Monday 31 July 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 31 JULY 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 19 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street for 4 weeks.

A85 Riverside Drive – prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for 19 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Perth Road (Hawkhill to Roseangle) – closed for 3 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

Lochee Road (at Cleghorn Street) – temporary traffic lights on Sunday 6 August for Scottish Water manhole repair.

Sunday 30 July 2017

Girls in Print : Female Figures in British Comics

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

Girls in Print  :   Female Figures in British Comics
An exhibition in the Tower Foyer Gallery, University of Dundee
Now on and running until 21st October 2017

The way that female characters have been portrayed in comics has changed considerably over the years. In Britain, comics aimed specifically at girls were hugely popular from the 1950s to the 1980s, but have now largely disappeared. Dundee-based publishers DC Thomson were especially prolific in this area - as well as the famous Bunty (1958-2001) they produced many other titles including Judy (1960-91), Diana (1963-76), Mandy (1967-91) and Spellbound (1976-77).

The stories and characters in these comics covered a surprisingly wide range. The focus was mostly on teenage girls – their daily lives and their thirst for adventure and new worlds. They addressed important issues such as how to deal with new classmates; how to become a ballet dancer; how to fly a spaceship and save the world…

The girls’ comics of DC Thomson reflect the attitudes of their time, but were also quick to respond to readers’ demands. The traditional pony and ballet strips were soon joined by sports stories, historical dramas and tales of the supernatural. The majority of artists and writers were men, but recent years have seen a huge increase in the number of female writers and artists, creating new representations of women and girls in comics and graphic novels.   

This exhibition presents original artwork on loan from DC Thomson as well as a selection of pieces by current comics creators including Maria Stoian, Tanya Roberts and Kate Charlesworth, offering a broad range of interpretations of what female figures can be in British comics culture. The exhibition has been curated by Louise Quirion, a recent graduate from the University’s MLitt course in Comics Studies. 
Image above: 'The Nine Lives of Kitty Foster' by Carlos Freixas from Spellbound 1977 (copyright DC Thomson & Co Ltd).

Saturday 29 July 2017

Lovely display at Victoria Park #dundeewestend

I recently highlighted the superb job the City Council has made of Seabraes planting again this year.    

Another real credit to the Neighbourhood Services Department is the lovely display at Victoria Park.   

The style of planting has been altered to make it less labour-intensive but the quality has definitely been maintained :


Friday 28 July 2017

Police Community Surgeries in the West End #dundeewestend

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

Thursday 27 July 2017

Adult Learning Opportunities in the West End #dundeewestend

The latest Adult Learning newsletter for the city has just been published – covering the summer months - and you can download it here.

Here's details of the adult learning opportunities available in the West End area :
 

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Victoria Park - new tennis courts #dundeewestend

Having updated residents over the past few years over the council's proposals to improve the tennis courts at Victoria Park, it is great to see the new tennis courts now complete and looking great!

There's been very positive feedback from constituents.   "Before" and "after" photos below :
I'm pictured a few years ago at the old tennis courts - above

The new tennis courts are a very substantial improvement

Tuesday 25 July 2017

Draft Local Outcome Improvement Plan - Consultation

From the Dundee Partnership Team :

Our plans to improve Dundee

The Dundee Partnership is determined to make Dundee a more successful and fairer city and we’ve been preparing our ideas and plans about how we will do this over the next ten years. 

We’ve prepared a draft Local Outcome Improvement Plan for 2017-26 that builds on the ongoing extensive community engagement undertaken by partners and agencies across the city.     It also incorporates the results of the Engage Dundee process.    So we’ve been listening carefully to your views and we hope that this plan shows that we know what your priorities are.   Read the draft here.

But this is still a consultation draft so at this stage we are describing our city, the economic and social outcomes we are determined to achieve, and setting out our priorities for action.

Over the next few months we will be collecting the most accurate and informative performance indicators to help us map out our progress and setting targets to stretch us to do better. Our final version will be published by October 2017.

We are already thinking about some of the ways we can improve it by doing things like -

-      making it shorter and clearer 
-      summarising our strengths and achievements as a city as well as the challenges we face
-      pulling out lots of information that is in other plans and providing links to them instead
-      saying more about how the third and private sectors do and will contribute to improving Dundee
-      spelling out our ideas around green spaces and biodiversity

Please let us know what you think by 18 August. To gather your views, we’ve prepared a feedback form that can be found on the Dundee Partnership website here, it can be completed online or downloaded for completion and emailed to us at dundee.partnership@dundeecity.gov.uk or hard copies posted to Dundee Partnership Team, Floor 4, 5 City Square, Dundee, DD1 3BG. 

Monday 24 July 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 24 JULY 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 19 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street for 4 weeks.

A85 Riverside Drive – prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for 20 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Perth Road (Hawkhill to Roseangle) – closed from Monday 24 July for 4 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

Blackness Road (at Hyndford Street) – temporary traffic lights on Monday 24 July for Scottish Water ironwork repair.

Sunday 23 July 2017

Seabraes - looking superb again this year! #dundeewestend

I have highlighted over numerous past years the superb job the City Council made of Seabraes planting each year.    
2017 is again no exception - see below - a real credit to the City Council’s environment team in Neighbourhood Services :

Saturday 22 July 2017

Dundee Botanic Garden's Mad Hatter's tea party

Children aged 3-10 years are invited to bring your families along to the Garden for a Mad Hatter's tea party on the afternoon of 30th July.   Arrive in time to get your picnic set out for a 3pm start.

Entertainment will be provided by the University's JOOT theatre group, so you might want to brush up on your Alice in Wonderland characters before you come!

Bring your own picnic and some rugs to sit on for the tea party, and wear a MAD HAT.    You might want to make your own?

There is no charge for this event, but numbers will be strictly limited to 20 children so booking is essential.   Please book by e-mailing here.

Friday 21 July 2017

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee


Our July Blether will be on Tuesday 25th July at 7pm in Madigan's Food Emporium and Bookshop, Castle Street.

The theme this month is "Travel and Transport."

Hope to see some of you there – all welcome!

Thursday 20 July 2017

Wednesday 19 July 2017

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Friends of Wighton event this Saturday

From Sheena Wellington :

Bruce Davies – The Other Great American Songbook
Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library
Saturday 22nd July at 11am (doors open 10.30am)  

Bruce Davies, award winning singer/songwriter, whose rich voice and guitar style has won him friends on three continents, is delighted to present this celebration of songs and stories that shaped an inspired him!

Expect to hear the songs of Bob Dylan; Tom Paxton; Peter, Paul & Mary; Judy Collin; Phil Ochs; Joan Baez; John Denver; Gordon Lightfoot and many more.

Admission £5.     Tea/coffee available for a small donation.

Monday 17 July 2017

State of Perth Road surfacing work "totally unacceptable" – nearly three weeks on

I have again strongly complained to the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership about “unacceptable” road surface dressing with chippings on part of Perth Road west of Harris Academy that left the area covered in a thick dust and led to many residents’ complaints.   

I have requested urgent action to deal with large amounts of dust in the area – particularly on the pavements – nearly three weeks on from the original road surfacing work taking place.

I initially raised concerns when the surface dressing took place during the last week of June following numerous constituent complaints.

The council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership has since responded to my complaint as follows :

“We have been using this aggregate in surface dressing for a number of years with great success and it is also a popular stone used by other surface dressing contractors in Scotland. The Arbroath Road section completed last year was the same specification as used at Perth Road this year.

The stone is certified by the quarry as meeting the specification for the surface dressing, and the stone is also washed for dust removal prior to use. Over and above the certification requirements we also undertake secondary independent testing of the surface dressing stone to ensure the delivered load meets the specification requirements. I can confirm all these steps were undertaken and the stone met with the specification requirements.

Unfortunately as you are aware we experienced a significant level of early life dust release following laying and I can confirm this was in excess of what was expected and planned. Please accept my apologies for this. We believe the dust is associated with the stone crushing when initially rolled with the pneumatic tyre rollers (PTR). 

We are considering changing to an alternate stone source next year  … I can confirm the early dust release has no detrimental impact on the service life longevity of the surfacing laid, it being a nuisance and disruption factor rather than performance.

Lastly, as discussed we increased the aftercare significantly at Perth Road following completion of the works. As noted on the Dundee City Council Road Maintenance website page, we usually sweep the road three times after laying, at set intervals. We have been regularly sweeping and vactoring the road surface in conjunction with spraying with water to suppress the dust   …  we believe this will resolve the worst of the dust problem. We will however continue to monitor …  and shall continue with dust suppression spraying and sweeping until we are satisfied the dust issues are no longer prevalent.”

Nearly three weeks on and the situation is still totally unsatisfactory.    The pavement in particular is still covered in a fine dust - see photo above.    How this can be considered an acceptable standard of work is completely beyond me.

Lessons really do need to be learned from this and I have asked the Roads Maintenance Partnership to take immediate steps to improve the Perth Road situation by dealing with any remaining dust, particularly on the pavement.      This has been an extremely poor situation and quality of work and it needs urgently rectified.

Sunday 16 July 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD FOR WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 17 JULY 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 20 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

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

A85 Riverside Drive – prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for 21 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Perth Road (at River Crescent) - temporary traffic lights for up to one week for sewer remedial works.

Ancrum Road (Charleston Drive to Logie Street) – closed for one week for carriageway resurfacing works.

Glamis Road (Blackness Road South for approx. 100m) – closed southbound from Monday 17 July for 5 days for installation of pedestrian refuge island.

A90 Perth Road (approach to Swallow Roundabout) – overnight (7.30pm – 6.30am) eastbound lane closures on Tuesday 18 July for carriageway patching works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Perth Road (Hawkhill to Roseangle) – closed from Monday 24 July for 4 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

Saturday 15 July 2017

Temporary Traffic Order - Perth Road

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 carriageway resurfacing works.  The Order is expected to be in force for four weeks from 24 July 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 Perth Road from Hawkhill to Roseangle.

Working hours will be 11 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday and 11 am to 6 pm Saturdays.  Access will be maintained outwith these times.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Hawkhill,, West Marketgait and Nethergate, and (2) Roseangle, Magdalen Yard Road and Windsor Street.

Queries can be answered by the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS, or phone 433082.

Friday 14 July 2017

Ninewells Community Garden event

Ninewells Community Garden is having a volunteer day on Saturday 29th July between 10am and 3pm.

A relaxed session to continue the seasonal gardening tasks - all welcome but please bring a packed lunch.

No experience necessary - just meet at the garden!

Thursday 13 July 2017

Friends of Wighton update ...

From Sheena Wellington :

Lunchtime Recital -  Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail
Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library
Tuesday 18th July

Enjoy the traditional music from our stars of the future.  

This event usually turns into a session so times will be advised later!      

Admission Free, but donations for the Ceilidh Trail welcomed.

Wednesday 12 July 2017

Litter bins - Riverside Drive

A resident recently advised :

"I live in the flats next to Tesco in Riverside Drive. Opposite my flat there is a car parking area with waste bins. 

The council workers clean this area almost every day and do a magnificent job, however their task is exacerbated by the gulls, who find it easy to pull waste from the bins while looking for food. The mess they make can be awful and really detracts from this beautiful area. 

A simple solution to this problem might be to replace the bin lids to ones that the gulls cannot dip in to, could this be given some consideration?"

I received a positive response from the council's Head of Environment on raising this with hi, as follows :

"We have modified bins at the top of the Law and we are monitoring to see how successful they are and will look to provide a solution at Riverside."

Tuesday 11 July 2017

Temporary Traffic Order - Glamis 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 pedestrian refuge installation works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Glamis Road (southbound from Blackness Road roundabout to approx. 100metres south), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Monday 17 July 2017 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

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

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Monday 10 July 2017

Police Community Surgeries in the West End #dundeewestend

The next West End Police Surgery takes place at Blackness Library today - details below :

Sunday 9 July 2017

Gate Church Coffee Bar Drop In


Saturday 8 July 2017

Blackness Post Office - automated door concern

Residents have brought to my attention concerns that the automated front door at Blackness Post Office has not been working.

The electronic door is very helpful for people with mobility difficulties and those using wheelchairs to get into the Post Office, so I wrote to Post Office Limited about the concern raised.

I have received the following helpful response from the External Affairs Manager at Post Office Limited :

"I have made enquiries about the automatic door mechanism at Blackness Road Post Office.  ... The premises and door are the responsibility of the shop owner and  it is up to each individual retailer whether or not  they have an automatic door but, in order that the requirements of the Equality Act are met, Post Office ask that the entrance door, access to the counter and turning spaces for a wheelchair meet our minimum specifications.

In this case,  the agent at Blackness Road has advised that since he took over the door has not functioned automatically but he will look into the possibility of having the mechanism repaired.  He has also advised that they are always on hand and happy to help any customer who requires assistance."

Friday 7 July 2017

West End Art Group Exhibition


Thursday 6 July 2017

Polepark Road environmental improvements

Late last year, I highlighted that the City Council had identified environmental improvements at Polepark Road as part of a number of welcome works taking place to upgrade areas in the West End.

Polepark was particularly welcome as I had previously advised the City Council the need for upgrade of the area to the back of the flats on the east side of Polepark Road.

The works were approved at the council's Neighbourhood Services Committee last month and I asked if the tenants' car park immediately north of the flats would be improved at the same time given its poor surface.

The council's Head of Housing and Communities has now updated me as follows :

"I can confirm that the car park area at this location is on the Housing Revenue Account.  We have opened discussions with environment staff to ensure that we co-ordinate housing and environment works in this area so that the car park does not detract from the other works being planned."


Wednesday 5 July 2017

Friends of Wighton event today ...

From Sheena Wellington :

Lunchtime Recital - Simon Chadwick - harp
Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library
Wednesday 5th July from 1.15pm – 1.45pm

Harpist Simon Chadwick will bring the big Irish harp to play a selection of "Irish Scotch and Welch Airs".

This is a new programme put together for the Museum of the University of St Andrews, for their "Victorian visions" exhibition. Simon is investigating how medieval tunes were re-imagined through the 19th century harp tradition in Scotland and Ireland.   

Admission Free.

Tuesday 4 July 2017

Dundee Independents' Day today


Monday 3 July 2017

Police Community Surgeries in the West End #dundeewestend

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

Sunday 2 July 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SUNDAY 2 JULY 2017

Westfield Place (at Perth Road) – closed on Sunday 2 July for Virgin Media duct repair.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 3 JULY 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 22 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

SSE Glenagnes Cable Renewal – Lochee Road lane restrictions and closures on Blinshall Street, Fleuchar Street and Scott Street for 7 weeks.

A85 Riverside Drive – prohibition of right turn from westbound lane of Riverside Drive into Riverside approach and prohibition of right turn from Riverside Approach in to Riverside Drive for 23 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Perth Road (at River Crescent) - temporary traffic lights for up to one week for sewer remedial works.

Ancrum Road (Charleston Drive to Logie Street) – closed from Monday 3 July for 3 weeks for carriageway resurfacing works.

Riverside Drive (Rail Bridge to Tesco) – off peak eastbound nearside lane closure on Tuesday 4 July for crane operations.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Glamis Road (Blackness Road South for approx. 100m) – closed southbound from Monday 17 July for 5 days for installation of pedestrian refuge island.

Perth Road (Hawkhill to Roseangle) – closed from Monday 24 July for 4 weeks for carriageway resurfacing.

Saturday 1 July 2017

Temporary Traffic Order - Westfield Place #dundeewestend

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 Virgin Media cable repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Westfield Place (at its junction with Perth Road), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 2 July 2017 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes are available via Perth Road / Roseangle

The one way order relating to Westfield Place will be rescinded for the duration of these works.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council