Getting things done - Logie Avenue #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who contacted me to advise that a utility box on the pavement at Logie Avenue near the Sycamore Place junction is exposed to the elements.

I therefore asked the Roads Maintenance Partnership could contact the appropriate utility to have it repaired.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2021

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40 metres) for 4 weeks for chimney repairs.

Blackness Road (at Seymour Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December for BT work.

Perth Road (junction with Invergowrie Drive) - 3 way temporary lights from 29 November for 4 days for City Fibre works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Tay Square – closed on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December for Virgin Media work.

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

From Sheila Kinninmonth, Blether Tay-Gither’s secretary :

Hope you can join us for our November Blether on Zoom!

Tuesday 30th November 7pm to 9pm

Our theme if you want one is "Hills and Glens"

Bringing the theme into the landscape of Scotland for November. Stories abound in the hills and glens, those of real life and those of legend and the supernatural. 

Join us this month and share a story, it could even be a personal anecdote about an experience in the hills and glens.

Log in details are :

Topic: Blether Tay-Gither

Time: Nov 30, 2021 07:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87986285393

West End Christmas Fortnight 2021 - starts today! #dundeewestend

West End Christmas Fortnight starts today, a whole fortnight packed with events for our local area!

Today's events include :

11am to 4pm - Christmas Fayre at Verdant Works.

11.30am to 1.30pm - Making Dundee Home Soup and Pudding Lunch – at its new home at Meadowside St Paul’s Church halls, 114-116 Nethergate. Will include a stall from the Friends of Magdalen Green.

12 noon to 4pm – Community Wardrobe Saturdays - Christmas Edition – Gate Church – Free clothes/shoes/accessories for everyone. Help us stop good quality clothing going in the bin and learn how to help beat fast fashion. Christmas jumpers and gifts will also be available. Please book at www.gatechurch.co.uk/carbonprojectevents or call Dundee 221222.

A West End community Christmas tree outside Sainsbury’s in the Perth Road will be switched on late afternoon!

You can read more about these and all the other events at www.facebook.com/WestEndChristmas

Employability drop-ins at Blackness Library #dundeewestend

 

Getting things done - Union Place - an update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that, earlier this year, I raised with the Roads Maintenance Partnership the issue of the poor road surface at the southern end of Union Place calling for the road to be resurfaced as it was in poor condition.

I am pleased to say this section of the street was resurfaced earlier this month as the "before", "during" and "after" photos indicate :

Getting things done - Seabraes issues #dundeewestend

I have recently had complaints about a couple of issues in the Seabraes area.

Firstly, one of the handrails on the steps down from the seating area at Perth Road is damaged :

Secondly, there is foliage growing across the handrails of the steps up to the Seabraes bridge over the rail line :

I have reported both matters to the City Council requesting these be resolved.

West End Blethers - extended until Christmas! #dundeewestend

From Dundee Pensioners' Forum :

Our West End Blethers cafe, at The Friary on Tullideph Road on Thursdays, has been extended until Thursday 23rd December.

It is aimed at older people in the West End - and takes place between 12 noon and 2 pm every Thursday between now and then.

We have some funding for transport - so if you need transport, get in touch - details on poster.

Our final event, on 23rd December will have a Christmas theme.

It's a great project - encouraging older people to get out of the house for a wee while to have a cup of tea/coffee, cake, scones, and a bowl of soup. 

The Friary Cafe itself offers a food larder (10 items for £2) and free fruit and vegetables from its community garden.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2021

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) for 5 weeks for chimney repairs.

Briarwood Terrace – closed from Tuesday 23 November for 2 days for carriageway resurfacing.

Riverside Avenue – off‑peak temporary traffic lights from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 November for BT work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Blackness Road (at Seymour Street) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December for BT work.

Getting things done - Forest Park Place #dundeewestend

At the request of residents, I recently raised the deteriorating road surface in Forest Park Place - particularly the west end near the junction with Forest Park Road - with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership - see photo.

I am pleased to have been advised in reply that the partnership has agreed to add Forest Park Place into the 2022-2023 carriageway resurfacing programme, which is very good news.

Picnic tables for Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

The City Council gave me a commitment some time ago that it would provide more picnic tables for Magdalen Green and take steps to reduce the risk of fire, following one being destroyed by fire some months ago.

I requested an update from Neighbourhood Services at the council and have now been advised as follows by the Service Manager - Environment :

"I can confirm that 6 concrete pads are planned to be installed which the picnic benches shall be fixed to. 

There are currently 4 benches which I understand require some refurbishment which we shall undertake. This will leave two pads empty initially and we are currently costing 2 steel galvanised picnic tables, as yet have not identified budget for these.

The 4 wooden benches will be fitted with galvanised tops in an effort to reduce the risk of fire.

(We) shall contact Friends of Magdalen Green to discuss and agree the location of the concrete pads prior to installation."

Dundee Art Society event - Roseangle - tonight! #dundeewestend

 

Comics and Creature Curation – Creative Workshop

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

This Saturday (20th November) from 2pm to 4pm at the Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee, you can join us for a comics workshop imagining the lives behind the animals in the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum. 

Learn more about comics and create your very own comic strips inspired by the inhabitants of the museum, hosted by comics artist Cat Laird.

We’ll start in the Lamb Gallery where you’ll see both comics and animals in our Drawn exhibition, before heading over to the Zoology Museum.

Places must be booked in advance at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/comics-and-creature-curation-creative-workshop-tickets-199030404297

14% hike in garden waste collection charge not acceptable

I have criticised the proposal by the Dundee City Council administration to hike the Brown Bin charge to £40 a permit for the 2022 collection year and will be opposing the increase in the brown bin charge when it comes before the council’s Policy & Resources Committee next week.

The £5 increase represents a 14% hike – at a time when inflation is running at about 3%. It is completely unjustified and just a way of the council fleecing another £100 000 out of the Dundee public.

I have always opposed having a tax on recycling and felt that this would be a further disincentive to recycling. We should be encouraging more recycling not less and the garden tax increase will make matters worse. The council is trying to stop collecting side waste and increasing the brown bin tax will simply lead to more recycling going into grey bins, undermining their own side waste policy. This is not a good look. If anything, the brown bin charge should be reduced not increased.

West End Ward Community Collective - Thursday 18th November

A West End online event is taking place later this week, organised by the council's communities team.

This will give local residents the chance to give their views on local issues and actions to help further improve the West End.

All welcome - and details below.

UPDATE : Please note change of joining link to https://bit.ly/3Cj44kU

Biggest ever Dundee West End Christmas Fortnight! #dundeewestend

This year’s Dundee West End Christmas Fortnight will be the largest ever in its 21 years, with over 30 events taking place, including a Christmas Market and Lights Switch on in Perth Road, a Santa Cavalcade around the West End, competitions including a West End Primary School Art Competition and a Primary 6 schools football competition, a Christmas Cards initiative to all West End care home residents - as well as online talks and walking tours of the West End.

Although we were able to run West End Christmas Fortnight last year, because of the COVID lockdowns in 2020, most of our events had to run online.

This year, we are back to something much more like normal. During the Fortnight that runs from Saturday 27th November until Saturday 11th December, we will hold well over thirty events – the most we have ever run. Big thanks go to all the Christmas Committee members, community groups, churches and everyone else who has made this happen – community spirit is alive and well in the wonderful West End!

10 000 Christmas Fortnight brochures are being distributed across the West End to promote the fortnight’s events which include :

Thursday 2nd December - West End Christmas Market at the Miller’s Wynd car park and community fridge in Perth Road. Browse Christmas gifts and there will be hot food and drink stalls and music and entertainment. There will be a lights switch-on and a visit from Santa, who will be distributing Christmas goody bags to the children. Many West End shops will have late opening and special offers.

Sunday 5th December - “A Community Christmas” – with carols and a ceilidh, including hot chocolate and cake and taking place in the Miller’s Wynd car park.

Tuesday 7th December -Online Christmas Concert and Awards Night. The West End Christmas Concert featuring our two secondary schools at Harris Academy and St John’s RC High School and our four primary schools – St Joseph’s RC PS, Blackness PS, Ancrum Road PS and Victoria Park PS – along with community contributions. We will also be presenting the 2021 West End Business and Community Awards at the event.

Other events include :

Saturday 27th November

Making Dundee Home Soup and Pudding Lunch.

Community Wardrobe Saturdays - Christmas edition.

A West End community Christmas tree outside Sainsbury’s in the Perth Road will be switched on late afternoon.

Sunday 28th November

Dundee Discoveries – past and present - West End walking tour – Matthew Jarron and Amy Cameron from the University of Dundee on a walking tour of Dundee’s West End, exploring the city’s fascinating scientific history.

Monday 29th November

Children’s Crafts – from Blackness Library. During West End Christmas Fortnight, Blackness Library is producing “craft in a bag” for local children to collect from the library. From today, week one’s craft bag is available – a pine cone owl.

Tuesday 30th November

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries The tale of Meg o' Liff

Wednesday 1st December

West End Carers’ Christmas Arts and Crafts.

Harris Hawks Indoor Hockey - at Harris Academy.

Jean Thomson, The Life and Times of Dundee’s first policewoman - Sarah Aitken, Assistant Archivist, Dundee City Archives

Friday 3rd December

Community Wardrobe - Christmas Edition.

Tea in the Pot – at St Peter’s Free Church.

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries The Banshee Cat of Blackness.

Saturday 4th December

Drawn - a Guided Tour of the Exhibition – University of Dundee museum curator Matthew Jarron will give an informal guided tour.

Sunday 5th December

Public Art Walking Tour of Dundee's West End - University of Dundee museum curator Matthew Jarron gives an informal guided tour of public art in the West End.

Monday 6th December

Children’s Crafts – from Blackness Library - From today, week two’s craft bag is available – a tiny Christmas tree.

West End Community Sports Hub - online – A chance to learn about all the sports groups in the West End.

Wednesday 8th December

West End Carers’ Christmas Sing along, Christmas nibbles and party games.

Family Scalextric Night – Dundee West Church,

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries Remembering the Tay Bridge Disaster.

Thursday 9th December

10th Dundee Girls Brigade Chocolate Night - Dundee West Church Lower Hall

Letters to Logie at Christmas – at Blackness Library.

Christmas Wreath making workshop – at Ninewells Community Garden.

Winter Wonderland – an online journey through art in winter – with Laura Leuzzi – From Lifelong Learning Dundee.

Friday 10th December

Community Wardrobe - Christmas Edition.

Christmas Family online Storytime with Erin Farley, Dundee Libraries - Herrings at Hogmanay.

Saturday 11th December

Community Wardrobe – Gate Church.

The West End Christmas Fortnight Primary 6 football competition at Harris Academy.

D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum Open Day - Carnelley Building, off Park Place, University of Dundee.

Santa Cavalcade round the West End – Dundee Round Table. Santa will visit the children of the West End.

Details of all our events can be found here.

Dundee City Council Rent Consultation 2022-23

The City Council is now consulting with all its tenants on rent levels for next financial year, including other charges such as sheltered housing charges.

It is encouraging all tenants to give their views before the closing date of 23rd December and full details are available here.

 

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 13 AND SUNDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2021

Lochee Road (Polepark Road to Dudhope Terrace) – closed northbound on Sunday 14 November for Scottish Water work.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2021

Perth Road (Invergowrie Drive to Ninewells Avenue) – off-peak temporary traffic lights from Monday 15 November for street lighting works.

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) from Monday 15 November for 6 weeks for chimney repairs.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Briarwood Terrace – closed from Tuesday 23 November for 2 days for carriageway resurfacing.

Temporary Traffic Order - Strawberrybank

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 chimney repairs to residential tenement. The Order is expected to be in force for 6 weeks from 15 November 2021. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Strawberrybank from its junction with Perth Road for a distance of 40 metres or thereby in a southerly direction.

As this is a very narrow street the full road width will be closed. Pedestrian access will be maintained on the westmost footway.

An alternative route will be available via Perth Road, Windsor Street and Magdalen Yard Road.

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 433168.

Improvement proposals for Black Street's open space #dundeewestend

The council's landscape design team is currently consulting with residents who lives in the vicinity of Black Street about possible improvements to the open space there.

Further details and how to give your feedback are given below :

Residents' parking - consultation latest! #dundeewestend

As residents know, I have been very critical of the City Council for for continual delays in bringing forward proposals for residents’ priority parking in the West End.

The council undertook consultation meetings with local residents over the issue at two very well attended meetings in Blackness Library in March 2020 - just before the onset of the COVID-19 health emergency - but has failed to progress scoping the scheme since then.

The council administration's excuse for this is that it had not started the consultation process in two other wards - Maryfield and Coldside - but as I have raised at the council's at the council's City Development Committee, the issues in the other two wards are different and there is absolutely no reason to hold up progress in one ward because of issues elsewhere.   The parking solutions must be tailored to individual local circumstances and there is not a 'one solution fits all' template that can be rolled out for all three wards.

In short, there is no reason that the outcomes of the 2020 West End consultation with the public could come back to committee together with recommendations to improve parking for residents. At the committee's last meeting, I moved a successful motion to commit officers to have proposals back to committee no later than March 2022.

With this deadline in mind, the council is now finally getting round to online consultation meetings that will cover all three wards. There will two on-line meetings on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th November, both starting at 7pm. Opening with a presentation by the council parking officers, there will be an opportunity to submit questions that will be answered on the night.

More information on the proposed schemes, and how to take part in the meetings and the consultation is available at https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/rps

As I have said before, there is clearly good support for a residents’ priority parking permit scheme as long as it is reasonable and affordable as it would make it much easier for local residents to get parked. 

At last, after my repeatedly raising the issue rather like a broken record, some progress is now finally taking place.

Temporary Traffic Order - Glamis Drive, Eton Street and Elliot 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 City Fibre duct installation works. The Order is expected to be in force for 10 days from 11 November 2021. 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) Glamis Drive between Glamis Road and Invergowrie Drive and (2) Eton Street and Elliot Road between Blackness Road and Cambridge Street.

Only one section will be closed at any time. Access will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Glamis Drive, Invergowrie Drive, Perth Road, Glamis Road and Glamis Drive and (2) Blackness Road, Oxford Street and Cambridge Street.

For further information, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS or phone 433082.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2021

Nethergate (South Marketgait to Tay Street Lane) – closed westbound overnight (7.30pm - 6.30am) on Monday 8 November for Scottish Water work.

Riverside Drive (at Perth Road) - temporary traffic lights on Monday 8 November for 2 days for City Fibre works.

Lochee Road (Smellies Lane to North Marketgait) – closed eastbound from Monday 8 November for 5 days for Virgin Media work.

Glamis Drive (Glamis Road to Invergowrie Drive), Eton Street and Elliot Road (Blackness Road to Cambridge Street) – closed from Thursday 11 November for 10 days for facilitating City Fibre duct installation works.

Blackness Avenue – closed from its junction with Hawkhill/Perth Road to the north side of its junction with Shaftesbury Road for one day on Thursday 11 November, for road lining works.

Lochee Road (Polepark Road to Dudhope Terrace) – closed northbound on Sunday 14 November for Scottish Water work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) from Monday 15 November for 6 weeks for chimney repairs.

Briarwood Terrace – closed from Tuesday 23 November for 2 days for carriageway resurfacing.

The Circuit - National Defibrillator Network

From the British Heart Foundation :

The British Heart Foundation, in partnership with the Resuscitation Council UK and the Scottish Ambulance Service, has launched a campaign to encourage individuals who look after publicly accessible defibrillators across Scotland to register the defibrillator on The Circuit.

Early defibrillation can more than double a person’s chances of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest – but many defibrillators never get used because emergency services don’t know where they are or how to access them. With around 3,200 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Scotland, it’s crucial everyone who maintains a defibrillator registers their device on The Circuit to help save more lives.

Funded by the British Heart Foundation, and developed by Microsoft UK, the Circuit, is the first ever national defibrillator network in the UK, that integrates with Ambulance dispatch centres to direct bystanders to the nearest defibrillator in case of a cardiac arrest. Currently, across the UK a defibrillator is used in only 1 in 10 incidents of cardiac arrest, but we know that immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.

It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of defibrillators across the UK which are still to be registered on the new system. To make sure opportunities to save lives aren’t being missed, the organisations are aiming to see 70,000 additional defibrillators unknown to The Circuit registered by the end of the year.

You can find out more here.

Ninewells Remembers #dundeewestend

On 11th November the garden will be remembering local people who have served in the armed forces.

Some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice and others who lived to remember.

Come along, remember and make your own poppy. 

You can find out more at the garden's blog at https://bit.ly/3Ek96PB

Temporary Traffic Order - Nethergate

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 investigation works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Nethergate (from its junction with South Marketgait to approx. 20 metres west), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 8 November 2021 for one night (7.30pm to 6.30am).

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

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

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

City Church Community Cafe and Larder today #dundeewestend

Every Thursday the City Church Community Cafe and Larder is open 11am-2pm at The Friary in Tullideph Road.

Residents are welcome to come along for homemade soup and cakes and to pick up some groceries.

Friends of Wighton event today!

From Sheena Wellington :

Lunchtime Recital with Alan Brown, singer - online at 1pm today!

Alan Brown is a singer and songwriter with a wide experience of folk clubs, festivals, concerts, ceilidhs and competitions (winning the Scottish Folk Directory 'Songwriter' award on two occasions.)

His parallel careers have included teaching, journalism (Scots Magazine, Irish Music, Living Tradition), compering, radio presenting and ceilidh band calling. He is also a published novelist.

Born and brought up in 'The Old Dundee' he lives near the historic village of Dull (yes, the one paired with Boring, Oregon) in Highland Perthshire.

A free event and all welcome!

Topic: Lunchtime Recital with Alan Brown, singer

Time: Nov 3, 2021 01:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84067174263

Meeting ID: 840 6717 4263

Building Bridges Symposium

Al-Maktoum College is hosting its sixth Building Bridges Symposium this Thursday (4th November), on the theme of ‘Together for Our Planet'.

Register for your free virtual place on its Eventbrite page here.

Tackling issues of climate change and environmental justice requires the worlds’ societies and individuals to come together in common pursuit.

In conjunction with Scottish Interfaith Week 2021, it is hosting a free online event featuring experts within the field of sustainability and climate change alongside highly regarded academics. With the theme of ‘Together for our Planet’ also tying with the COP26 (United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021), the Building Bridges Symposium asks how faith, ethics and science can influence change in this global environmental crisis, inspiring and empowering adherents to action.

Scottish Interfaith Week provides an opportunity for interfaith groups, faith communities, schools, organisations and local communities across the country to celebrate Scotland’s religious diversity by planning events that bring people together to promote dialogue, understanding and co-operation between Scotland’s diverse religious communities and cultures.

For more information, please email events@almcollege.ac.uk

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2021

Perth Road (west of Glamis Road) – temporary traffic lights from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 November for City Fibre work.

Glamis Road (at Blackness Road) – temporary traffic lights from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 November for City Fibre work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Nethergate (South Marketgait to Tay Street Lane) – closed westbound overnight (7.30pm - 6.30am) on Monday 8 November for Scottish Water work.

Riverside Drive (at Perth Road) - temporary traffic lights on Monday 8 November for 2 days for City Fibre works.

Lochee Road (Smellies Lane to North Marketgait) – closed eastbound from Monday 8 November for 5 days for Virgin Media work.

Glamis Drive (Glamis Road to Invergowrie Drive), Eton Street and Elliot Road (Blackness Road to Cambridge Street) – closed from Thursday 11 November for 10 days for facilitating City Fibre duct installation works.

Lochee Road (Polepark Road to Dudhope Terrace) – closed northbound on Sunday 14 November for Scottish Water work.

Strawberrybank – closed at Perth Road (for a distance of 40metres) from Monday 15 November for 6 weeks for chimney repairs.

Briarwood Terrace – closed from Tuesday 16 November for 2 days for carriageway resurfacing.