Sunday 31 December 2017

Saturday 30 December 2017

Friday 29 December 2017

Thursday 28 December 2017

Wednesday 27 December 2017

Tuesday 26 December 2017

Good King Wenceslas

Monday 25 December 2017

A very Happy Christmas to all!


Sunday 24 December 2017

Saturday 23 December 2017

Friday 22 December 2017

Thursday 21 December 2017

Fraser's Christmas Songs 2017!

It used to be customary on my blog for many years to have a Christmas songs countdown …

So for the first time since 2013 - starting with Mariah Carey and 'All I want for Christmas is you' – its back! :

Wednesday 20 December 2017

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee


Our last Blether of 2017 will be on Thursday 28th December at 7pm at The Butterfly Café, 28 Commercial Street (please note change of day this month).

The theme this month is "Yuletide Tales."

Hope to see some of you there – all welcome!

Monday 18 December 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 18 DECEMBER 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 one week for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

Sunday 17 December 2017

Saturday 16 December 2017

Flooding issues - part of Perth Road area #dundeewestend

A number of residents have contacted me over recent weeks about the extent of road flooding on Perth Road at points between Hazel Avenue running west to Riverside Place.

I reported this to Scottish Water and their Corporate Affairs Manager (North) has updated me as follows :

"I’ve spoken to our local team, who have confirmed that they responded to burst water mains at the two locations described on Perth Road.  

Bursts can sometimes occur in proximity to each other when the normal operation of a main has been disturbed and this doesn’t necessarily suggest that further problems will occur in the short term.  I understand that repairs on the most recent incident in this area were completed successfully on 16 November and there have been no further issues since.  

We would like to apologise to customers and road-users for the disruption while our water response team completed repairs.

In terms of any water that remained on the carriageway following these incidents, this should drain away via normal road drainage arrangements.  If there is an issue with the drains at this location, whatever the origin of the water, this should be raised with the council in the first instance who would contact Scottish Water if they believed that the issues were linked to our recent work."

Friday 15 December 2017

Parking surface improvement - Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Earlier this year, I advised that a  positive by-product of the flooding defence works now nearing completion along Riverside Drive was that my request to have the long unmade parking area to the west of the above area would be properly surfaced for the first time, greatly increasing the amount of parking with a quality surface.

The council’s Head of Design & Property and City Engineer has now updated me :

“Half of the area has been surfaced with bituminous material and formally marked out as a car park providing 65 spaces within that area. This is in addition to the 26 spaces at the Bridgeview CafĂ© area. 

In the other half to the west, which is yet to be opened as a further overflow car park of a similar capacity, the surface is to be sub-base material as per the Yeaman Shore car park. If required in the future, the area to the west can be formally surfaced and marked out. 

The contractor is currently using the sub-base area to the west for storage and still has some finishing work to the sub-base to complete.”

Thursday 14 December 2017

Improving Milnbank Road pavements #dundeewestend

I raised with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership the condition of the pavements in Milnbank Road, following complaints from residents.

I have since received the following positive feedback :

"Milnbank Road footways from Rosefield Street to Easson's Angle, both sides, are included in the 2018-2019 Footway Resurfacing Programme. 

An inspection will be carried out in the meantime and any actionable defects repaired to ensure safety is maintained."

Wednesday 13 December 2017

New fencing - Pentland Avenue #dundeewestend

Residents have commented to me what an improvement the new fencing on the south side of Pentland Avenue towards to west end of the street.

As you can see below, the new fencing is a considerable improvement on the old wooden fence both in terms of appearance and safety :

Tuesday 12 December 2017

West End Community Council agenda #dundeewestend

West End Community Council holds its last meeting of 2017 tonight at 7pm at Logie and St John's (Cross) Church Hall in Shaftesbury Terrace.

Here is tonight's agenda :

WEST END COMMUNITY  COUNCIL  MEETING
TUESDAY 12TH DECEMBER  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 14TH NOVEMBER 2017 AND  MATTERS  ARISING
3. CORRESPONDENCE
4. POLICE SCOTLAND UPDATE
5. PERTH ROAD UPDATE
6. WECC HIT LIST
7. PLANNING  UPDATE
8. OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED ON BEHALF OF WECC
9. AOCB – MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT
10. DATE  OF  NEXT  MEETING 

Light refreshments will be provided.

Monday 11 December 2017

Police Community Surgeries in the West End #dundeewestend

The last West End Police Surgery of 2017 takes place at Blackness Library today - details below :

Sunday 10 December 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 11 DECEMBER 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 2 weeks for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

A85 Riverside Drive (at Railway Station) – eastbound nearside lane closure for one week for SGN essential valve maintenance and footway, drainage and kerbing works.

Saturday 9 December 2017

Perth Road - west of Riverside Drive to Riverside Avenue

Residents have highlighted to me that Perth Road west of Riverside Drive to Riverside Avenue is the only part of the road not resurfaced or surface dressed in recent years.

I asked the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership if this can be considered for future improvement and I have received the following response :

"Perth Road west of Riverside Drive to Ninewells Avenue is provisionally included in the 2019-2020 Carriageway Programme for surface dressing."

Friday 8 December 2017

On Growth & Form 100 - Creative Coding workshops

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

Creative Coding : Animats, Animation and Artificial Life 
Designing and Coding Workshops by Genetic Moo

Saturday 9th December, 10am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4.30pm
D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, Carnelley Building, University of Dundee

Create your own virtual organisms in these special workshops by computer art duo Genetic Moo, part of our exciting programme of events marking the centenary of D’Arcy Thompson’s On Growth and Form. Using design and creative coding, in the first part of the workshop you will learn how to design your creatures digitally, experimenting with different body parts, muscles and sensors. 

In the second part, find out how to program simple animating backgrounds which will trigger your creatures into action. At the end of this stimulating workshop we will bring some of the ‘created’ creatures together into a virtual world, while observing how they behave. Coding will be done using the free and open source Processing Language. 

After the workshop, we will email participants with the resulting programs and will explain how you can carry on your exciting coding experiments at home.

The workshop will run twice – a family-friendly version in the morning (10am-12.30pm) and one for adults in the afternoon (2pm-4.30pm).

Please note –

Workshops will be 2.5 hours long with a short break in the middle.  All equipment will be provided.

The workshops will be run by Nicola Schauerman and Tim Pickup who make up the digital art group Genetic Moo and have ten years of experience creating interactive creatures for events and exhibitions up and down the country.    They filled a shop full of digital beasties at Dundee's Wellgate Centre for NEoN Digital Arts Festival 2016.

The morning workshop is intended for children aged 10 and upwards. Children must be accompanied by one or two adults.   You only need to book one place per child as you will be sharing a netbook computer.    It is great fun to work together with your kids and see who can code, or you can sit back and let the kids get on with it. 

The afternoon workshop is intended for adults aged 18 and upwards.

There is a fee of £10 per person for the afternoon workshop or £10 per child for the morning workshop (accompanying adults may attend free). Please pay in cash on the day – you will not be asked to pay when registering.

Places are limited so booking through Eventbrite is required :

Family Workshop - here.
Adult Workshop - here.  

Thursday 7 December 2017

Wednesday 6 December 2017

Wighton Singers at the Wighton!

From Sheena Wellington :

Today at the Wighton Heritage Centre in the Central Library – 1.15pm to 1.45pm

As is the Friends of Wighton tradition, the last Lunchtime Recital of the year will feature our own Wighton Singers.  

The singers have had a busy and interesting year working with a variety of tutors and taking their songs out to entertain at various venues in and around the city.    

Today, they will present, with warmth and humour, a mix of seasonal and Scottish songs.   

Admission is free (donations welcome) and seasonal treats will be available.

Tuesday 5 December 2017

D’Arcy Through the Letter Box

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

Our celebrations for the centenary of D’Arcy Thompson’s On Growth and Form continue next week with a free talk by Meic Pierce Owen in the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum at 6pm today -

D’Arcy Through the Letter Box - the Polymath’s wonderland as seen through his correspondence

D’Arcy Thompson’s papers at the University of St Andrews incorporate some 30,000 letters written throughout his lifetime. In this entertaining talk, archivist Meic Pierce Owen (who has read more of the correspondence than almost anyone except D’Arcy) explores highlights of a vast and fascinating collection.

Meic has also written one of the chapters of our new book, "Growing and Forming: Essays on D'Arcy Thompson", copies of which will be on sale.  Refreshments will be served after the event.

Places are limited so please book here.

Monday 4 December 2017

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 4 DECEMBER 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 one week for works to the sea wall.  Prohibitions will only be in place when required.

A85 Riverside Drive (at Railway Station) – eastbound nearside lane closure for 2 weeks for SGN essential valve maintenance and footway, drainage and kerbing works.

Sunday 3 December 2017

Event at the Botanic Garden today #dundeewestend

From the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden :

In the Garden's Education Centre in the Garden at 2pm today, Angela Montford presents "In the Garden Shed: Old Tools and Gadgets". 

From the wheelbarrow to the hosepipe, an illustrated survey of the usual tools and gadgets we have used and improved in our gardens since the Middle Ages. 



Saturday 2 December 2017

DUSA's Winter Market


Friday 1 December 2017

West Port Christmas Lights Event tonight! #dundeewestend

The West Port Christmas Lights are switched on tonight – at 5.30pm – all welcome – don’t miss it!

Lights Switch On includes a piper, singers and a string quartet.    

Roast chestnuts, apple spiced Christmas drinks and hot chocolate for the children.

Meet at the Christmas Tree in front of The Globe!