Ninewells Community Garden - volunteering

Good news - Fort Street

Having long campaigned for road surface improvements for Fort Street, I was pleased to be recently advised :

"I have been advised that this road is to be upgraded in the near future either March or April 2017, subject to the continuation of current funding levels."

Temporary Traffic Order - Riverside Esplanade and Riverside Drive

From Dundee 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 construction works.  The Order is expected to be in force for 33 weeks from 2 April 2017.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all westbound vehicular traffic in the nearside lane of both Riverside Esplanade and Riverside Drive from a point 125 metres or thereby from the end of the Tay Road Bridge west off ramp for a distance of 410 metres or thereby to a point 75 metres or thereby along Riverside Drive.

After a period of 8 weeks lane closure will be reduced to an overall length of 290 metres or thereby.  Lane closure will then progress for a further period of 10 weeks to allow external works to be completed along North boundary.  Lane closure will then be removed for a period of 7 weeks.  Lane closure (290 metres or thereby) will recommence to allow installation of precast to elevation on building B and completion of road at main entrance for a period of 8 weeks.

No alternative route is required.

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee  DD1 1LS or phone 433275.

Tapestry Lawn Project

Temporary Traffic Order - Brown Street

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 SSE cabling works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Brown Street (between Douglas Street and Miln Street), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Monday 27 March 2017 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Diversion routes for vehicles available via Douglas Street / Blinshall Street / Miln Street

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - ROAD REPORT FOR THE WEST END 

REPORT FOR WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 27 MARCH 2017

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street for 5 months.

Brown Street (Douglas Street to Miln Street) – closed from Monday 27 March for 5 working days for SSE cabling works.

Blackness Road / Glamis Road – temporary traffic lights for 2 weeks for gas main renewal.

Forest Park Road – temporary traffic lights for one week for Scottish Water main repair.

Milnbank Road – temporary traffic lights for one week for Scottish Water main repair.

Wright Avenue – off peak temporary traffic lights on Thursday 30 March for telecoms maintenance.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Brown Street (Guthrie Street for 35m south) – closed southbound from Monday 3 April for 5 working days for Scottish Water mains repair works.

West Park Road - street sign

Residents have contacted me regarding the fact that street sign in West Park Road at its junction with Perth Road (west side) is very faded :

I have therefore asked the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership if it can be replaced.

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee

From Blether Tay-Gither :

Our March Blether will be on Tuesday 28th March - at 7pm in Madigan's Food Emporium and Bookshop, Castle Street.

This meeting sees us celebrate 10 Years of storytelling in Dundee.    Join us for stories and cake!

Special guest is Jess Smith.

Seats are limited so please let us know ASAP if you are coming by contacting e-mailing sheila@blethertaygither.co.uk or by phoning 01334 474836.

Botanic Garden - willow arch construction

The Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden is providing funds to construct a willow tunnel and arbour in the Garden suitable for children to play in.

This work is scheduled to take place on 27th and 28th March, and all are invited to come along from 10.30am to watch or even do a bit of work!

If you wish to participate, wear wellies and warm clothes, and bring gloves. 

Sandy from Arborantics who will be doing the work has said you are welcome to bring a spade/secateurs/lopper if you  wish.

The Drever Commemoration Lecture

University of Dundee – Saturday Evening Lecture Series 2017 - Dundee to the World

Saturday 25th March 2017

An evening with three graduates who shaped and reported on global events. This is also the Drever Commemoration Lecture.

This event will celebrate three of our prestigious graduates who studied here during James Drever’s time as Principal. James Drever was a massive advocate for political discourse, encouraging students to strike and make stands against funding cuts. Each of these graduates has gone on to make an impact in the field of politics:

• Sir William Patey has played a leading personal role in some of the most challenging diplomatic events of our times during his Ambassadorial roles in Sudan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.

• Lord George Robertson is a former politician and was Secretary of State for Defence between 1997 and 1999. 

• John Suchet is a former foreign correspondent, presenter and a commentator on major ceremonial occasions.

You can register for this event here.

Ninewells Community Garden - Spring Events

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 20 MARCH 2017

Perth Road (at Arnhall Drive) – temporary traffic lights for one week for gas main renewal.   (However, please see my update from Scotland Gas Networks yesterday).

Blackness Road (at Rosefield Street) – temporary traffic lights for one week for Scottish Water mains renewal.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to South Tay Street) - closed for up to one week for carriageway resurfacing works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street for 5 months.

Perth Road (at Springfield) – temporary traffic lights for up to one week for footway works.

Update on Scotland Gas Networks works

I asked Scotland Gas Networks (SGN) about progress with their work in the Perth Road/Glamis Road area - particularly as residents have queried how long the temporary traffic lights on Perth Road at Farington Terrace will continue.

SGN's Team Manager has advised :

"We are currently completing the final phase in Perth Road.  In order to maintain gas supplies we have to carry out the work in stages which unfortunately sometimes means returning to areas we worked in earlier in the project which obviously doesn’t look good to members of the public. 

The programme now is to complete all work in Perth Road next week, at the same time we are also working at the Glamis Road/Ninewells Avenue junction which should also be complete next week.  Following this, and dependent on the Scottish Water works, we will then return to the Glamis Road/Blackness Road roundabout with traffic lights and the final piece of the project is a road crossing on Glamis Road at Elliot Road which may also need traffic control."

Dundee City Transmission Cable Replacement Project - an update

From Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks - regarding the high voltage cable replacement project - area from Lochee Road to Logie Avenue :

"As you’ll be aware the Dundee City Transmission Cable Replacement project commenced on 6 March 2017 and is progressing according to programme.  

Below is an update in relation to the works and roads affected by these as at w/c 20 March : 

• Lochee Road, Joint Bay 1/2 – Road remains open to traffic who are able to pass with care
• Lochee Road, Joint Bay 2/3 – Traffic management system sees the sequencing of traffic lights staggered to accommodate single direction traffic as at 13/03
• Fleucher Street, Joint Bay 3/4 – Fleuchar Street will close w/c 20 March.  A diversion is in place and will take approximately 1 minute by car.  Local access for residents, pedestrians, cyclists etc will be maintained during this closure. 

I’d also like to give you a bit of notice regarding abnormal load deliveries to our lay down site at Brown Street.  There will be cable drum deliveries to this site between 29 – 31 March where parking at Brown Street between Douglas Street and Miln Street will be temporarily suspended during short periods of time.  

Traffic will be managed by Contraflow who will remain on the ground during these periods.  I am currently awaiting confirmation of the vehicles’ route from the Dock and also timings, when I am in receipt of this information I will be certain to pass it on to you."

I will keep residents updated as I hear further from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

Riverside Nature Park event

Spring vintage market - Roseangle on Saturday

Friends of Wighton update

With thanks to Sheena Wellington, here's the latest update from Friends of Wighton :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library -  Saturday 18th March at 11am (doors open 10.30am)

Cappuccino Concert  with singer/songwriter Bob Knight

Bob Knight is a singer from Aberdeen who has slowly but surely been making a name for himself in the world of folk and traditional music. He comes from a long line of traditional singers and musicians, and is related to many of the great traditional singers from North East Scotland. 

He is well known in North East Scotland folk circles as a singer and writer of songs in traditional style, having performed at most of the local clubs, and festivals, including many events at Aberdeen University’s Elphinstone Institute. 

Bob doesn’t just confine himself to his home patch though, and has played all over Scotland, including Edinburgh Folk club, The Scottish Storytelling Centre ,(Edinburgh) The Rolling Hills Folk Festival in Melrose, the Portsoy Boat Festival, Dougie McLean’s Perthshire Amber festival, and Celtic Connections in Glasgow. In August 2012 and then again in 2013, he performed in a series of highly successful concerts at the prestigious Whitby Folk Week, in Yorkshire.

In August 2013, Bob released his second CD, “Songs From My Tradition,” this time ringing the changes by recording Scottish traditional unaccompanied songs. Future projects include another CD, of Scottish folk favourites, “Fields Of Home,” recorded with his brother Willie Knight, and the eagerly awaited third solo album, which will feature Bob’s best known and requested original songs. 

Tickets  £5  at door.   Tea/coffee available for small donation.

Event for all with eyesight or hearing issues ...

Temporary Traffic Order : Paton's Lane

From Dundee 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 gas service connection works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Paton’s Lane (from its junction with Magdalen Yard Road to approx. 40 metres north), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Monday 13 March 2017 for 5 working days.

The one way order relating to Paton’s Lane will be rescinded for the duration of these works.    Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Diversion routes for vehicles available via Magdalen Yard Road / Step Row / Perth Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - ROAD REPORT FOR THE WEST END 

SUNDAY 12 MARCH 2017

Perth Road (at Roseangle) – temporary traffic lights on Sunday 12 March for Scottish Water mains repair.

WEST END REPORT FOR WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 13 MARCH 2017

Perth Road (at Arnhall Drive) – temporary traffic lights for 2 weeks for gas main renewal.

Blackness Road (at Rosefield Street) – temporary traffic lights for until midweek  for Scottish Water mains renewal.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to South Tay Street) - closed for 2 weeks for carriageway resurfacing works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street from Monday 6 March for 5 months.

Perth Road (at Springfield) – temporary traffic lights for one week for footway works.

Patons Lane (Magdalen Yard Road for 40m North) – closed from Monday 13 March for 5 working days for gas service connection works.

Help for private tenants - heating improvements

Calling all knitters! Help Age UK ...

Fairtrade Fortnight event tonight

Global citizenship event at St John's High School

Police Community Surgeries in the West End

The next West End Police Surgery takes place at the Mitchell Street Centre today - details below :

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 6 MARCH 2017

Perth Road (at Arnhall Drive) – temporary traffic lights for 3 weeks for gas main renewal.

Blackness Road (at Rosefield Street) – temporary traffic lights for one week for Scottish Water mains renewal.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to South Tay Street) - closed for 2 weeks for carriageway resurfacing works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street from Monday 6 March for 5 months.

Nethergate (at West Marketgait) – closed off-peak (9.30 – 3.30pm) on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 March for cycling works.

Perth Road (at Springfield) – temporary traffic lights for 2 weeks for footway works.

Temporary Traffic Order - Fleuchar Street, Blinshall Street and Scott 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 works for the SSE cable renewal scheme.  The Order is expected to be in force for 20 weeks from 6 March 2017.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (1) Fleuchar Street from Eassons Angle to Blyth Street, (2) Blinshall Street from Lochee Road to Douglas Street and (3) Scott Street from City Road to Glenagnes Road.

Pedestrian access and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Eassons Angle, Milnbank Road and City Road, (2) Douglas Street, Smellies Lane and Lochee Road and (3) City Road, Milnbank Road, Rosefield Street and Glenagnes Road.

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 and if you have any queries please contact 433082.

Take pride in your city events - March #takepridedundee

Way Back When - exhibition opening

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

WAY BACK WHEN - STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHS 1968-73

The opening of a new exhibition of rarely seen photographs taken by a Dundee art student in the early 1970s - "Way Back When" - opens today - Friday 3rd March - from 5pm - 6.30pm in the Tower Foyer Gallery at the University of Dundee. 

The photographs were all taken by Walter Simms, who studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art from 1968-1973, specialising in Graphic Design and Photography.    He went on to have a successful career in graphic design and museum exhibition design, retiring in 2012.

The exhibition has been assembled by Walter in association with one of his contemporaries, Gordon Robertson, a lecturer in Graphic Design at the college for many years.    

The photographs include portraits of Walter’s fellow students at the Art College at work and at play, including at the Tav Bar and the famous Revels.    They also feature fascinating glimpses into a Dundee that has changed completely – the ruined remains of the old Hawkhill; workers at the docks and at NCR.   It is a time capsule of a very different Dundee.

The exhibition runs until 6th May and is open Monday to Friday (9.30am to 7pm) and Saturday (1pm to 5pm).

Admission is free but if you would like to attend the preview, it would be helpful if you could book here. 

Harris Academy FPs' Lunch

The next Harris Academy Former Pupils’ Association Lunch is on Monday 6th March at 12 noon.

It will be held in Invercarse Hotel on Perth Road and the cost per person, payable on arrival, will be £16.00.

More information is available from the FPs’ Treasurer Freida Soutar on 562788. 

You can read more about the Harris Academy Former Pupils’ Association here.

Community Spirit Action Group meeting tonight