Temporary Traffic Order - Perth 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 Scottish Water ironwork repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Perth Road (between West Wynd and Seafield Road), Dundee.

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

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

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

For further information contact 433082.

Head of Roads and Transportation

Dundee City Council

NHS – Volunteer Listener Information Afternoon

The NHS Tayside Department for Spiritual Care is holding an information afternoon on volunteering opportunities on 21st August at Royal Victoria Hospital. 

For more details on what it involves and how to sign up, you can read more here. 

A reminder - tomorrow - Lee Welsh Memorial Match #notinvainforlee

Inter Hub Tournament at Harris Academy #dundeewestend

From West End Community Sports Hub :

Getting things done - road safety #dundeewestend

As residents are aware, I have long campaigned for further road safety improvements in the West End including "Twenty's Plenty" in residential areas where there is local support for this and use of vehicle activated speed limit signs.     

There are currently two such signs in the West End on Blackness Road (east of Balgay Park) and Perth Road (near Clovis Duveau Drive) and I have campaigned for more of these at the request of residents - for example on City Road and Perth Road east of Harris Academy.

I highlighted at the council's City Development Committee recently that the council does not actually have a policy for the use of vehicle activated speed limit signs - eg new sites, priority and rotation of signs.

The Head of Roads and Transportation thereafter updated me as follows :

"I have taken on board your comments below and the matters as raised at the City Development Committee and we will be developing a procedure for recording, prioritising and rotating the Vehicle Activated speed signage.  

Some of the older signs are fixed (owing to their design) however we will look at the type and provision and design of a rotational programme of sights around the city.  

There are obviously restricted financial budgets.  However there are opportunities through funding streams such as the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets initiative and other competitive packages that I will encourage us to follow through."

Scottish Art 1800-1900

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

Our latest exhibition has been opened in the Tower Foyer Gallery, University of Dundee, featuring a selection of the University’s extensive collection of 19th century Scottish art. 

It includes influential figures from early in the century such as Robert Scott Lauder and David Wilkie, renowned Victorian painters like William Quiller Orchardson and examples of the famous Glasgow Boys from the end of the century. 

One of the relatively few professional women painters of this era, Charlotte Nasmyth, is also featured, as well as notable Dundee artists such as James Douglas and David Foggie. 

The exhibition is on show until 28th September and is open Monday to Friday 9.30am-7pm, and Saturdays 1pm-5pm.

Coats n Quilts

The Coats n Quilts charity helps older people who struggle to stay warm, particularly during the winter months, through donations of coats and quilts. 

For more information, see the Coats n Quilts flyer here.

Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau – Financial Health Check

The Financial Health Check service is delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland.

It aims to help low income families to seek financial advice to maximise their income by ensuring that they are not paying more for essential goods and services that they need to and that they are getting all the benefits, grants and exemptions to which they are entitled. 

Anyone can access this service by calling 0800 085 7145 to receive telephone advice or be referred for a face to face appointment :

Volunteering event #dundeewestend

Break-In Prevention Advice

Police Scotland reports that break-ins to homes continue to take place and that are often due to the lack of security.   These break-ins are often committed by opportunists. 

A large number of these break-ins are easily preventable. 

To read about some simple crime prevention measures you can take to secure your property, please click here.

Getting things done - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Following concerns recently from residents about flooding on the rail bridge south of the Botanic Garden/Vernonholme on Riverside Drive, I raised the matter with the City Council and have received the following feedback from the environment supervisor in Neighbourhood Services :

"I checked the bridge ... the drains are currently running clear and the road leading down to the bridge is also clear of any build up of detritus apart from half a dozen pine cones. 

The bridge itself and the road leading down to Riverside does have a severe build up of detritus.   This is due to the bridge having a 3.2 tonne weight limit.   We are unable to cross over it with our sweeper which is a 5 tonne vehicle."

However, the Roads Maintenance Partnership has promised to monitor during rain and for build-up of debris.

EU Settlement Scheme

Dundee City Council has produced a handout which includes information about the EU Settlement Scheme, useful web links and telephone numbers. 

For more information and to request copies, please click here.

Getting things done - Hazel Drive #dundeewestend

Residents recently drew to my attention the overgrowth encroaching on to the footpath of Hazel Drive at its south end - see photo below :

My thanks go to the council's Neighbourhood Services who promptly responded to my request to attend to this.

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 8 JULY 2019

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Park Place) – closed until Wednesday 10 July for City Fibre duct installation and pedestrian crossing refurbishment.

Lochee Road and Logie Street (City Road to Tullideph Road) – closed from Monday 8 July for 2 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Perth Road (West Wynd to Seafield Road) – closed on Sunday 28 July for manhole repairs.

Kirsty Semple Way – closed on Saturday 17 August for crane lifting operations.

Lee Welsh Memorial Match #notinvainforlee

Save the 204 bus!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Jeanetta Black for her letter in Thursday's "Evening Telegraph" regarding the council's axing of the 204 bus :

The campaign to save the 204 is far from being over and, like Jeanetta, I share the concern that the so-called Blether Bus "alternative" service the council is suggesting is simply not fit for purpose.    The "service" utilises council mini-buses that many older folk and people with mobility difficulties will not be able to access.

I have now queried the legal position with Dundee City Council's Head of Democratic and Legal Services.    Local authorities had a responsibility in Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 that required all land-based transport vehicles to be accessible to disabled people including those who need to remain in wheelchairs.    These responsibilities transferred to the 2010 Equality Act and there is now also a public sector equality duty in Scotland.    

Meantime, the petition to save the 204 bus has gathered momentum with over 260 local residents signing it.    It can be signed at www.tinyurl.com/savethe204.

Riverside Nature Park event #dundeewestend

The next Friends of Riverside Nature Park event - a Wild Flower Wander at the park - will be on Sunday 7th July from 1pm to 3pm. 

Come and enjoy this visual delight and see what other wildlife is living in the park :

Taught Threads - guided tour

As I have previously mentioned, the exhibition Sew: Together 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.

This Saturday - 6th July - from 2pm to 3pm, as part of the exhibition and related events, there will be a guided tour of the exhibition by textile artist Dorothy Walker.

Meet in the Lamb Gallery (Tower Building, University of Dundee) - Free of charge but please book here.

Lochee Road and Logie Street - road resurfacing #dundeewestend

From the City Council :

Lochee Road (No 70 Logie Street to No 200 Lochee Road) - Carriageway Resurfacing Work

I wish to notify you that work is programmed to commence at the above location on Monday 8 July 2019 and will last for approximately 2 weeks. The contractor for the works is Tayside Contracts.

In the interest of public safety, a road closure will be implemented and through traffic will be diverted via City Road, Tullideph Road and reverse.

On-street parking will not be allowed on the section of carriageway being worked on. Vehicular access to properties with driveways will be maintained although we ask for vehicular traffic movements to be kept to a minimum and advise delays may be experienced.

Please note that pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained throughout the works.

Bus services will be affected by this closure and I would advise bus passengers to visit www.dundeetravelinfo.com, or telephone the bus operator for further details of diversion routes and alternative bus stops.

Please accept our apologies for any disruption these works may cause.   I am sure that you will understand that major road maintenance work is unavoidable and necessitates a degree of inconvenience to road users. 

If you have any queries regarding this matter please call 834126.

Garden and Allotment Competition 2019

Entries are now welcome for 2019's Dundee City Council Garden and Allotment Competition.

Whether you have a garden, window box or a community space, there’s a category for you!

You can read more here - entries close 19th July.

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 1 JULY 2019

Blackness Road (Seymour Street to Abbotsford Street) – temporary traffic lights for one week for footway works.

West Marketgait (North Marketgait to Courthouse Square) – southbound nearside lane closure for one week for footway works.

Abbotsford Street – closed at junction with Blackness Road for 10 days from Monday 1 July to facilitate footway reconstruction works.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Park Place) – closed from Monday 1 July for 7 days for City Fibre duct installation and pedestrian crossing refurbishment.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Lochee Road and Logie Street (City Road to Tullideph Road) – closed from Monday 8 July for 2 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

West End Art Group Exhibition #dundeewestend

All residents are invited to the Annual Exhibition of recent paintings by students of artist John Stoa.

The West End Art Group's exhibition - "Spiritual Awakening" - is now on at the Botanic Garden from until Sunday 7th July - each day from 11am.

More details available here.

Family Fun at Lochee Park #dundeewestend

Getting things done - Dunmore Gardens #dundeewestend

I recently received complaints from residents about potholes in the roadway of Dunmore Gardens.

I raised this with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and have received the following helpful response :

"An order has been raised for pothole repairs to be carried out in Dunmore Gardens."

West End Surgeries #dundeewestend

With the school summer holidays fast approaching, this evening at Blackness Primary School (pictured right), I hold my final surgery at 6.15pm sharp – the last until the new school term begins in August. 

During the summer break I can be contacted as follows :

• Home telephone number : 459378 (any time)
• Office telephone number at the City Council : 434985 (office hours Monday to Friday)
• E-surgery : esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk (any time)

Temporary Traffic Order - Abbotsford Street

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 reconstruction works.  The Order is expected to be in force for ten days from 1 July 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 Abbotsford Street its junction with Blackness Road.

An alternative route will be available via Blackness Road and Seymour Street.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS.

If you have any queries please call 01382 433082.

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

Following complaints from residents about the poor road surface in parts of Saggar Street some weeks ago, the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership promised a thorough annual inspection and any resultant repairs was due in the near future.

I have since been advised :

"The annual inspection of Saggar Street will take place late June/early July.

However an order has been raised for pothole repairs to be done until the inspection takes place and the planer patching is identified."

Additionally, at the request of residents, I asked the council to consider the provision of "yellow box" markings on City Road at the Saggar Street junction, given the difficulties drivers have exiting Saggar Street at rush hour.

The council's Team Leader in the Network Management Team has updated me as follows and I welcome the promised assessment :

"My initial assessment and observations are that the City Road junction with Saggar Street which is a no through road would not require a Yellow Box Junction markings.

Not all junctions are suitable for the box markings and a traffic survey should be carried out to determine the extent of the problem. We will arrange for this junction to be assessed for the suitability.

Factors which influence a decision to provide box markings are the junction should preferably though not necessarily be controlled by signals. This would cause more delays with the difference in flows and the close proximity of the City Road /Tullideph signalised junction."

Free tennis at Victoria Park #dundeewestend

Temporary traffic order - Greenmarket

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 crane lifting works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Greenmarket (between Greenmarket car park access and Sensation access), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 24 June 2019 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Access and exit to / from Greenmarket Car Park will be maintained at all times.

Alternative routes are available via DCA / Sensation access road.

For further information contact 433082.

Head of Roads and Transportation

Dundee City Council

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 22 AND SUNDAY 23 JUNE 2019

Blackness Road (Glamis Road to Blackness Avenue) – closed on Saturday 22 June (12.00 noon – 4.00pm) for surface dressing works.

Antiques Roadshow – Saturday 22 June:  Earl Grey Place West, South Crichton Street, South Castle Street and Earl Grey Place East closed for 2 days.  Sunday 23 June:  South Commercial Street, Riverside Esplanade and Tay Road Bridge (westbound off-slip) closed for one day.

Shepherds Loan (at junction with Perth Road) – closed on Sunday 23 June for Scottish Water ironwork repairs.

Perth Road/Hawkhill/Blackness Avenue – temporary traffic lights (9.30am - 3.30pm) on Sunday 23 June for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 24 JUNE 2019

Blackness Road (Seymour Street to Abbotsford Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 24 June for 2 weeks for footway works.

Greenmarket (Car Park Entrance to Sensation Access) – closed on Monday 24 June for crane lifting works.

West Marketgait (North Marketgait to Courthouse Square) – southbound nearside lane closure for 2 weeks for footway works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Abbotsford Street – closed at junction with Blackness Road for 10 days from Monday 1 July to facilitate footway reconstruction works.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Park Place) – closed from Monday 1 July for 7 days for City Fibre duct installation and pedestrian crossing refurbishment.

Lochee Road and Logie Street (City Road to Tullideph Road) – closed from Monday 8 July for 2 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

Temporary traffic order - Blackness 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 surface dressing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Blackness Road (Glamis Road to Blackness Avenue), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Saturday 22 June 2019 from 12 noon to 4pm.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes are available via Glamis Road / Perth Road / Blackness Avenue.

For further information contact 433082.

Head of Roads and Transportation

Dundee City Council

Clean Air Day - well done Victoria Park Primary School! @VictoriaParkPS

Today is Clean Air Day!

Well done to pupils from three Dundee Primary Schools, including Victoria Park PS in the West End, who last week braved the rain to decorate bus shelters in the city centre to encourage everyone to walk, cycle and take the bus instead of driving to reduce air pollution. 

Clean Air Day is the UK's largest air pollution campaign, engaging thousands of people at hundreds of events, and reaching millions more through the media. 

Temporary Traffic Order - Shepherd's Loan

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 ironwork repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Shepherds Loan (at its junction with Perth Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 23 June 2019 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes are available via Magdalen Yard Road / Windsor Street / Perth Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Head of Roads and Transportation

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - Rosefield Place, Rosefield Street and Bankmill Road #dundeewestend

At the request of residents, I have asked the City Council to attend to the following issues in the Rosefield Place, Rosefield Street and Bankmill Road area :

• Rosefield Place to Bankmill Road path – requested that the graffiti pictured below is removed.
• Rosefield Place – requested that a dumped mattress is removed.
• Rosefield Street – requested that the east pavement is thoroughly swept as it badly needs done.

Taught Threads – free discussion event

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

Taught Threads – free discussion event

Tomorrow - Tuesday 18th June, 5.30pm-6.30pm

D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, University of Dundee

This event accompanies the exhibition Sew: Together, paying 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 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.

For this special event, four of Marion's former students, Frances Justice, Pauline Hann, Sheila Mortlock and Dorothy Walker will take part in an informal discussion event recalling life as a textile student at Duncan of Jordanstone College in the 1960s and 70s and their memories of being taught by Marion.

All welcome – please book here.

Please help the Big Knit!

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 15 AND SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2019

Brook Street (at Edward Street) – temporary traffic lights until Monday 17 June for SSEN work.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 17 JUNE 2019

Lochee Road (at Gardners Lane) – off-peak (9.30am – 3.30pm) stop/go traffic control from Tuesday 18 June for 4 days for footway works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Antiques Roadshow – Saturday 22 June:  Earl Grey Place West, South Crichton Street, South Castle Street and Earl Grey Place East closed for 2 days.  Sunday 23 June:  South Commercial Street, Riverside Esplanade and Tay Road Bridge (westbound off-slip) closed for one day.

Shepherds Loan (at junction with Perth Road) – closed on Sunday 23 June for Scottish Water ironwork repairs.

Perth Road/Hawkhill/Blackness Avenue – temporary traffic lights (9.30am to 3.30pm) on Sunday 23 June for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Blackness Road (Seymour Street to Abbotsford Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 24 June for 2 weeks for footway works.

Abbotsford Street – closed at junction with Blackness Road for 10 days from Monday 1 July to facilitate footway reconstruction works.

Re-Discover Dundee

Re-Discover Dundee launched last December and is delivered by Volunteer Dundee and Dundee Voluntary Action.

It particularly focuses on encouraging older people to join in guided rides, as an opportunity to stay active and re-discover our nearby green spaces.

Can you help?    See below!

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

At the most recent meeting of the Community Spirit Action Group, the residents' group for the north of the West End Ward, concern was expressed at the damage to the council owned wall at the bottom of Saggar Street - see below :

I raised this with the City Council and have now been updated as follows by the Tenancy and Estates Team Leader:

"To help get this fixed, I asked one of the Tenancy Assistants to investigate and report back which he has now done. On inspection, he agreed the walls needs repaired, and in the interim, did what he could to make it safe. 

In addition, he has logged a job for the wall to be rebuilt, the coping stone replaced and any rubble to be removed. The target date for the work is 27th June, but he has asked the Repairs Manager to assign the work as soon as possible."

Getting things done - Glamis Terrace #dundeewestend

Residents have highliughted to me the need for posthole repairs in Glamis Terrace.

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

"An order has been raised for pothole repairs to be carried out."

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 11th JUNE 2019  AT  7.00PM

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

(ENTER FROM  SHAFTESBURY  TERRACE  -  OFF  BLACKNESS  AVENUE)

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

2. MINUTE OF MEETING MAY 14TH 2019 AND  MATTERS  ARISING

3. CORRESPONDENCE

4. POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE

5. PERTH ROAD PLACEMAKING PROJECT UPDATE – Russell Pepper and Graham Ross

6. WESTFEST

7. PLANNING  UPDATE 

8. COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2019

9. OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED ON BEHALF OF WECC

10. AOCB – MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT

11. DATE  OF  NEXT  MEETING – TUESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2019 

Light refreshments will be provided.

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 10 JUNE 2019

Blackness Road (Glamis Road to Blackness Avenue) – closed from Wednesday 5 June for 5 working days for carriageway patching and surface dressing works.

Brook Street (at Edward Street) – temporary traffic lights for one week for SSEN work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Antiques Roadshow – Saturday 22 June:  Earl Grey Place West, South Crichton Street, South Castle Street and Earl Grey Place East closed for 2 days.  Sunday 23 June:  South Commercial Street, Riverside Esplanade and Tay Road Bridge (westbound off-slip) closed for one day.

Shepherds Loan (at junction with Perth Road) – closed on Sunday 23 June for Scottish Water ironwork repairs.

Perth Road / Hawkhill / Blackness Avenue – temporary traffic lights (9.30am to 3.30pm) on Sunday 23 June for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

West End Reading Group meeting #dundeewestend

The West End Reading Group is a book club based at Blackness Library. 

This book club is set up to encourage all people to read and become more aware of the literature of authors of African, Caribbean and African American heritage. 

Meeting 5.30pm to 6.30pm on the second Monday of every month and the next meeting is tomorrow - Monday 10th June - when it will discuss “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, the first volume of autobiography written by Maya Angelou.

In this book, she describes her childhood in the American South in the 1930s. 

Maya Angelou won many awards including the National Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of freedom, the Lincoln Medal and the Norman Mailer Prize. 

The group looks forward to welcoming you tomorrow at 5.30pm.

Getting things done - Sinderins junction #dundeewestend

Residents have drawn to my attention broken tiles on the pavement at the junction of Hawkhill and east side of Blackness Avenue near the traffic lights.    

I reported this to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and have now been advised as follows :

"The Road Maintenance inspector has raised an order for the tactile paving slabs to be replaced."

Sunday bandstand concerts at Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

The first Magdalen Green Sunday band concert of 2019 is this Sunday 

... featuring Forfar Instrumental Band

Al-Maktoum College Open Day this Saturday

Litter pick tomorrow - University of Dundee campus #dundeewestend

Latest Friends of Wighton event tomorrow

Lunchtime Recital

Wednesday 5th June 1.15 -1.45pm (free, but donations welcomed)

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library

Lunchtime Recital with Sheena Wellington, singer.

Wighton stalwart Sheena Wellington will be exploring the songs associated with James Hogg, one of the most interesting characters in Scottish literature and music.