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.
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 :
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.
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.
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."
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
It is encouraging all tenants to give their views before the closing date of 23rd December and full details are available here.
The council's landscape design team is currently consulting with residents who lives in the vicinity of Black Street about possible improvements to the open space there.
Further details and how to give your feedback are given below :
I raised this with the council's parking team on behalf of residents.
We agreed that some cycle parking provision just east of the car park at the Bridgeview Station Restaurant would be a good idea, particularly as there is plenty space for this.
I raised this with the City Development Department at the council and received a positive response. The Senior Project Officer, Active Travel Strategy has now advised further :
"I am working on a wider cycle parking project which focuses on the city centre and I aim to fold the installation at Bridgeview into that wider package of works.
I have to complete the wider project by March 31st 2022 but I intend to have the work completed before then. I will of course provide you with a further update once I have more definite timescales from the contractors."
I contacted the Head of Libraries at Leisure and Culture Dundee about this and she has updated me as follows :
"There is a problem with the doors and the lift engineers have advised against using the lift. They were in the library last week and told our librarian that they are trying to source a part which needs to come from Sweden.
Hopefully this will be resolved soon, and there won’t be a further delay due to current supply issues obtaining goods from abroad, as not having the lift is having a serious impact on access to and usage of the upper floor in Blackness.
The Blackness librarian is keeping the customers who need lift access to the first floor aware of the current situation with weekly phone calls."
Having had more concerns raised recently, I highlighted this
to Police Scotland and also to the roads team at the City Council.
Our community police sergeant for the West End and Lochee
has advised :
“You have raised this concern with Police Scotland in the
past and have spoken to the West End Community Officers to see if they had
previous knowledge.
A colleague previously attempted to deal with this and he
informs me that the previous update from Dundee City Council suggested
legislation was being progressed through parliament to tackle this very issue,
but as a result of COVID-19 ground to a halt.
At this time from a policing perspective, every individual
instance would have to be assessed on its own merits, to establish if any
offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 were being committed.
I appreciate this is not an ideal situation because it does not
bring about any speedy resolution to the problems.
I am aware the council parking attendants were also involved
the last time there was repeated complaints being made but again, I do not
believe they have powers to enforce any penalties in respect of the double
parking as they are not on double yellow lines, hence the need for new
legislation.
I can only ask that any residents consider contacting Police
Scotland on 101 if they are concerned about the safety of pedestrians and other
road users from the manner of parking of vehicles in the area. The
circumstances can thereafter be fully assessed and police action taken if
deemed relevant and appropriate in the circumstances.”
The council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership Depute Manager
further advised :
“I can confirm the secondary legislation has been delayed
due to the Scottish Ministers prioritising COVID legislation and other
emergency legislation.
Once we receive the secondary legislation for the ban on
pavement parking and double parking this will make it easier for local
authorities to ensure our pavements and roads are safer and more accessible to
all.
I believe the teams within the Scottish Government will be
looking at this shortly. There are many
parts of the Transport Scotland Act 2019.
Unfortunately I have no definite timescale with Spring/Summer
2022 the latest suggested date been mentioned by Transport Scotland officers.”
The introduction of legislation to stop this dangerous
parking is vital and long overdue and will ensure safer roads in the future,
especially on dark nights.
