Tuesday 31 October 2017

Wighton on Wednesday

From Sheena Wellington :

Wednesday 1st November, Lunchtime Recital, 1.15pm – 1.45pm 
Free, donations welcome

Change of programme   :    Our announced guest Lorraine Wilson has had to reschedule her visit to 7th February 2018 but the distinguished Irish harpist and fiddle player, Sylvia Crawford, has kindly agreed to be our guest on the 1st November. 

Sylvia, from Co. Armagh, combines both a classical and a traditional music background. She graduated in music and ethnomusicology from Queen’s University Belfast, and in arts administration from NUI Galway. She is currently completing a Masters by Research at Dundalk Institute of Technology on music and tourism in the Oriel region, with a focus on the life and music of Patrick Quin, an eighteenth century harper from Co. Armagh. 

Sylvia teaches and plays early Irish harp, fiddle and piano. She is actively involved with the running of The Historical Harp Society of Ireland, as well as teaching at Scoil na gCláirseach. 

Most recently she has been working with Irish singer, Pádraigín Ní Úallacháin, and Sylvia’s harp music and research features on Pádraigín’s 2017 online project, Oriel Arts

Monday 30 October 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 30 OCTOBER 2017

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 6 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Sunday 29 October 2017

Friends of Balgay - Litter Pick #dundeewestend

The Friends of Balgay are holding a litter pick today, Sunday 29th October.

Please come along and help remove any litter from Balgay Park - meet this afternoon at 2pm at the Balgay Bridge - all welcome!

Saturday 28 October 2017

Happenings at the Wighton!

From Sheena Wellington :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library - today - Saturday 28th October, 11am (doors open 10.30am)

Cappuccino Concert with Alan Brown, singer,  songwriter and raconteur.   Tickets £5 (tea/coffee available for small donation).

Alan Brown was born and raised less than half a mile from where the present day Wighton Library stands and Dundee has been a major influence on his career to date.    Exiled from the city since 1970 he is difficult to pigeonhole: singer, songwriter, musician, composer, novelist, journalist, after dinner speaker, playwright, poet, standup, tour guide, and is probably best summed as - an entertainer! 

Despite thirty years performing professionally in Scotland and overseas this will be his first ever solo appearance in his hometown. Expect a varied programme of award-winning songs and stories, brand new material and a few surprises.

Friday 27 October 2017

Ninewells Community Garden Volunteer Day #dundeewestend

Ninewells Community Garden is holding a volunteer day tomorrow, Saturday 28th October.

Taking place between 10am and 3pm, anyone interested in volunteering for some gardening and social time with food to share is very welcome!

Thursday 26 October 2017

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Quiz night at Harris Academy #dundeewestend

Harris Academy Former Pupils' Association is holding a quiz night at the school - in the dining area - at 7pm this Friday, 27th October.

Teams will be assembled on the night so participants should feel free to turn up and pay on entry.

More details can be obtained from FP Association Treasurer Freida Soutar on 562788.

A warm welcome is extended to all Harris former pupils whether members of the FPs' Association or not, spouses and partners, staff, former staff and all friends who are able to attend.

Tuesday 24 October 2017

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee


International Storytelling Festival Partner Event - From South Asia to Dundee - with storyteller Wajuppa Tossa

Once again Blether Tay-gither  brings the International Storytelling Festival to Dundee, taking place later today - Tuesday 24th October – 7pm to 9pm.

At this special event, Thai myths and legends will flourish by the River Tay.    Originally from north east Thailand, storyteller Wajuppa Tossa will join Blether Tay-Gither storytellers for a night of stories from home and abroad - in the historical and atmospheric setting of the HM Frigate Unicorn.

Tickets: £5
Tickets: sheila@blethertaygither.org or 01334 474 836.
HM Frigate Unicorn, South Victoria Dock Road

Hope to see some of you there – all welcome!

Monday 23 October 2017

Event at Dundee West Church next week #dundeewestend


Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 23 OCTOBER 2017

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 7 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Polepark Road (Fyffe Street to Milnbank Road) – closed from Monday 23 October for 5 working days for Scottish Water sewer repair works.

Sunday 22 October 2017

West End Surgeries #dundeewestend

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

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 :

Saturday 21 October 2017

Polepark Road - an update #dundeewestend

Further to the notice I mentioned last week about works on Polepark Road from Monday coming (23rd October), Scottish Water has now advised as follows :

Polepark Road Sewer Works :

Please note that this work is completely separate from the current ongoing water network works taking place in Blackness Road.  The work in Polepark Road is to carry out an essential sewer repair to a blocked section of sewer in Polepark Road just to the North of Bissells Bar.  

The nature and location of the work means that a localised road closure is required during the works.  The closure will be in place in Polepark Road from junction with Milnbank Road to the junction with Fyffe Street.  The closure has been agreed in conjunction with Dundee City Council roads team.

Local vehicle access will be maintained where possible and pedestrian access maintained at all times.  There will be no interruption to water or waste water services planned during these works.

Our contractors Keir construction will be carrying out the work on our behalf and have written to all affected householders.

Friday 20 October 2017

Scottish Water works Blackness Road - bus stops #dundeewestend

A number of constituents have commented to me about the lack of temporary bus stops on Blackness Road during the Scottish Water temporary works.

I contacted the City Council's transportation team about this and have been advused as follows :

"The extent of the works is temporary traffic lights contained within the area between Forest Park Road and Rosefield Street. 

As a result two bus stops are affected, namely Blackness Road opp Forest Park Road and Blackness Road opp Annfield Street.

The contractor has displayed signs informing passengers that both bus stops are out of use.

A temporary stop cannot be erected in place of either bus stop due to safety. Installing stops to the east would mean buses stopping outside the Fire Station, or close to a bend, which are also close to an excavation and in an area which has limited footway close to the carriageway. 

Furthermore temporary stops cannot be installed to the west, as this area is still confined within the works, and installing stops outside the works area would mean they were too close to existing bus stops.

Passengers should instead use existing bus stops, Blackness Road opp Peddie Street and near Abbotsford Street which are both approximately 250-300m west of the bus stops which are out of use."

Scottish Water’s Corporate Affairs Officer advised me earlier this week that :

“The original timescale was 2 weeks from 9th October.  I would fully expect all works to be completed by end of play Sunday 22nd October.”

Thursday 19 October 2017

Getting things done - Hazel Drive #dundeewestend

Residents have contacted me about the extent of the leaves on the public path at the south end of Hazel Drive that leads to Perth Road - see right.

As a result, the path is slippy so I have asked the council's Neighbourhood Services to have it swept as soon as possible.

Wednesday 18 October 2017

Temporary Traffic Order - Polepark 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 sewer repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Polepark Road (between Fyffe Street and Milnbank Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 23 October 2017 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes are available via Lochee Road/Tullideph Road/City Road/Milnbank Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Panel event : Women in Comics

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

To accompany our current exhibition Girls in Print: Female Figures in British Comics, we’ve teamed up with the School of Humanities and Dundee Literary Festival to host a special panel discussion event at 5.30pm on Wednesday 18th October in Baxter 1.36, Tower Building. 

The exhibition presents original artwork from DC Thomson’s popular girls comics, which reached their peak of popularity in the 1960s and 70s, along with a selection of pieces by current comics creators, offering a broad range of interpretations of what female figures can be in the British comics culture. The exhibition has been curated by Louise Quirion, a recent graduate from the University’s MLitt course in Comics Studies.

The discussion event will feature former DC Thomson sub-editors Rhoda Miller and Rosemary Chivers, who will discuss their work on titles such as Mandy, Bunty, Diana and Spellbound, plus current comics artists Elina Bry of Scottish female comics collective Teen Girl Comic and Rebecca Horner, who recently graduated from the Masters course in Comics & Graphic Novels at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. They will be joined by comics experts Dr Joan Ormrod (Manchester School of Art) and Dr Julia Round (Bournemouth University). 

The event is free but places should be booked via Dundee Literary Festival here.

Please join us from 5pm in the exhibition space in the Tower Foyer Gallery for refreshments before the event starts at 5.30pm.

Find out more about the exhibition here.

Monday 16 October 2017

Special event at the Wighton

From Sheena Wellington :

Friends of Wighton invite you to a special song workshop with Bob Walser at the Wighton Heritage Centre in the Central Library on Wednesday 18th October from 3pm to 4ish!

Bob Walser from the US is a singer, musician, and workshop leader specializing in sea songs and shanties. He’s also part of the Elphinstone team researching the James Madison Carpenter collection of songs made in the 1930s, with a lot of material collected in the North-East, including Dundee. 

The event is free and all singers are welcome so please do pass this invitation to anyone you think might be interested.

Sunday 15 October 2017

Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden event #dundeewestend

As part of the season of Wednesday afternoon lectures, Professor Graeme Walker, Director of the Abertay Yeast Research Group at Abertay University, is giving a talk later this week on the subject of yeasts.

The lecture will take place in the D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre in the Tower Building at the Dundee University, at 2.15pm this Wednesday - 18th October - at a charge of £2.

Yeasts are the world’s premier industrial microbes. Yeast and fermentation technology is entwined with the history of human civilisation – from ancient Egyptian brewing to modern day biotechnology.

This lecture will explore the diversity of yeasts and their products, following a journey from beer to biofuels to biopharmaceuticals and beyond.

Saturday 14 October 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 14 AND SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October to facilitate V&A construction works.

A90 Swallow roundabout – overnight (7.30pm – 6.30am) southbound nearside lane closure on Sunday 15 October for lighting works.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 16 OCTOBER 2017

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 8 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

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

Forthcoming Roadworks

Polepark Road (Fyffe Street to Milnbank Road) – closed from Monday 23 October for 5 working days for Scottish Water sewer repair works.

Friday 13 October 2017

Thursday 12 October 2017

Adult learning in the West End #dundeewestend

The new Dundee City Council adult learning newsletter is now available and you can download it here.

In addition to details of the Job Shop at the Mitchell Street Centre, there is detail of activities right across the city.

There’s also a update about Harris Education and Recreation Association :

Wednesday 11 October 2017

D'Arcy Thompson and the Growth of Computational Form

From the Curator of Museum Services, University of Dundee :

This Friday (13th October) at 6.30pm sees a special public lecture by the internationally renowned computer scientist and physicist Stephen Wolfram, entitled D’Arcy Thompson and the Growth of Computational Form. 

Best known as the creator of Mathematica and the Wolfram Language, Stephen is the author of A New Kind of Science and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research.   Over the course of nearly four decades, he has been a pioneer in the development and application of computational thinking. 

His early work on complexity in nature led him to study the behaviour of simple computer programs known as cellular automata.    These studies laid the groundwork for the emerging field that Wolfram called complex systems research.    He went on to discover fundamental connections between computation and nature, and his work led to a wide range of applications, providing scientific foundations for such initiatives as complexity theory and artificial life. 

Wolfram himself used his ideas to develop a new randomness generation system and a new approach to computational fluid dynamics, both of which are now in widespread use.    In this special keynote lecture, he will discuss the importance of D’Arcy Thompson to his ideas and the development of computational form.

The lecture will take place in the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre in the Tower Building at 6.30pm.    Attendance is free but places must be booked here.

Tuesday 10 October 2017

West End Community Council meeting #dundeewestend

West End Community Council - tonight's meeting - agenda  :


TUESDAY 10TH OCTOBER  2017  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 12TH SEPTEMBER 2017 AND  MATTERS  ARISING 

3. POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE

4. PERTH ROAD UPDATE

5. WECC HIT LIST

6. PLANNING  UPDATE

7. CORRESPONDENCE

8. OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED ON BEHALF OF WECC

9. AOCB – MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT

10. DATE  OF  NEXT  MEETING – TUESDAY 14TH NOVEMBER  2017

Light refreshments will be provided – all welcome!

Monday 9 October 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 9 OCTOBER 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 3 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

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 9 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Blackness Road (at Rosefield Street) – temporary traffic lights for 2 weeks for Scottish Water mains renewal.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Polepark Road (Fyffe Street to Milnbank Road) – closed from Monday 23 October for 5 working days for Scottish Water sewer repair works.

West End Surgeries #dundeewestend

With the schools now closed for the October holidays, my usual weekly ward surgeries do not recommence until after the school holidays.

However, 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 23rd October - surgery details are available here.

I can also be contacted at home at any time on 459378 and also during office hours at my Dundee City Council office on 434985.

Sunday 8 October 2017

Saturday 7 October 2017

Thursday 5 October 2017

Police Community Surgeries in the West End #dundeewestend

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

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Temporary Traffic Order - Blackness Road Area

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 Scottish Water mains renewal works.  The Order is expected to be in force for 2 weeks from 9 October 2017.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all (1) a left turn into Blackness Road from Rosefield Street, (2) a left turn into Blackness Road from Rosefield Place and (3) all vehicular traffic in Annfield Road between Blackness Road and Annfield Street.

Pedestrian access and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible.  All closures will run simultaneously.

An alternative route will be available via (1 & 2) Blackness Road, Peddie Street, Hawkhill and Bellfield Street and (3) Annfield Street, Peddie Street and Blackness Road.

Any queries should be directed to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee  DD1 1LS - 433082.

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Friends of Wighton update

From Sheena Wellington :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library - Lunchtime Recital with Jim & Kate Taylor
Wednesday 4th October at 1.15pm   Admission free.

For our October Lunchtime Recital we are delighted to welcome two stalwarts of the Scottish traditional music scene Jim & Kate Taylor and their extensive repertoires of old songs and bothy ballads of the northeast. 

Jim Taylor was born near Garlogie where he still lives, and is a retired Quantity Surveyor. A nephew of the late King of the Bothy Ballads, Tam Reid, Jim is keeping Tam's songs going as well as a few others. He is in great demand as a compere, which allows his native North East humour to shine through, and he has been a guest at several singing festivals throughout the UK and Ireland.

Kate Taylor started singing at the tender age of 40 and has not stopped since. She is passionately fond of traditional singing and has been influenced mainly by Sheila Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart and Jane Turriff. Kate is a member of the Aberdeen Folk Club and the Aberdeen Branch of the TMSA, and she has also been a guest at several folk festivals and singing weekends where her fine voice and sense of fun have won her many fans.

Monday 2 October 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD  WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 2 OCTOBER 2017

Riverside Esplanade/Riverside Drive (Tay Road Bridge off ramp to 75m along Riverside Drive) – westbound nearside lane closure for 10 weeks to facilitate V&A construction works.

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 10 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

South Marketgait (at Railway Station) – northbound nearside lane closure until Monday 2 October for Hydro Electric cable installation.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Polepark Road (Fyffe Street to Milnbank Road) – closed from Monday 23 October for 5 working days for Scottish Water sewer repair works.

Sunday 1 October 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 :