Getting things done – postal deliveries in the Ancrum Drive area #dundeewestend

In June of last year, and again in November, we raised with Royal Mail concerns about gaps in delivery and late delivery of mail in parts of the West End - initially the area around Pitfour Street and later around Forest Park Road.

This month, we have received similar concerns from residents about irregular/no delivery of post in Ancrum Drive and concerns that there may be no regular postal delivery worker for this round.

We raised this with the Public Affairs Team at Royal Mail HQ who advise that it is "looking in to this as a matter of urgency and will be back in contact shortly with an update."

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries tonight! #dundeewestend

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries take place later today and every Tuesday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Tuesdays at 5pm prompt – Blackness Library

Tuesdays at 5.45pm prompt – Ancrum Road Primary School

All residents welcome – no appointment necessary.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2024

Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) - closed from 27 November 2023 for 6 months for road safety concerns.

Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) - closed until May 2024 for construction works.

Seafield Road, Dundee - closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development.  Commencing Tuesday 22 August 2023 for 15 months.

Ryehill Lane (at its junction with St Peter Street) - closed from Monday 22 January for 5 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Forest Park Place (from Forest Park Place to Edward Street) - closed from Monday 29 January for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Westgrove Avenue – no through road due to fallen tree (residents access at either end is maintained) until Friday 2 February.

Magdalen Place (No 4 to Seafield Road) – closed from Monday 29 January for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.

Update on roads resurfacing - Forest Park Place and Ryehill Lane #dundeewestend

As residents will recall, we have long campaigned for resurfacing of the really poor conditioned roadway in Forest Park Place (between Forest Park Road and Edward Street/Larch Street) and are delighted to report that the resurfacing work has now commenced.

Work has also commenced on improving the worst-conditioned part of Ryehill Lane (nearest St Peter Street) - see photos below.

These are welcome but there's many more roads across the West End that we have raised requesting resurfacing. The resurfacing programme for the new 2024/25 financial year will be published in the coming weeks and we will update residents further as soon as we can on the detail of that.

Healthy lifestyle programme offer

Dundee FC Community Trust has a new healthy lifestyle initiative starting in February.

Details below and further information is available from laura@dundeefc.co.uk :

Temporary Traffic Order- Magdalen Place

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 repair works. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 29th January 2024. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Magdalen Place from number 4 to Seafield Road.

No alternative route is available.

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS or call 433082.

Michael’s weekly ward surgeries today! #dundeewestend

Michael’s ward surgeries take place today and every Thursday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Thursdays at 5.45pm prompt – West End Campus (come to reception area of St Joseph’s RC and Victoria Park Primary Schools)

Thursdays at 6.30pm prompt – Harris Academy reception area

All welcome – no appointment necessary!

Getting things done - Invergowrie Drive #dundeewestend

We recently received a complaint about deterioration of the road condition in Invergowrie Drive on the west side towards the top of the street.

We therefore reported this to the Roads Maintenance Partnership to ensure this was repaired, which has since been carried out.

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries tonight! #dundeewestend

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries take place later today and every Tuesday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Tuesdays at 5pm prompt – Blackness Library

Tuesdays at 5.45pm prompt – Ancrum Road Primary School

All residents welcome – no appointment necessary.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 JANUARY 2024

Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) - closed from 27 November 2023 for 6 months for road safety concerns.

Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) - closed until May 2024 for construction works.

Seafield Road, Dundee - closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development.  Commencing Tuesday 22 August 2023 for 15 months.

South Marketgait (at Greenmarket) – nearside lane closure until Wednesday 24 January for BT work.

Ryehill Lane (at its junction with St Peter Street) - closed from Monday 22 January for 5 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Forest Park Place (from Forest Park Place to Edward Street) - closed from Monday 22 January for 5 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Magdalen Place (No 4 to Seafield Road) – closed from Monday 29 January for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.

Free taster session - Dundee Time and Place #dundeewestend

HERA - Harris Education and Recreation Association - in addition to its spring programme of classes - is running free taster sessions in early 2024.

There's a weekly Dundee Time and Place evening class that meets in the Corso sheltered complex lounge and each class covers a different topic in Dundee’s history.

Francis de Franco, the excellent course leader, will also be doing a free taster session on Saturday 27th January, looking at the history of shopping in Dundee.

Find out more by e-mailing HERA at enquiries@heradundee.org

Burns charity lunch

Just Bee Productions is holding a Burns charity lunch next Thursday - 25th January - at 2pm, in Meadowside St Paul's Church - all welcome!

West End Campus – fire damage - a further update #dundeewestend

Following the fire damage at the West End Campus last summer, we recently asked the City Council for an update on progress with the remaining repairs.

The council's Head Of Design & Property Services has now advised us as follows :

"As these reinstatement works are being led by the council insurers, we are very much influenced by their processes and procedures. Accordingly, the insurers have decided for the project works to be tendered rather than direct appointing a contractor for the remaining works.

Council officers had a meeting with insurance representatives on during December, where it was outlined that tender documentation would be issued early in the new year with a contractor being appointed in February and works commencing on site thereafter.

Once the insurers have received and assessed the tenders the council will then be in a position to update you both regarding start and completion dates for the works.

I understand the insurers are to fully fund the repair works, therefore the council will not require the tender to be approved at committee or delegated to officers for approval."

Michael’s weekly ward surgeries today! #dundeewestend

Michael’s ward surgeries take place today and every Thursday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Thursdays at 5.45pm prompt – West End Campus (come to reception area of St Joseph’s RC and Victoria Park Primary Schools)

Thursdays at 6.30pm prompt – Harris Academy reception area

All welcome – no appointment necessary!

Temporary traffic orders - Ryehill Lane and Forest Park Place

The City Council has advised of two temporary traffic orders as follows :

1 – Ryehill Lane

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 carriageway resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Ryehill Lane (from its junction with St Peter Street for approx. 30 metres in a easterly direction), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 22 January 2024 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Resident access will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via St Peter Street / Perth Road.

2 - Forest Park Place

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 carriageway resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Forest Park Place (between Forest Park Road and Edward Street / Larch Street), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 22 January 2024 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Access to businesses and fire station will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Forest Park Road / Brook Street / Urquhart Street / Blackness Road.

For further information about either temporary traffic order, contact 433082.

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries tonight! #dundeewestend

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries take place later today and every Tuesday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Tuesdays at 5pm prompt – Blackness Library

Tuesdays at 5.45pm prompt – Ancrum Road Primary School

All residents welcome – no appointment necessary.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2024

Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) - closed from 27 November 2023 for 6 months for road safety concerns.

Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) - closed until May 2024 for construction works.

Seafield Road, Dundee - closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development.  Commencing Tuesday 22 August 2023 for 15 months.

South Marketgait (at Greenmarket) – nearside lane closure from Monday 15 January for 10 days for BT work.

Lochee Road (between Tullideph Road and City Road) – temporary traffic lights from Wednesday 17 January for one week for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Ryehill Lane (at its junction with St Peter Street) - closed from Monday 22 January for 5 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Forest Park Place (from Forest Park Place to Edward Street) - closed from Monday 22 January for 5 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Magdalen Place (No 4 to Seafield Road) – closed from Monday 29 January for 2 weeks for Scottish Water work.

Getting things done - Glamis Road #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who drew to our attention damage to a illuminated traffic safety reflector on Glamis Road.

We reported this to the Street Lighting Partnership and are grateful for its prompt repair as the 'before' and 'after' photographs indicate :

Friends of Wighton - music classes

From Sheena Wellington :

Friends of Wighton are delighted to welcome 2024 with the return of our weekly classes in Scots song, fiddle and mixed instruments, whistle and a new Gaelic song class, monthly for the moment, starting on the 13th.

More details :

Scots Song, with Amy Lord - Tuesdays 2pm – 3.30pm, this started last Tuesday and continues on Tuesday 16^th January

Fiddle, with Heather Miranda - Saturday 1.30pm – 2.30pm  starts Saturday 13^th January

Gaelic Song with Wilma Kennedy - 2^nd Saturday of month, 9.30am - 10.30am, starts Saturday 13^th January

Whistle with Helen Forbes - Saturday, 12.15pm – 1.15pm, starting  Saturday 20^th January

Mixed instruments (online) - Saturday 11am - noon

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87514360614

Meeting ID: 875 1436 0614

Classes are £5 per session.

Welcome for anti-flooding works planned for Riverside Recycling Centre #dundeewestend

We have welcomed news from the City Council that works to tackle the continual flooding issues at the site which has led to numerous closures of the facility.   As residents will know the site finally re-opened yesterday following the most recent flooding issues following Storm Gerrit.

We have continually raised residents’ concerns at the number and length of closures at Riverside Recycling Centre and sought assurances that necessary flood defence works are put in place at the site so that a permanent solution is in place to avoid flooding and closures in the future.

We are therefore pleased to have been advised this week of specific proposals to properly tackle this and we hope that this work will be commenced and completed during the early part of this year so that 2024 does not see the level of repeated closures that 2023 unfortunately saw.

The council’s Service Manager (Waste) has advised the councillors as follows :

“Fraser/Michael

Storm Gerrit deposited a large volume of water within the recycling centre and the continued rainfall in subsequent days had resulted in the site remaining flooded. This exceeded the ability of the on-site pumps to discharge the water into the soakaway area, where the outflow is piped into. This soakaway area also requires time to drain, otherwise it reaches capacity. 

The pumps are continuing to operate to displace the water, with additional resources on site to clear the latest flooding, as per the flood emergency plan through the use of 3rd party gully tankers – to drain water off the site. 

Council engineers are investigating ways to reduce the impact of surface water flooding at the recycling centre. Engineers propose to model the surface water flows in the immediate vicinity of the site, with the aim to reduce the volume of water collecting in the centre. 

Due to its location, at the lowest point in the area, the centre is susceptible to prolonged periods of rainfall. It is hoped by reducing the volume of water reaching the site that it will lessen the amount of time the centre is closed for flood related issues, and this will help mitigate the frequency of closures that the site is currently experiencing. Engineers have started work on this and hope to provide a list of initial measures for consideration by the end of January. If these are accepted then we would look to progress works during 2024.

We would apologise to members of the public for any inconvenience that the recent closure has caused.”

Closures at Riverside are really unhelpful for West End residents as the only other major recycling centre in Dundee at Baldovie is 9.3 miles away, extremely inconvenient for people in the west of the city. What’s more, after Christmas, with Riverside closed, residents had to wait in huge queues at Baldovie.

Had the SNP administration not axed the Marchbanks site against our advice back in 2013, there would at least have been an alternative recycling centre that didn’t involve a drive of over 9 miles to get to.

Therefore the proposed actions to tackle the issues at Riverside are welcome but it is vital that the engineering solution is fully scoped and completed urgently.

Michael’s weekly ward surgeries today! #dundeewestend

Michael’s first ward surgeries of 2024 take place today and every Thursday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Thursdays at 5.45pm prompt – West End Campus (come to reception area of St Joseph’s RC and Victoria Park Primary Schools)

Thursdays at 6.30pm prompt – Harris Academy reception area

All welcome – no appointment necessary!

Environmental improvements at Balgay Hill and Victoria Park #dundeewestend

At council committee on Monday night, Michael welcomed proposals for some improvements at Greater Balgay.

These include installation of new fence to the north of Rose Garden, installation of bollards at Balgay Hill and repair to wall north of Balgay Cemetery.

We continue to raise residents' issues about maintenance at Greater Balgay and recently reported damage to part of the boundary fence between the cemetery and Royal Victoria Hospital immediately north of Elliot Road.

Fraser’s weekly ward surgeries tonight! #dundeewestend

Fraser’s first weekly ward surgeries of 2024 take place later today and every Tuesday during school term time.

They are as follows :

Tuesdays at 5pm prompt – Blackness Library

Tuesdays at 5.45pm prompt – Ancrum Road Primary School

All residents welcome – no appointment necessary.

Dial-OP morning call, Blether Buddies and information line

Dial-OP is a community project run by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action which offers a lifeline to many lonely and isolated adults in Dundee.

With the help of volunteers, Dial-OP provides information, connectivity and reassurance through our three service activities; Morning Call, Blether Buddies and the Information Line.    Volunteers play a fundamental role in the delivery and success of the project and are supported by a small team of DVVA staff. 

Contact details :

Number Ten 10 Constitution Road, Dundee, DD1 1LL

Phone : 305757

E-mail : dialop@dvva.scot 

The Morning Call service can provide a daily check in telephone call or text with medication and appointment reminders where appropriate

The Blether Buddies project offers a befriending call from a volunteer. Weekly calls provided by our trained and supported volunteers provide friendship and connection to those who are isolated.

Riverside Recycling Centre - a further update #dundeewestend

Residents will be aware that we have continually raised concerns about the repeated flooding issues that have led to numerous closures including the issues following the recent Storm Gerrit that has resulted in the civic amenity site being closed since Christmas.

Fraser's actions and comments about the situation appeared in last Thursday's Courier and Evening Telegraph - see www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/4841313/riverside-recycling-centre-dundee-closures-double - and we have gone back to the Waste Services Manager about the Riverside situation.

We have asked for an update on works that are being undertaken to ensure a long-term solution to the continual flooding closures and the timescales of such work. 38 days of access to the site were lost in 2023 due to flooding and it is vital that this does not happen again this year. 

We will, of course, keep residents updated on this issue.

Discovery Days 2024

All are welcome to join the University of Dundee's Discovery Days 2024 from Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th January 2024.

Listen to short talks from award-winning researchers, teachers and communicators.

Discovery Days offer a fascinating exploration of a wide range of important topics, from health and wellbeing, human rights, and ground-breaking scientific research and arts practice.   All speakers are helping to transform lives locally and around the world.

Everyone is welcome to join the talks at the Dalhousie Building on Old Hawkhill. Come to listen to 10-15 minute presentations and ask speakers questions about their work.

Read more and book your free tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/discovery-days-2024-tickets-757824151437

Temporary Traffic Order - Blinshall 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 demolition and construction works. The Order is expected to be in force for six months from 8 January 2024. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Blinshall Street from Douglas Street for a distance of 50 metres or thereby south.

An alternative route will be available via Douglas Street, West Hendersons Wynd and Miln Street.

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

Information on the pavement parking ban

Constituents have been in touch seeking more detail about the Scotland-wide ban on pavement parking that launched last month.

The City Council's Team Leader, Parking & Sustainable Transport has updated councillors as follows - but please get in touch if you have any further queries :

"The Scottish Government's national prohibition on pavement parking, double parking and parking across dropped kerbs came into effect on 11th December 2023.

Dundee City Council has begun to issue Warning Notices to vehicles which are in contravention of the new rules. We will continue to issue warnings during December 2023 and January 2024 and this will serve to raise awareness of the new legislation prior to enforcement with penalty charge notices. The warning notices will be attached to windscreens like a formal PCN but will not include a financial penalty. Instead they will notify the driver that the current practice of pavement parking, double parking or parking across a dropped kerb is illegal and may result in a £100 fine (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days).

The Scottish Government launched a national media campaign on 20th November 2023 to publicise the new legislation and this will be supplemented at a local level with further communications by Dundee City Council. A new Pavement Parking webpage with FAQs will be established on Dundee City Council's website shortly.

Some residents may ask about exemptions, and specifically whether their street will be exempt from the ban. Dundee City Council has carried out a review of the local road network and consulted with elected members, emergency services, and bus operators on the roads that could be eligible for an exemption. Roads assessed as meeting the Transport Act's exemption criteria were approved for inclusion in the promotion of an exemption order by the Council's Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee on 25 September 2023 (Report 255-2023 refers).

Following completion of statutory consultations and public notices, any objections received to the Order will be reported back to Committee to decide whether to proceed with the Order as drafted. The exemption locations can be viewed at the following webpage - www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/city-development/sustainable-transport-and-roads/pavement-parking-prohibition-exemption-orders

Once we begin full enforcement, requests for the attendance of Parking Attendants to any particular location can be sent to the parking enforcement supervisor who will then deploy staff to these locations where resources allow. Instructions for making enforcement requests will be provided in the FAQs."

Welcome return of Shopmobility

It is excellent to see the launch of a brand new service under The Circle banner which will provide mobility scooters and other mobility to loan on a donation basis at locations around Dundee.

The new venture – The Circle Mobility – will be based at Overgate Shopping Centre and will aim to improve accessibility in the city.

The Circle Mobility will integrate the former Shopmobility service, a mobility hire service which was previously based at the shopping centre. The initial relaunch will focus on the original service to provide Overgate customers with better accessibility to the shopping centre.

It was very disappointing that the former Shopmobility service closed a year ago so it is really great news that The Circle Mobility has launched.

You can read more about this and planned expansion of the service during 2024 at www.thecirclecic.org.uk/were-launching-a-new-service-aimed-at-improving-accessibility-in-dundee

A Balgay festive scene! #dundeewestend

 

With thanks to Neil Kerr for the use of his fabulous image!

A very Happy New Year - and best wishes for 2024! #dundeewestend