – all welcome!

No ward surgeries today ...

As today is the May Day holiday and local schools are on holiday, my usual ward surgeries on a Monday at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre do not take place.

However, I can be contacted at any time at home on 459378 or by e-mail at surgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk. 

My surgeries resume on Thursday of this week.      

Details are available here.

Varun Baker's Contemporary Kingston Cityscapes talk

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

Many of you will have enjoyed the photography exhibition Moving Jamaica we held in the Lamb Gallery at the end of 2018. 

Next week, the University will be hosting a talk by photographer Varun Baker, whose work was shown in the exhibition. His talk - "Contemporary Kingston Cityscapes." 

It will be held on Tuesday (7th May) at 2pm (running to 3.15pm) in the Scrymgeour Building, Room 2.12, on Park Place. 

In this illustrated presentation, photographer Varun Baker reveals two sides of Jamaica's capital city, Kingston, by showcasing extremes of humanity. 

On the one hand, there is a stark photo essay devoted to showcasing the life of a man who makes a living on Kingston’s streets despite having had both his arms and legs amputated. 

On the other is a series of portraits that show the more jovial side of Kingston's city streets where people of all ages go out to experience, and enjoy "dancehall," a phenomenon that has birthed several musical genres.

Varun is based in Jamaica, and his award winning photography is on display at the National Gallery of Jamaica, and many other international venues – see more here.

 The talk is free to attend and all are welcome!

The presentation has been made possible through generous support from the Strategic Development Initiative Fund, School of Social Sciences and the Geography programme, University of Dundee.

West End event today - all welcome! #dundeewestend

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 4 AND SUNDAY 5 MAY 2019

TUC Annual Parade – Blackness Road, Hawkhill, West Marketgait, Nethergate, High Street, Reform Street and Meadowside closed on Saturday 4 May (11.45am - 12.45pm).

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 6 MAY 2019

Nethergate (at West Marketgait) – eastbound lane restrictions for one week for Scottish Water work.

Nethergate (Tay Street Lane to West Marketgait) – closed eastbound on Sunday 12 May for Street Lighting work.

Hawkhill (o/s Tesco) – off-peak nearside lane closure from Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 May for Scottish Water work.

Riverside Nature Park event - all welcome! #dundeewestend

Temporary Traffic Order for Saturday

From the City Council :

THE ROADS TRAFFIC REGULATION  ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 (1b)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of the TUC Annual Mayday Parade HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in:

1 Blackness Road (Urquhart Street to Hawkhill)

2 Hawkhill (Hawkhill to West Marketgait)

3 West Marketgait (Hawkhill to Nethergate)

4 Nethergate (West Marketgait to High Street)

5 High Street (Nethergate to Reform Street)

6 Reform Street (High Street to Albert Square)

7 Meadowside (Reform Street to Chapel Street)

This notice comes into effect on Saturday 4 May 2019 from 11:45hrs to 12:45hrs.

Closures will be enforced by Police Scotland officers.

No diversion routes will be available.

For further information contact 433275.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Litter pick tomorrow - University of Dundee campus #dundeewestend

Friends of Wighton - May Day Lunchtime Recital

From Sheena Wellington :

Tomorrow - Wednesday 1st May - at 1.15pm, our May Day Lunchtime Recital stars our own inimitable Karen Hannah on fiddle and Lindsay Duncan on vocals and guitar 

A fine player with an engaging personality, Karen is known as “tunemonster” for her unrivalled knowledge of Scottish melodies. The wonderfully named Nifty Shades of Grey, Sporran Again and Ceilidh Minogue are among the many bands she has worked with! She has taught fiddle at the Wighton Centre for many years and her performing career has seen her representing Scotland as far afield as New Zealand and South Korea.

Another musical globetrotter is Lindsay Duncan, one of the best known musicians in Tayside. Deeply into music since his schooldays, he is a compelling singer and plays the most beautiful acoustic guitar – check out his version of The Irish Girl on YouTube.   His band pedigree incudes The Mad Parrot Ceilidh Band and The Broon Troot Orchestra and he is an excellent and experienced guitar teacher.

Karen and Lindsay have worked together as a duo and in various line- ups for more than a decade. They promise us songs, tunes and a surprise or two.    

Admission free, donations welcome.

Perth Road district shopping area - exciting news!

West End Community Council has received funding from Sustrans Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme, to develop ideas to enhance a section of Perth Road, to create an accessible, quality ‘high street’ for everyone.

This is the first phase of an ambitious three phase project to transform Perth Road into an area which is safe, accessible and attractive, creating a desirable destination that people will want to visit, shop and linger in. 

This first phase seeks to gather survey evidence, engage with both the community and stakeholders and formulate a placemaking plan which will subsequently feed into further funding applications to expand on design stages.

Throughout May and June 2019 there will be numerous events and opportunities for anyone with an interest and passion for this part of Dundee to get involved and share your ideas! 

If you live, have a business, work or visit this part of Perth Road, the West End Community Council want you have your say on what works, what needs to be improved and what the priorities are - please have a look at the list of events and come along to have your say!

If you can't make it along, visit https://perthroaddundeemap.commonplace.is (this goes live later today), where you will be able to voice your opinions.

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019

Nethergate (Tay Street Lane to West Marketgait) – closed eastbound on Sunday 28 April for Street Lighting work.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 29 APRIL 2019

Nethergate (at West Marketgait) – eastbound lane restrictions from Monday 29 April for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.

Perth Road (at Springfield) – off-peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 30 April for Scottish Water works.

Forthcoming soup and pudding lunch - Not in vain for Lee

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 Street Lighting Column removal works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Nethergate (eastbound between Tay Street Lane and West Marketgait), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 28 April 2019 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

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

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Friends of Wighton event this Saturday!

From Sheena Wellington :

Saturday 27th April  :  Christine Kydd, singer and songwriter

Wighton Heritage Centre - Central Library - starts 11am

Check any online folk music station or magazine these days and chances are that there will be someone running out of superlatives to describe  Christine Kydd’s latest CD “Shift & Change.”

Christine is, of course, one of Scotland’s leading, award-winning singers and recording artistes. 

With eclectic tastes, she is best known for her treatment of traditional and contemporary songs and her solo set is as likely to include self-penned songs as the work of Marra, Springsteen, Hulett, Wellington, McVicar, Jacob, Tannahill and Reid.

Admission £5;  coffee and newspapers available from 10.30am. 

Friends of Balgay Spring meeting #dundeewestend

The next Friends of Balgay meeting will be at 2pm on Saturday 27th April at the Mills Observatory.

Keith Walker, local artist and archivist, will give a  talk on “Old Balgay – 1600 to 1800” - and all are very welcome to attend.

Green Health Week - West End events today and Thursday #dundeewestend

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 APRIL 2019

Glamis Drive – closed for one week for footway resurfacing works.

Nethergate (Tay Street Lane to West Marketgait) – closed eastbound on Sunday 28 April for Street Lighting work.

Brook Street (at Edward Street) – temporary traffic lights for 10 days for SSEN works.

Perth Road (Roseangle) – temporary traffic lights on Saturday 27 April for BT works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Nethergate (at West Marketgait) – eastbound lane restrictions from Monday 29 April for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.

Perth Road (at Springfield) – off-peak temporary traffic lights on Tuesday 30 April for Scottish Water works.

A very Happy Easter

Getting things done - Forest Park Road and Rosefield Street #dundeewestend

I have received a number of further complaints about the amount of litter regularly in both Forest Park Road (pictured below) and Rosefield Street :

I have therefore raised this with the environment manager for the area regarding the need for more regular street sweeping in both streets.

Dundee Spring Clean 2019! #TakePrideDundee

Friends of Wighton update ...

From Sheena Wellington :

This Saturday - 20th April - Easter Special – Bob Stewart, songs 

Cappuccino Concert - 11am – 12 noon

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library

Bob Stewart has been entertaining for over 25 years and plays a variety of Scottish/Celtic and contemporary acoustic music.    

His performances are a very lively affair with a mixture of traditional and original material, a driving acoustic guitar sound, bodhran and mandolin (not all at the same time) and humour.

Bob was born and bred in Alyth, Perthshire and has been a full time musician since 1989.     He has played in several successful bands, touring Scotland and Europe before going solo in 2007. 

In 2017, Bob returned to his roots and began performing again in the traditional music scene. 

Still living in Alyth and touring the length and breadth of the country, he is looking forward to one of his busiest years ever.

Admission £5, with coffee and newspapers from 10.30am.

Riverside Drive - road safety #dundeewestend

A number of residents who live in the Riverside Apartments just west of the roundabout on Riverside Drive at Tesco have expressed concern about the speed of some vehicles outside their homes.

Some have suggested the more appropriate speed limit at their homes would be 30mph, which would involve moving the start of the 30mph zone slightly westwards along the road.    The current 40mph limit here was put in place when there were no residential properties on this part of Riverside Drive.

On their behalf, I raised this with the City Council and the council's Traffic and Transport Team Leader has responded as follows :

"I think we will need to see what the speeds are on this section of road and I will try and organise a survey to be done. 

History tells us that just changing speed limits doesn't always change people's behaviour. 

I will also speak to the police about this as well as they will have to enforce any new limit. A speed survey will be the starting point."

Dundee Art Society event - Roseangle Gallery #dundeewestend

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 15 APRIL 2019

Glamis Drive – Invergowrie Drive to Hillside Road (Phase 1) and Hillside Road to Glamis Road (Phase 2) – closed in phases as stated for Monday 15 April for 2 weeks for footway resurfacing works.  Only one phase closed at any one time.

Riverside Esplanade – off-peak nearside lane closure on from Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 April for building maintenance.

West End Ward Surgeries #dundeewestend

With the Easter school holidays now nearly over, it is back to West End Ward surgeries this coming week.   My Mitchell Street Centre and Harris Academy surgeries take place tomorrow.

My full surgery details are below – although I can also be contacted via esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk or phone me at home on 459378 anytime :

Temporary Traffic Order - Glamis Drive

From the City Council :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating footway resurfacing works.  The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 15 April 2019.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Glamis Drive from Invergowrie Drive to Hillside Road (Phase 1) and from Hillside Road to Glamis Road (Phase 2).

Only one phase of the works will be in operation at any time.

An alternative route will be available via Glamis Road, Perth Road, Invergowrie Drive and in reverse.  Pedestrians will have an alternative walkway on the road to safely pass the works.

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

Getting things done - Clayhills Drive #dundeewestend

A number of constituents have contacted me about the deteriorating state of the road in Clayhills Drive near its entrance.

I reported this to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and have been given the following helpful response :

"The Road Maintenance inspector has raised an order for pothole repairs to be done with a timescale for completion of approximately thirty days. 

He will continue to monitor the condition of the carriageway during routine inspection and any actionable defects noted will be repaired to ensure safety is maintained."

'Out and About' Bus

The Art of Reading

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

The Art of Reading

An exhibition of art about, inspired by and in the form of books

Tower Foyer Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee

Now on until 29th June - Monday to Friday 09.30-19.00; Saturday 13.00-17.00

The latest show in the Tower Foyer Gallery has been created as a companion to the current rare books exhibition in the Lamb Gallery (Bodies, Botanicals & Bindings). It looks at some of the ways that artists are inspired by or make use of books.

 Sketchbooks are often the starting point for any artistic idea

 Artists often create visual adaptations of scenes in books that inspire them

 Many books – particularly ones for children – feature illustrations by artists

 Artists might use books as visual props for the subjects in their paintings

 Some artists aim to critique the form of books

 Last but not least, many artists make their own books

All of the works on display are drawn from the University’s extensive Museum Collections. Artists include Sam Ainsley, Louise Hopkins, Ian Hamilton Finlay, R B Kitaj, Joseph Lee, Richard Long, Moira Macgregor, Bruce McLean, Noel Paton, Tom Phillips, Arthur Rackham and Barbara Robertson.

Harris Education and Recreation Association - Spring courses - enrolment

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

Forthcoming Roadworks – West End Ward

Glamis Drive – Invergowrie Drive to Hillside Road (Phase 1) and Hillside Road to Glamis Road (Phase 2) – closed in phases as stated for Monday 15 April for 2 weeks for footway resurfacing works.  Only one phase closed at any one time.

New steps - Pentland Avenue #dundeewestend

Residents recently asked me for an update on when the new steps currently under construction in Pentland Avenue will be available to use.

I asked for an update from the City Council and the Project Officer in the Housing Asset Management Unit has advised as follows :

"The stairs cannot be opened until the handrail has been fully installed. The contractors programme of work shows this should start next week. The handrails could not be fabricated until the installation of the pre cast concrete steps was finished as they need to fit the final gradient of the steps plus the quality of the materials specified has led to a longer lead time than might normally be expected but the we feel this will be worth it in the longer term due to the reduction in the repairs and maintenance that will be required.

The same type of works are being simultaneously carried out at the Dallfield Multi-storey development so we are in constant communication with the contractor about both jobs. 

As soon as the handrails of are fitted, the city engineers with carry out an inspection and assuming everything is ok, will issue the relevant paperwork that will allow the are to be fully open. Once these steps are fully finished, work will begin on the other set of steps."

Second Easter holiday fun day at Ancrum Road Primary School

Getting things done - Bankmill Road #dundeewestend

Residents recently contacted me about graffiti in Bankmill Road - see below :

I am grateful to the City Council's Rapid Response Team who very promptly responded to my request to have the graffiti removed.

Easter Egg donations required!

Litter pick this Thursday - University of Dundee campus #dundeewestend

Latest event from Friends of Wighton

From Sheena Wellington :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library

Wednesday 3rd April - 1.15pm – 1.45pm

Lunchtime Recital :  Celtic Strings Trio 

Celtic Strings Trio are Anne Hamilton, vocals and guitar, Morag Sutherland (violin) and Jenny Blain (harp)  and they play and sing a mixture of Celtic and modern music.

Admission free, retiring donation.

West End Surgeries #dundeewestend

As the school Easter holidays are now taking place, my ward surgeries at Harris Academy, Blackness Primary School and the Mitchell Street Centre do not take place, but I can still be contacted on any local issues or concerns through my e-surgery - just e-mail esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk.

Surgeries recommence on Monday 15th April - surgery details are available here.

I can also be contacted during office hours at my Dundee City Council office on 434985.