Cllr Fraser Macpherson - LibDem Councillor for Dundee's West End - www.dundeewestend.com

Stunning photograph!

2012-01-28T20:40:00.001Z

With thanks to my good friend and Chair of Friends of Magdalen Green, Dr Angela Mehlert, here's a stunning photo she recently took of the Tay Rail Bridge :

Latest update from Friends of Wighton ...

2012-01-28T06:45:00.000Z

Ann Heymann

On Wednesday 1st February, the celebrated harpist Ann Heymann will be in Dundee for a special concert and workshop of ancient and historical Scottish and Irish harp music.

Ann is the world's best known and most highly regarded historical Gaelic harp player. Based in Minnesota, USA, this is her first visit to Scotland for many years and the Friends of Wighton are delighted that she will be visiting Dundee to teach and perform in the Wighton Centre, upstairs in Dundee Central Library.

Ann will perform a lunchtime concert on Wednesday 1st February from 1.15pm to 1.45pm. The concert will be performed on a beautiful, craftsman- made replica of the medieval Scottish "Lamont" harp with strings of brass, silver and solid gold wire, and will feature music from medieval times through to the 18th century traditions. Since the 1st of February is St Bride's or St. Bridget's day, Ann will also perform medieval music associated with this ancient Celtic saint. Admission to the concert is free.

After the concert, from 2pm, she will present a demonstration and masterclass, which provides a chance for any harpists to bring their instruments and get some inspiring tuition from one of the world's masters; this is also a chance for anyone interested in the old Gaelic traditions to stay in the audience and watch the workshop. Admission to this part of the event is £10 for participating harpists, and £5 for audience members.

A master in the performance and traditions of the Gaelic harp, Ann Heymann continues to spearhead the instrument's revival, recording, performing and teaching around the world. Recent recordings include the critically acclaimed "Cruit go nOr - Harp of Gold" and "Queen of Harps". Her books include the seminal tutor for the old Gaelic harp traditions, "Secrets of the Gaelic Harp" as well as a groundbreaking method book "Coupled Hands for Harpers".

For more information about Ann Heymann including sound clips, photos and biographies please visit http://www.annheymann.com

For more information about the Friends of Wighton and their concert series, please visit http://www.friendsofwighton.com

For more details of these events please call 07792 336804 or email secretary@friendsofwighton.com

Our schools deserve better than a Sixty Minute Makeover

2012-01-27T07:12:00.000Z

I have today highlighted my concerns about aspects of the proposed Dundee City Council Capital Budget and urged that there be a cross-party discussion about ways to improve the proposals to benefit the city’s schools.

There’s much to welcome in the draft capital budget and in particular the proposal to build new primary schools in Menzieshill and Coldside is good news, especially given the state of some existing school buildings. The total of £20m investment in these two areas will not only bring new primary schools but also community facilities and given the funding level for Menzieshill, presumably new nursery facilities may be possible there too.

However, it is over capital expenditure for other primary schools identified for improvement where I am critical of what is being proposed as the funding is simply inadequate and must be increased. Seven other schools across Dundee have been identified, including Blackness and Ancrum Road Primary Schools that serve large parts of the West End Ward.

The recognition of the need to improve facilities at these seven schools is welcome but the amount of funding at only £250 000 per school and that is simply not enough funding to make the sort of modernisation that these seven schools deserve. It should be remembered that a new-build primary school costs in the order of £9-10 million. These seven primary schools deserve more than a sixty minute makeover.

I have a specific proposal to make the improvements at Glebelands, Clepington, St Mary’s, Longhaugh, Dens Road, Ancrum Road and Blackness Primary Schools a whole lot better by allocating them £1 million each over the lifetime of the next Capital Plan – four times the proposed funding.

£1m per school is affordable if we consign to the bin another proposed set of expenditure on new headquarters and depots for the Environment Department. The council has already spent around £35 million on Dundee House and more expenditure on other council offices. It is about time to focus on our schools and, by abandoning ideas of further council department headquarters and by focussing on schools, we can increase expenditure on at Glebelands, Clepington, St Mary’s, Longhaugh, Dens Road, Ancrum Road and Blackness Primary Schools to £1 million for each school.

No business case has been brought before a city council committee to make a case for more money being spent on council headquarters buildings. It would be better spent on our schools.

Getting things done ... Peddie Street

2012-01-26T06:47:00.000Z

Towards the end of last year, I was pleased to report the introduction of a trial for Eurobins at the north end of Peddie Street, to replace the wheelie bin collection that was not working and that residents had asked for a re-think about.

The trial has worked well and feedback from residents has been very positive but, as a number of residents have pointed out, the lack of concrete blocks to weigh down the Eurobins leaves the possibility of them being insecure - see right. Blocks are used at other locations to keep Eurobins securely in place.

The City Council has assured me that the bins will be properly weighted down as soon as possible and has also given a commitment to re-site the bin at the east end of Abbotsford Place to improve parking.

TayScreen is 10!

2012-01-26T06:28:00.001Z

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a very enjoyable event at Dundee Contemporary Arts as part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations of TayScreen that has done so much good work to promote Fife and Tayside for media development and film and TV production, post-production and animation.

My involvement with TayScreen stems from our joint interest in promoting local television for Dundee, wider Tayside and North Fife, a project now with great potential.

Keith Partridge (right), a Fife-based adventure cameraman, gave a superb talk with dramatic film footage of some of his work.

In his seminar session, Keith talked about adventure camera work and what it is like to undertake production in remote and dangerous places. His presentation was hugely impressive and you can find out more about Keith's work at www.adventurecamera.co.uk.

Kathleen Smith

2012-01-25T19:21:00.001Z

It is with great sadness that I learned yesterday of the death of Kathleen Smith, Honorary President of Dundee Liberal Democrat Association. Kathleen was 89 and passed away just a few weeks after the death of her husband of 63 years, Jack.

Kathleen and Jack were both leading members of Dundee West Liberal Association and thereafter Dundee Liberal Democrats over many years. They helped keep the Liberal cause going in the difficult days of the 1950s and 1960s and, as a young election agent in 1984, I remember Kathleen's kindness in giving a generous donation towards the election of Dundee's first Liberal District Councillor.

Kathleen was a parliamentary candidate in Perth and East Perthshire at the February 1974 general election and also at the Tayside Regional Council election the same year in the then Central/Riverside Division, which covers much of my current West End Ward area. In the Regional Council election she ran a spirited campaign and laid the foundations of future electoral success. Both Kathleen and Jack were very supportive of my election campaigns in the West End, for which I will always be extremely grateful.

In addition to her highly successful role as Rector's Assessor at the University of Dundee during the rectorships of Sir Clement Freud and Lord Mackie of Benshie (1974-83), Kathleen was a long-standing elder of Meadowside St Paul's Church.

My thoughts are with Kathleen's family at this sad time.

Presentation to Blackness Primary School pupil

2012-01-25T06:16:00.000Z

Yesterday, Frances Tait, Chair of the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden, and I had the pleasure of presenting prizes to Blackness Primary School pupil Gary Scott, age 10, winner of the West End Christmas Week children's window spotting competition.

Gary correctly spotted where the letters of C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S were located in Perth Road shops and wins a year's Family Membership of the Botanic Garden and a book token.

On Wave 102 news ...

2012-01-25T06:04:00.000Z

I was on the Wave 102 news yesterday speaking about my concerns over a likely hike in street lighting costs - click 'play' to listen:

Getting things done ... Benvie Steps

2012-01-24T06:27:00.000Z

Residents have contacted me regarding the damaged fencing art the Benvie Steps that lead from Lochee Road to Benvie Road - see right. Residents are concerned about the access to the former garage site and also to an adjacent tenement's back garden

I contacted the City Council about this and the City Engineer has advised :

"An order has been raised for the repair of two linear metres of fence on the east side at the top of the Benvie Road steps.

The work has yet to be programmed but the Road Maintenance Partnership will update you once this information becomes available."

Perth Road pavement improvements

2012-01-24T06:09:00.000Z

It was good to see the Perth Road pavement improvements work start yesterday that will see resurfacing on the south side between Step Row and Shepherd's Loan in the shopping area - see right.

I spoke with the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership yesterday about issues raised by local shops. I am grateful to the Roads Maintenance Partnership for the very prompt response to these matters.

Tonight's City Council meetings

2012-01-23T22:24:00.000Z

Tonight, after my weekly surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre, I attended City Council committee meetings at which:

* At the Education Committee, I welcomed the recommendation not to progress a 33 period model in Dundee's secondary schools. I also queried why the council did not have the foresight to build the new Kingspark School large enough to accommodate the proposed additional four classrooms, now being proposed at a cost of an additional £1.1 million. Of course, if the school needs the additional rooms, they must be provided, but it is a real pity that a school that opened as recently as August 2010 is already requiring expansion. It would have been less expensive to build the bigger school in the first place.

* At Policy and Resources Committee, I criticised the waste of public money and loss of accountability in the SNP's centralisation of police and fire services. I also queried the robustness of land sales estimates in the five year Housing Capital Budget, but recognised the efforts made by the department to scale down likely land receipts in the current financial climate. For the first time in a very long time, the SNP administration proposed sending no councillors to a conference at a cost to the council tax payer. My goodness - anyone might have thought there was an election in the air. The rest of us have opposed such expenditure for years!

* At the Development Management Committee, I spoke in favour of Section 75 agreements to limit Houses in Multiple Occupation. The report before committee was the latest episode in a long running saga about properties in Larch Street.

Getting things done ... Pennycook Car Park

2012-01-23T06:40:00.001Z

Following complaints from residents about broken fencing at the Pennycook Lane Car Park - see right - I have taken up the matter with the City Council's City Development Department and requested repairs.

I have been assured that an order has been placed with Tayside Contracts to have this repaired.

Getting things done ... Baxter Street

2012-01-22T07:25:00.000Z

I recently received complaints that work to tidy up the grassed and tree lined area in Baxter Street was "overkill" with damage to the trees. The area is pictured - right.

I took up the matter with the City Council which has advised me that it will improve the site with new shrubbery in the Spring. That is to be welcomed.

Concern over increase in street lighting electricity costs

2012-01-21T06:29:00.000Z

Over the past few days, I have heard from colleagues on other councils across Scotland that the electricity companies are considering increasing very significantly the cost to councils of street lighting. Although it has yet to be finalised, I understand that Scottish & Southern Energy is looking at increasing its Distribution Use of System (DUoS) charges by approx 2.5pkWhr from 1.7p to 4.3p for unmetered customers.

The City Council’s Street Lighting Partnership tells me that this would add approximately £280 000 to Dundee City Council’s Electricity Bill.

I have great concerns about an increase of this magnitude – it is extremely high in relation to real inflation and comes at a time when the City Council like other local authorities is trying to finalise its budget for 2012/13. Such an increase has not been factored into the budget and I have therefore been in touch with the Director of Finance who advises :

“The latest proposed development which is being challenged has not yet been implemented or included in the Provisional Revenue Budget for 2012/13.

We propose to tackle this in 3 ways:

1. We are looking at possible spend to save initiatives to reduce our electricity burden on street lighting.

2. I am taking the latest proposals up with Procurement specialists to see if there is anything that can be done to secure a contract for this element of street lighting.

3. We do have a provision for increased energy costs of £603k in the Provisional Revenue Budget for 2012/13 along with £650k for general contingencies. At present we do not know what the actual impact of energy price increases will be but this is our best estimate.”

Speaking as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the City Council, my own comment is that it is very difficult to see any justification for this level of increase in charges coming at a time of great pressure on council budgets. DUoS is not part of the National Procurement Scotland Contract which only deals with the Raw Energy Element.

I think there is also an issue for the regulator OFGEM in that Scottish & Southern DUoS charges for unmetered Customers is by far the highest of any of the other 12 UK Distribution Companies thereby penalising local authorities in the North and North East of Scotland.

Friends of Magdalen Green Update

2012-01-20T21:37:00.000Z

Last night, I was again minute-taker at the latest Friends of Magdalen Green committee meeting.

There was good news to report - the Friends' charity Christmas cards sold out during the festive season. We discussed our first 2012 members' newsletter - this will cover our activities during last year - fundraising, attending community events, our success with new BBQ tables on the Green and campaigning for other improvements on the Green - and our plans for the forthcoming year.

Our forthcoming AGM in May was also discussed. Taking place in May, this will feature a presentation on the history of Dundee's West End.

For more information about our activities, contact us at friendsmagdalengreen@yahoo.co.uk.

Getting things done ... Blackness Road

2012-01-20T07:27:00.000Z

I have received concerns from local residents that water is leaking from the site of the former Parkview School on Blackness Road and it is resulting in colder days of a lot of ice across the pavement. See right.

This is an obvious trip hazard, particularly for pedestrians walking along the pavement in the dark, and I have therefore asked the City Council to see what can be done to resolve the problem.

Sunday event at Balgay Hill

2012-01-19T07:09:00.001Z

This Sunday (22nd January) sees a Conservation Volunteering Day, taking place on Balgay Hill. It takes place between 1pm and 3pm - all welcome - meet up at the Mills Observatory at 1pm.

The event is being run by the City Council's Countryside Ranger Service and is a way of helping to improve Balgay Park for the benefit of local people and wildlife. Please have warm clothing and sturdy footwear.

There are complimentary refreshments at around 3pm for all volunteers.

More on West End bank branch closure

2012-01-18T22:29:00.000Z

Further to recent items on this blog, the Courier and on Radio Tay, I gave an update on my concerns about the closure of the Royal Bank of Scotland University of Dundee Branch on Wave 102 today:

Tuesday activities

2012-01-18T06:51:00.000Z

Yesterday :

* I attended the latest meeting of the West End Schools' Project Board, the group overseeing the construction of the new facilities for Park Place Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School and Park Place Nursery School, currently being built on the former Logie Secondary School site. It was good to hear of progress with the project and the autumn 2012 opening date on course.

* Thereafter, I attended the latest committee meeting of the Sinderins and Pennycook Courts Residents' Association, taking place at Pennycook Court. We discussed various issues including progress with the new seating and environment improvements in Pennycook Lane, roads and pavements issues and bin collection.

* Yesterday evening, I took part in the latest West End Sports and Heritage Association (WESHA) committee meeting. WESHA is making good progress in terms of sporting improvements for the West End including planned improvements to the Riverside sports' changing rooms.

Latest from Friends of Wighton

2012-01-17T08:35:00.000Z

Concertinas, melodeons, accordions and all kinds of free reed instruments will be displayed and demonstrated this Saturday morning in Dundee's Wighton Centre, upstairs in the Central Library. See right!

The event is one of the Friends of Wighton's popular cappuccino concerts. With complimentary coffee and newspapers served from 10.30am, the music lasts from 11am to 12 noon. Admission is £5.

Traditional musicians John Bagnall & Paul Blackburn have been playing traditional music together for over 15 years, and in this concert their expertise will be put to good use in explaining and demonstrating the various different kinds of squeezeboxes and their place in Scottish traditional music. They will be playing some popular tunes of the 18th and 19th centuries from the Wighton Collection and elsewhere. Also, they will be showing off some rare historical recordings of notable players from the past.

This concert will be ideal for anyone interested in traditional music who would like to explore some more unusal aspects of the tradition.

The Friends of Wighton organises a series of events in the Library in Dundee. Other forthcoming dates are :

Wed 1st February at 1.15pm - Ann Heymann, Gaelic harp

Saturday 18th February at 10.30am - Karen Hannah & Allan Small, fiddle

For more info please go to www.friendsofwighton.com.

Willie Rennie visits Dundee College

2012-01-17T06:45:00.001Z

Willie and me at Dundee College yesterday

Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP was in Dundee yesterday to visit Dundee College with me, touring the new Gardyne Campus and also discussing college funding cuts with Principal Christina Potter, Depute Principal Grant Ritchie and Assistant Principal Leslie Dick.

Speaking after the meeting, Willie said:

“It was great to visit Dundee College today with local Liberal Democrat Councillor Fraser Macpherson.

“Dundee College helps people from a range of backgrounds to get up and on in the world with new skills and knowledge. Improving the life chances of thousands of people of all ages is something we should support and nourish.

“That’s why it makes no sense to cut £40 million from college funds next year which could mean fewer places students and teaching posts might have to go.

“The Scottish Government has the money available to fill this gap as a result of consequentials from Westminster. So the SNP should get the year of to a good start and reverse this cut.

“This would support colleges like Dundee and the great work it does with students and communities.”

What was obvious from yesterday's meeting is that the new Gardyne Campus facilities are superb but for the college to grow and provide the educational benefits for Dundee students, it is vital that there is clarity from Scottish Government about funding for Dundee College and other further education colleges across Scotland.

The recent announcement from the Education Secretary still leaves colleges across Scotland in the dark about their individual funding allocations and, as a result, planning for next year has been made extremely difficult.

What is obvious is that last year’s 10.4% cut is to be followed by a cut of up to 8.5% next year and this has a hugely detrimental consequence for college places, courses and staff jobs. Our colleges are vital to the future of the Scottish economy.

On Radio Tay news

2012-01-16T18:26:00.000Z

I was on Radio Tay news today on the subject of the proposed closure of the Balfour Street Branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland on the University of Dundee campus :

Campaigning against West End bank closure

2012-01-16T07:20:00.000Z

With the new University of Dundee semester starting today, I have slammed the decision by the Royal Bank of Scotland to close its branch at the university’s student union and have written to the Royal Bank’s Chief Executive Stephen Hester criticising the decision and asking for a review of the decision before it goes ahead. It is understood that the Royal Bank is planning to close the branch in March or April.

The decision to close the branch at the Student Union is really detrimental to the University of Dundee’s students and staff. Its been a hugely busy branch over the years – I first used it myself as a student in the early 1980s – and it is known to have had the busiest cash point in the whole of Scotland at a time. I have therefore written to the bank’s Chief Executive urging him to reconsider the decision.

This closure decision comes on top of the decision to close the Ninewells Hospital branch in the West End Ward last year. The loss of the branch at Ninewells Hospital was a blow. In addition, many residents of the ward in the Ancrum/Pentland/Tullideph area miss the Lochee branch that was also shut last year. Despite being largely in public ownership, the bank doesn’t seem much bothered about the public, the customers who rely on local branches.

There are nearly 18 000 students at the university in addition to staff who use the bank branch in Balfour Street on the campus. It makes no commercial sense to close it.

River Crescent residents' get-together!

2012-01-16T06:58:00.000Z

River Crescent - just south of Perth Road

Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending what has become a very pleasant annual fixture when the residents of River Crescent get together for a coffee and cake at the rather superb cafe at Dundee Botanic Garden, near to River Crescent itself.

It was an extremely pleasant afternoon and good to chat with local residents about a variety of local issues. River Crescent has a very active and hard-working residents' association who do really good work for the local neighbourhood.

Beautiful Sunday morning at Balgay Park

2012-01-15T19:07:00.000Z

A cold but beautiful Sunday morning today at Balgay Park :

Getting things done ... Perth Road water leak

2012-01-15T07:08:00.000Z

Opposite Blackness Library on Perth Road, there has been a very noticeable water leak over the past few days. See photo - right. A number of residents have contacted me about it.

Scottish Water's Community Manager has advised me :

"I can confirm we attended on 10 January and are arranging to repair a faulty valve located outside 336 Perth Road. My colleague will confirm on Monday a date for the repair and I will let you know."

And ... Sunday Song

2012-01-15T05:20:00.000Z

Adele - vocalist of a generation:

Getting things done ... Kelso Steps

2012-01-14T06:20:00.000Z

Towards the end of last week, I received residents' complaints about the amount of rubbish lying about the Kelso Steps (see right) that run up from Blackness Road to Kelso Street and are well-used by local residents and visitors to Royal Victoria Hospital.

I contacted the City Council's Environment Department asking for action and was impressed with the very swift response that saw the steps fully swept and tidied yesterday.

Saturday Song ...

2012-01-14T06:05:00.000Z

My friend and colleague Jim Tolson, formerly MSP for Dunfermline and West Fife, recently mentioned on Facebook that the No 1 hit in the week he was born (a couple of years after me!) was Jackie Trent's "Where are you now?"

In my opinion, its one of the best hits of the Sixties - judge for yourself :

TACTRAN newsletter for the New Year

2012-01-13T07:05:00.000Z

With the permission of TACTRAN, the Tayside and Central Scotland regional transport partnership, I am today featuring the latest TACTRAN newsletter New Year 2012 edition.

This covers a number of local transport issues and in particular the park and ride proposals for the west of the city.

You can download the newsletter by clicking on the headline above or by going to http://tinyurl.com/tactran-jan12.

On Wave 102 news ...

2012-01-12T14:27:00.001Z

I was on the Wave 102 news today regarding the kite flying issue near Dundee Airport I highlighted recently:

Wednesday activities

2012-01-12T13:04:00.000Z

Yesterday, in addition to assisting with a number of constituent queries and problems, I also attended the latest meeting of the City Council's Local Economy Monitoring Group.

This is a useful regular forum at which the four party group leaders on the council, the City Council Chief Executive, other senior officers and representatives from Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce discuss the local economy, initiatives to improve the employment situation in the city and other economic initiatives. At yesterday's meeting, representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses also joined the group - a welcome development.

Yesterday's discussions included progress with the renewables sector, the waterfront and V&A at Dundee, the rail station planned improvements and economic research. Although the Dundee economy - like that across the country - has been going through challenging times, there is much positive activity locally and real commitment to drive forward economic growth for our city.

Dundee volunteering and employability courses

2012-01-11T07:56:00.000Z

Here's details of a couple of courses currently on offer :

Community Council meeting

2012-01-10T23:02:00.000Z

Tonight's West End Community Council saw a very interesting presentation from Grant Simmons, Regional Manager of the Food Train Project about progress with this excellent initiative the City Council is supporting to assist older people in Dundee with their shopping needs.

Last month, I updated residents about the project and this evening Grant advised that the first shopping deliveries to local people will take place during the week commencing 23rd January.

Grant gave assurances that local shops will be included as well as supermarkets in providing the goods and this was reassuring, given the local shops in the West End that provide excellent produce at competitive prices.

Volunteers required in the following roles:

· In store shoppers -To work in a specific supermarket, picking groceries and loading them into the customers shopping boxes

· Helpers - To help check the shopping through the check-out and loading it onto the van. You will then go around our customers

delivering and unloading their shopping

· Drivers - Driving the company van, you will collect the shopping boxes from the supermarket and deliver to our customers,

unloading the shopping and putting it away for them if required

· Office assistance / promotion - Support to the office, answering phones, taking customers shopping requests and helping to keep

the office running smoothly

For more information please contact:

Grant Simmons

Email: dundee@thefoodtrain.co.uk

Office D, Market Mews, Market Street Dundee DD1 3LA

West End Community Council update for January

2012-01-10T06:51:00.001Z

I have today launched my update to the January meeting of West End Community Council that takes place tonight at 7pm at Logie St John's (Cross) Chruch Hall in Shaftesbury Terrace - all residents welcome.

The update covers the following issues :

Kite Flying Concern near Dundee Airport

Walkway on Riverside Drive

Former McCheyne Memorial Church

Park and Ride Proposals – an update

On the kite flying concern, the Dundee Airport Manager has contacted me recently about his concerns regarding the flying of kites in the flight path near to the airport.

The number of incidents is low but there was an incident at the beginning of December involving a kite surfer that was a source of some concern to the airport. Derrick Lang, the airport manager, is keen that the concern is highlighted to emphasise the point that kites should not be flown near the airport.

He adds, “We have reviewed the signage in the east side of the area and is adequate but we have no signage at the nature park area, which would be an obvious choice for someone flying a kite.”

I have therefore raised the signage matter with the City Council. Safety in the vicinity of the airport is vital.

You can download the update by clicking on the headline above or by going to http://tinyurl.com/weccJan2012.

Tonight's City Council committee meetings

2012-01-09T22:20:00.000Z

Following my weekly surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre, I participated in tonight's City Council committee meetings.

At the Environment Committee, I welcomed a further extension of recycling facilities but emphasised the need to provide additional recycling facilities (such as plastics and aluminium cans) at neighbourhood recycling centres.

At the Housing Committee, I sought assurances that the City Council will obtain a District Valuer's valuation on 24 council houses in Clepington that it intends to sell off on the open market before marketing them and not sell them below that valuation.

The Housing Department wishes to sell them off because they "do not meet the expectations of current applicants for housing" but has actually not attempted to let them out following a lease with Dundee College as student accommodation coming to an end.

If the council wishes to sell them off, it owes it to our council house rentpayers to get best value from such a sale and I am grateful to the Chief Executive of the City Council who agreed to my request for a proper valuation by the District Valuer and that the properties should not be sold for less than that professional valuation.

At Policy and Resources Committee, I pointed out how poor the SNP Government's grant allocation to Dundee City Council will be for 2012/13 - a cash cut of £1.416 over the 2011/12 settlement at a time when other authorities have seen a cash increase. This is a very disappointing financial settlement for the city and will impact on service provision in Dundee during the forthcoming year.

Friends of Wighton - first of the 2012 events

2012-01-09T07:12:00.000Z

Barbara Dymock

Friends of Wighton's first Lunchtime Recital of 2012 takes place at the Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library, Dundee on Wednesday 11th January when the guests are Barbara Dymock and Friends.

Barbara, one of Scotland's finest and most distinctive singers, will be joined by flute-player Kenny Hadden, guitarist Chris Marra and fiddler Karen Hannah to present some very tasty arrangements of traditional and contemporary Scottish songs.

Admission is free (donations are welcome!) - recital starts at 1.15pm, lasting around 30 minutes.

Barbara and the Band will be appearing at Glasgow's City Halls on Friday 3rd February as part of the Celtic Connections Festival.

Christmas in Australia

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001Z

Janet and I spent Christmas and the New Year in Australia visiting our younger son Greg and our daughter in law Karen, who live in a very sunny Melbourne. It was a super holiday and great to see Karen and Greg - and - what's more - we had a White Christmas, with a few minutes of torrential hail on the afternoon of Christmas Day.

With the wonders of Broadband, keeping up to date with constituent enquiries was no problem although I am sure residents were wondering why I appeared to be sending e-mails at 2am!

Here's a few photos - and a video of the Koalas of Phillip Island :

In Dubai just before Christmas

In Federation Square, Melbourne

At Bondi Beach

Janet and me in Sydney

Sydney Opera House

This month's West End Community Council meeting

2012-01-08T07:00:00.000Z

Here's details of this Tuesday's West End Community Council meeting :

Local TV for Dundee? An update ...

2012-01-07T06:33:00.001Z

I have taken a close interest in the possibility of local television for Dundee, Tayside and North Fife and it was therefore good to see the positive news for Dundee following the recent announcement of areas to be licensed for local TV services.

News on national TV and in the national press on the day of the announcement concentrated on only Edinburgh and Glasgow. There was a general failure to report that there are, in fact, two lists of locations and the second of these lists includes the location identified as Dundee. This is served by the Angus transmitter which also serves, Angus, north Fife and southern Perth and Kinross.

So, from a position some years ago where Scotland was not ‘on the radar’ for local TV, extensive lobbying, including that by the Fife TayConsortium, has led to the current proposals for local TV services, not just in Edinburgh and Glasgow but also in four further areas including Dundee/Fife/Tayside. Anyone wishing to operate a licence for locations on the second must do so with a local operator. This means potential local TV services for the region as whole, particularly, as proposed by the Fife Tay Consortium, through a combined broadcast and internet services.

The Fife Tay Local TV Consortium is a collaboration between regional organisations in Fife and Tayside including Radio Tay, Dundee College, the University of Dundee and Perthshireonline.tv. It is chaired by leading lawyer, Professor Stewart Brymer and the business plan is being developed by Martin Cherry of Bannerman Technology.

It is coordinated by FifeScreen and TayScreen the screen office for the councils of Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross. There is already some pilot work that can be seen at FifeTay.Tv - and further pilot development is planned for early 2012.

The current Ofcom consultation can be seen at the following link and the deadline is 19^th March 2012. It is an opportunity to provide input on the areas currently selected and the proposed process. You can read more at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/local-tv/.

I am writing to Ofcom in support of local TV services for Dundee in particular, and the Fife Tayside area in general. Given the current stage of the local TV licensing consultation, there is a major opportunity to influence the process going forward and it is essential to build on what has been achieved so far. I would encourage all with an interest to write to Ofcom highlighting their support for local TV for Dundee.

Walkway on Riverside Drive

2012-01-06T07:09:00.000Z

I have received concerns from residents about the state of the walkway from the railway station to Tesco Riverside, much of which is claustrophobic given the concrete barriers that Network Rail insist upon being in place as the adjacent roadway runs in parallel to the rail station concourse.

In November, the Director of City Development advised me that :

"We currently have plans with Network Rail to extend the Riverside layby as part of the rail station refurbishment/upgrade. This will require the removal of a section of the containment barrier. We have proposed the barrier be removed, or reduced to the minimum possible requirement. If successful, we are considering if we could extend this approach as far as the Tesco roundabout (subject to available funding).

In addition, to improve our position with regards to safety, (we are) assessing the potential to reduce the speed limit from the Tesco goods entrance to Discovery Point to 30mph (currently 40mph)."

City Council officials are meeting with Network Rail on this matter and I have asked to be kept updated on developments.

Dundee bus fares increases

2012-01-05T06:32:00.000Z

Dundee bus services operated by National Express Dundee see fares increases from Sunday (8th January) and I have been in contact with the Managing Director of National Express Dundee about this.

Specifically, in the new fares structure, although the cost of weekly tickets (both adult and child) has been frozen, and student fares will not increase during the current academic year, which is welcome, the cost of 4-weekly and annual passes increases, including the cheapest method - direct debit - does increase, along with single fare charges. So, for example, a 4-weekly direct debit pass increases in cost from £37 to £39 (its non-direct debit equivalent increases in cost from £41 to £43).

I have suggested to National Express Dundee that the increases in 4-weekly and annual pass costs make the purchase of these (particularly by Direct Debit) less attractive and an incentive to buy these by freezing charges should be considered along with the welcome freeze in weekly pass charges.

The full detail of the new fares structure can be downloaded by clicking on the headline above or by going to http://tinyurl.com/nxdundeefares.

Polling stations in the West End

2012-01-04T06:50:00.000Z

Arising out of the recent consultation exercise, there have been some changes to polling stations in the West End (primarily in the east of the area) and the City Council has recently published a new map showing these.

The boundaries of polling districts WBD, WBJ and WAJ have been re-aligned. Electors in WBD (north of Hawkhill) who have previously voted at Park Place Primary will vote at the Al-Maktoum College in future, as will electors in the southern section of WBJ (Brewery Lane etc) who previously voted at the Mitchell Street Centre.

You can download the map by clicking on the headline above or by going to http://tinyurl.com/wardmap2012.

There will be a further change to polling stations after autumn of this year when the current Park Place Primary School moves to its new building. I have stressed to the City Council that there is a need to find a site for a new polling station within the Nethergate/South Tay Street/West Port and surrounding area that is convenient to residents in the area.

Adult learning newsletter

2012-01-03T07:12:00.000Z

The City Council has recently published its adult community learning newsletter for the first part of 2012.

This includes details of some courses based at the Mitchell Street Centre such as Options and Choices (on career development, including updating your CV and interview skills) and Just the Job (for people whose second language is English and who are looking to improve their employment prospects).

You can download the newsletter by clicking on the headline above or by going to http://tinyurl.com/learningjan2012.

The future of the former McCheyne Memorial Church

2012-01-02T07:00:00.002Z

Further to my article last month about the falling masonry concern at the former McCheyne Memorial Church at the Perth Road/Shepherd's Loan junction, I have been in contact with council planning officers regarding this.

There has been a degree of activity at the church by representatives of the owner (who is London-based) and the City Council's Conservation Officer has updated me as follows:

"Having visited the site and met with the owner, I can advise that the current works relate to repairs as a result of a burst water mains within the vestry.

The repairs include replastering a number of walls, repairs to ceilings (reinstating the cornicing), painting of timber work and redecorating. I also viewed the church hall and main body of the church, which are currently used for storage.

The owner indicated it was his long term intention to convert (with the appropriate consents and permissions) the whole building to a single house, to be used as a holiday home for the owner's family."

The church has lain empty for over a decade and local residents regularly comment to me that it would be good to see the church building brought back into an appropriate use.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000Z

Remember to recycle this Festive Season

2011-12-31T06:53:00.000Z

From Dundee City Council :

Remember to recycle this Festive Season

Christmas is a time when we generate more waste than at any other time in the year, but not everything left over from Christmas is unwanted.

Your Christmas cards, wrapping paper and cardboard, glass bottles and jars and even your real Christmas tree are all wanted at your local Recycling Centres and Points and at the kerbside.

So this year, please reduce your waste and recycle all those leftovers from the festive season!

For more information:

www.dundeecity.gov.uk/environment/festive/

Phone 432777

Lighting at Balgay Park and Hill - an update

2011-12-30T07:09:00.000Z

At the latest Balgay Stakeholders' Group meeting last month, there was a discussion about lighting improvements in the park.

The upgrade will be completed in January but I was given an update by the City Council towards the end of last week as follows :

"We had a team working on the lighting for the whole day.

We now have the first 2 lighting columns from the Scott Street end illuminated, but underground cable faults means the rest of the equipment is dark on this section of road until you get to the pavilion. Not much more can be done here until January. Good news on the North end. From Glamis Road, we have managed to illuminate 5 columns from the entrance to just past the pavilion. So you have the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 8th street lights illuminated.

The other lighting columns will be replaced with the main street lighting works in January."

More City Council cuts ahead

2011-12-29T07:31:00.000Z

As recently reported in the Courier, around £3.4 million of further budget cuts are to be considered by the SNP-run administration on Dundee City Council.

As I indicated in the Courier, I would take issue with the claim that the grant settlement is better than anticipated. Anyone looking objectively at the actual settlements announced by the SNP government for each authority can see that Dundee has a cash terms cut when other councils have seen a cash terms increase. The SNP government has badly let down Dundee in terms of its disappointing settlement for Dundee City Council.

The SNP continually blames Westminster for everything but the reality is that the SNP Finance Cabinet Secretary John Swinney has a budget that is in real terms billions higher than that available to the Scottish Government when the parliament was first established in 1999. The suggestion that £3.4 million of further cuts is somehow “good news” is spin and an attempt at “news management” by the SNP administration. Had the SNP Finance Secretary treated Dundee in a more equitable manner, we would not be looking at this level of cuts by the Dundee SNP administration.

What is now vital is that front-line services such as Education and Social Work do not fall victim to the further SNP cuts. I will be working positively with other councillors in the run-up to the council budget being set on 9th February to minimise the effect of further budget reductions.

Tay Rail Bridge Disaster Memorial Trust newsletter

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000Z

On this, the 132nd Anniversary of the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster, its good to note that the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster Memorial Trust has issued its first newsletter in time for this festive season.

As one of the trustees of the Trust, its really pleasing to see the progress the Trust is making towards its aim of a proper and lasting memorial to the victims of the 1879 disaster.

You can read the newsletter at http://tinyurl.com/TRBMTnews.

Crime statistics

2011-12-28T07:26:00.000Z

Last week, the Evening Telegraph highlighted crime statistics for 2010/11 across the city. This indicated the apparently high crime rate in parts of the West End Ward.

Beat 26 which covers quite a large part of the West End Ward has been highlighted in the past for its high number of incidents reported to and investigated but as it is a large area largely to the north of the Nethergate and Perth Road shopping areas right up to Pentland, it is important to emphasise that much of the area has a very low crime rate and that the total of crime incidents can appear skewed by the part of the Beat area that covers the clubs and other night time economy area.

Instances of housebreaking and theft are a real concern – in some instances these are “opportunist thefts” from mainly ground floor flats where windows have been left unsecured and it is important to emphasise that Tayside Police will provide any resident with free home security advice for their property.

I would add that there is a great community policing team in the area who work hard to combat crime and they do rely on local residents reporting anything they see as potentially suspicious.

Strawberrybank : a photo-essay

2011-12-27T07:59:00.000Z

Brian Selway's excellent blog - a look at life in Scotland through photographs and comment - highlighted the charm of Strawberrybank earlier this year.

You can see the item at http://tinyurl.com/strawberrybank.

Dundee West Park and Ride update

2011-12-26T07:55:00.000Z

Further to my article last month about possible future Park and Ride facilities sited in the west of the city and the subsequent decision by the regional transport partnership TACTRAN to progress the proposal for siting the facility at Wright Avenue, I sought, on behalf of constituents, some reassurances from TACTRAN about the facility.

The park and ride proposals have been largely welcomed by local residents but householders who live to the north of the preferred site have sought assurances that the facility would be properly screened. Residents who currently enjoy excellent views of Riverside Nature Park, Invergowrie Bay and the River Tay to the south rightly do not wish to look out to a car park in the future.

TACTRAN's Project Manager has updated me as follows :

"As the Wright Avenue location has been approved by the Tactran Board we will now be taking forward the detailed design, in partnership with Dundee City Council through the City Engineers.

As you’ll be aware the outline design was carefully designed to complement the landscaping of the surrounding park. In particular it was designed to be adjacent to the existing trees as they will provide good screening.

In progressing the design there will be an environmental assessment undertaken and this will include visual amenity for those properties that have a view of the site and I will ensure that appropriate provision will be made for any additional screening that may be required at the site."

There is no doubt that the provision of park and ride facilities will bring significant benefits, not just to the drivers concerned, but to relieving parking problems in parts of the City Centre and the West End. However, it is important that a facility is properly screened and I am therefore pleased at the assurances given by the regional transport partnership in that regard.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000Z

Christmas Buses

2011-12-24T08:57:00.001Z

A number of constituents have expressed concern about the inadequate bus services over Christmas and the New Year period - with no National Express Dundee buses at all on Christmas Day and New Year's Day and with the Sunday service on Boxing Day and 2nd January ending before 7.30pm. I have been in touch with the bus company about this.

As always, Suzy Scott at www.dundeebuses.info has a useful update on bus services in Dundee over the festive season.

Christmas Eve music

2011-12-24T07:13:00.000Z

West End schools' progress

2011-12-23T08:39:00.000Z

Back in September, I updated residents about the construction of the new St Joseph's Primary, Park Place Nursery and Park Place Primary Schools on the former Logie school site and gave links to the first two newsletters issued by the contractor, Robertson Construction, to adjacent householders in the Blackness Road, Abbotsford Street, Glenagnes Road/Logie, Rosefield Street and adjacent areas.

In recent weeks, the school building has moved forward significantly. You can download the following two newsletters about the project, issued to adjacent householders, here :

Edition 3 - November 2011 : http://tinyurl.com/nov2011edition

Edition 4 - December 2011 : http://tinyurl.com/dec2011edition

Friday's favourite ...

2011-12-23T07:14:00.000Z

My favourite Queen hit - back to Christmassy hits on Christmas Eve!

Getting things done ... Bus Stop on Perth Road at Shelter Shop

2011-12-22T09:10:00.000Z

The bus stop on Perth Road at the Shelter Shop – just west of Step Row was recently damaged by a vehicle.

At my request a new bus stop pole and sign is now in place.

Today's tune

2011-12-22T07:50:00.000Z

A break off Christmassy ones for a couple of days - this is my favourite Celine Dion song - Falling into you - from 1996 :

Dog Bag provision will continue ...

2011-12-21T08:29:00.002Z

Having recently had an enquiry seeking an assurance that the City Council will not, in these times of financial challenge, remove its provision of free "dog bags" to allow dog owners to clean up after their pet, I contacted the Director of Environment at the council to seek his assurances.

He has responded as follows :

"As a department we are looking at all opportunities for future savings and I am aware that this possible option has been discussed internally. I can confirm that we have no plans to remove this provision at present."

I am pleased to have received such an assurance as the provision of these bags greatly helps in the effort to reduce the amount of dog fouling left on the city's pavements, parks and other open spaces. I would have viewed any proposal to remove this free service as hugely counter-productive, so the confirmation that the dog bag service, available at many council facilities such as libraries, will continue is reassuring.

Wednesday Wizzard ...

2011-12-21T06:57:00.000Z

Recycling – Seafield Road area

2011-12-20T09:16:00.000Z

Residents in the Seafield Road area have queried why they cannot recycle tins, plastice and glass via a household collection.

At their request, I raised this with the City Council’s Recycling Projects Officer, who advises :

"At present we are investigating different collection methodologies which may, in time, enable us to increase our kerbside collections of these materials across the city. In the meantime however, there are a number of Recycling Centres & Points in the vicinity of Seafield Road to enable your constituent to recycle his tins, plastics & glass:

• Neighbourhood Recycling Point for glass & paper at Ryehill Lane/Perth Road junction

• Mini Recycling Centre at Pennycook Lane car park for alu cans, textiles, glass & paper

• Mini Recycling Centre at Roseangle Car Park for plastics, alu cans, glass & paper

• Mini Recycling Centre at Tesco Riverside for alu cans, glass, paper & textiles."

Tuesday's festive tune ...

2011-12-20T08:21:00.000Z

City Council winter weather advice

2011-12-19T09:05:00.001Z

The City Council has published a useful information leaflet on winter maintenance priorities, along with winter weather advice that you can download at http://tiny.cc/dundeewinter.

The City Council's winter weather advice page at http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/winterweather/.

Winter weather e-help : If I can be of any assistance to any West End Ward constituent with a concern about winter maintenance matters during the wintry weather period, please do not hesitate to contact me at winter@frasermacpherson.org.uk.

Monday music ...

2011-12-19T06:05:00.000Z

Riverside Drive at Riverside Approach

2011-12-18T07:00:00.001Z

Residents have asked why the traffic management at the above location is still in place, following the recent motor vehicle damage to the rail bridge. The City Council’s Head of Transportation advises :

"This is a deliberate section of temporary traffic management to ensure that no further vehicle strikes occur. The City Engineer's Structural engineers have undertaken a survey and we (City Engineer / Transportation and Planning) are considering a permanent layout that will prevent any further bridge strikes in the future.

I am unable to give any date for removing the traffic management as this will be dependant on when a permanent solution can be implemented. My observation is that any delay to traffic egressing from Riverside approach would be restricted to peak times."

I have been assured that I will be given an update on the situation early in the New Year.

Sunday's music ...

2011-12-18T06:03:00.002Z

Perth Road pavements

2011-12-17T08:44:00.000Z

Earlier this year, I asked the City Council that the pavements in Perth Road in the shopping area be resurfaced where they are in poor shape – particularly on the south side between Seafield Road and Shepherd’s Loan.

The Council agreed to resurface the stretch from Step Row to Shepherd’s Loan and targeted for this work to take place in October.

The Council has since advised me :

"The scheme was originally proposed to start in October after the holiday period but due to additional works at other ongoing Council schemes: Waterfront and Dykes of Grey. We did not have the resources to start this scheme as proposed and have it completed before the Christmas embargo starts, therefore we felt it better to reprogramme the scheme to after the festive season."

I am now advised that the work will take place in early January 2012 and have also requested that the pavement east of Step Row is resurfaced during 2012, following requests from residents, including the sheltered housing tenants at Seafield Lane.

Saturday's Christmas song ...

2011-12-17T07:52:00.000Z

Riverside pitches - action on stones problem

2011-12-16T08:45:00.000Z

Further to the concerns expressed in the Evening Telegraph earlier this week about large stones bursting through the pitches on the south side of Riverside Drive and resulting in a number of accidents, I sought assurances from the Environment Department of the City Council that proper reinstatement of the pitches was in hand.

I have received the following helpful response :

"This is now in hand. When the area was cultivated as part of the grass seeding exercise, stones and other debris were brought to the surface. The surface was finished off with screen top soil and as part of the exercise a stone pick would have been done once the grass seed had germinated. This is stones that have worked through the soil due mainly to settling down and the weather conditions.

As soon as we were made aware of the problems we closed the pitches and have had the area cleared of visible stones.

There is always the chance that some stone may emerge due to the nature of the site and we will endeavour to inspect the site more regularly. We have good relations with the users of the site and we would also react to any feedback we receive from the teams and also the referees who have as a role in determining whether pitches are playable."

I am pleased at the prompt response by the City Council and also hope that more regular inspections will ensure the avoidance of any further incidents of large stones on the pitches or any unfortunate accidents caused by them in the future.

Friday's festive fare ...

2011-12-16T08:31:00.002Z

Thursday tune ...

2011-12-15T08:17:00.000Z

Tay Rail Bridge Disaster on TV tonight ...

2011-12-15T08:10:00.000Z

As an active member of the trustees of the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster Memorial Trust, I am pleased to advise of a fascinating TV programme to be first screened tonight.

Molly Brown, Peter Yolland and Jennifer Leigh explore how their ancestors were all involved in the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879.

It is on the Yesterday channel at 9pm tonight - Thursday 15th December - Freeview channel 12, Sky 537, Virgin Media 203.

Getting things done ... Polepark Road

2011-12-14T22:17:00.000Z

On behalf of tenants in Polepark Road, I recently asked the Housing Department of the City Council to tidy up the very untidy areas to the back of the flats on the east side of the street.

With thanks to the department, the area is now looking a lot better :

Wednesday music - a little more festive ...

2011-12-14T22:03:00.000Z

Latest in music season - Tuesday Tune ...

2011-12-13T22:04:00.000Z

Barney's Fund food parcels donation for Christmas

2011-12-13T21:27:00.000Z

Today, along with others on the Barney's Charity Fund committee and volunteers from the Discovery Food Programme, I took part in a photocall to mark the handover of a donation of food packs to this excellent charity. Here’s a couple of photos and the news release from Barney’s Charity Fund :

The group with the food parcel donation

Us sorting out the food parcels

Discovery Food Programme has received a welcome boost from Barnetts Motor Group’s “Barney’s Charity Fund” with a donation of around 75 food packs to help provide emergency food relief to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship in Dundee.

Barney’s Fund committee member, Sandra Myles, was very keen to brief the rest of the committee on Discovery Food Programme’s urgent requirement for support over the festive period.

“With such a worthwhile cause the committee had no hesitation is supporting their plea for emergency food packs and with the addition of a few Christmas puddings and selection boxes we hope to bring some festive cheer to those in need.” said chairperson Cllr Fraser Macpherson.

Registered Scottish Charity, Discovery Food Programme has assisted over 4,400 men, women and children in 1,437 households over the past year. However they are still in great need of assistance to continue providing this emergency food relief to those in need. Anyone can make a donation whether it’s a bag of pasta, boxes of cereal or indeed a cash donation, the Discovery Food Programme Team would be delighted to discuss how you can help simply contact them on 222372.

Tonight's City Council meetings

2011-12-12T23:22:00.000Z

Following my surgeries late this afternoon at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Centre, I attended tonight's City Council meetings at which :

* I sought (and obtained) assurances at the Education Committee about the continued independence of Park Place Nursery School as a 'stand alone' school. A report on a review of the school estate rather implied it would be integrated into the primary school at the new Blackness Road campus, but, having already corresponded with the Director of Education on this matter, he agreed, in response to my questions, tonight that the nursery will remain as an independent school with its own Head Teacher and with its school roll intact at 110 pupils.

* At Housing Committee, I praised the hard work and quality of service delivered by the City Council's sheltered housing wardens.

* At City Development Committee, I supported road speed limit cuts - in particular on Riverside Avenue and Riverside Drive and asked about the possible provision of pedestrian crossings in the future. I have had a large postbag on this issue, the vast majority of residents supporting a cut in the speed limit.

* At Policy and Resources Committee, I spoke out against Scottish Government cuts in Dundee College's budget and asked that Scottish Government uses £67m in consequentials due to the English Council Tax Freeze to help Scotland's colleges.

December West End Community Council Update

2011-12-12T06:24:00.000Z

West End Community Council meets tomorrow evening at 7pm at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall and all local residents are welcome to attend.

I have today published my monthly update to the Community Council, covering :

Perth Road pavements

Bus Stop Perth Road at Shelter Shop – just west of Step Row

Riverside Drive at Riverside Approach

Recycling – Seafield Road area

You can upload the update by going to http://tinyurl.com/weccDec2011.

Another in the Fraser festive list ...

2011-12-12T06:02:00.000Z

McCheyne Memorial Church - falling masonry concern

2011-12-11T06:57:00.000Z

Residents have contacted me following masonry dropping from the steeple area of the former McCheyne Memorial Church building and landing on the area to the front of the church - see right.

This occurred on Thursday during the very windy period and residents are concerned that other masonry may be loose.

I have contacted City Council Buildings Safety and Planning Enforcement staff regarding this, asking that the owners are contacted and that appropriate safety action is taken.

Sunday favourite ...

2011-12-11T06:28:00.001Z

Another of my music selection in the run-up to Christmas (although zero Christmassy about this!) :

Balgay Parish Church's Advent Calendar

2011-12-10T06:42:00.001Z

Balgay Parish Church has a lovely online advent calendar again this year - and the 2011 calendar has pictures, verses and colouring sheets.

You can see the advent calendar at www.balgaychurch.org.uk/advent.

Fraser's Christmas Tunes ...

2011-12-10T06:03:00.000Z

A few of my musical favourites (some Christmassy, some not!) will follow over the next few days - you have been warned!

Blackness Library December Update

2011-12-09T07:23:00.000Z

December update from our local library :

Christmas Closure

The library will be closed from 1pm on Thursday 23^rd December until 10am on Wednesday 4^th January 2012.

Toy Library

Blackness Library has a small toy library which can be accessed by any adult eligible for library membership. There is a small one off fee, costing £1 and for this charge up to 4 toys can be borrowed for a period of 3 weeks. We will have some brand new toys available after the Christmas and New Year holiday.

Computer Tuition

The library is running a 4 week beginners’ computer course in conjunction with the BBC. It is called First Click and it is aimed at people who have no computer skills. It deals with email, internet and online safety. Alternatively, if anyone has some knowledge of computing and would maybe like a taster session on a specific subject - eg internet shopping, word processing etc - then please contact the library.

St John's High School Christmas Concert

2011-12-09T07:21:00.000Z

Reproduced, with thanks to the school :

Community Spirit Action Group

2011-12-08T07:10:00.000Z

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the December meeting of Community Spirit Action Group, that took place at the Mitchell Street Centre.

The meeting took the form of a social event and it was thoroughly enjoyable. What's more, I won a bar of chocolate in the raffle - Janet - later in the evening - enjoyed every bite!

Community Spirit does great work as the residents' group covering Polepark, Pentland, Cleghorn, Ancrum, Tullideph and surrounding areas and you can read more about its work at www.dundeecommunityspirit.org.uk.

New Community Police Officer

2011-12-08T07:02:00.000Z

Yesterday afternoon, at the Ryehill Police Station, I met with PC Jim Mitchell, the new community police officer for the Perth Road area. Jim is a very experienced officer and is a great addition to the team of community police officers in the West End.

We have a superb policing resource in the West End and it was good to speak with Jim today about local issues. You can read more about Jim and his role at http://tinyurl.com/perthroadpolice.

Icy roads and pavements

2011-12-07T12:16:00.000Z

This morning, I have had many calls from constituents about icy roads and pavements across the West End and I have taken these up with the City Council,requesting urgent action.

I'm particularly concerned that access around sheltered housing areas is difficult and the Tullideph Sheltered Lounge has had to cancel today's activities as the path down to the lounge and neighbouring streets' pavements are in a very icy condition. I have asked the City Engineer if Tayside Contracts can give areas like this urgent attention.

The City Engineer advised me at about 11am :

"The priority carriageway routes within Dundee were treated by around 7.30 this morning and then gritting started on the secondary routes. Gritting of the secondary carriageway routes takes approx 3 hours so hopefully (many of these) carriageways will have been treated by now or will be shortly.

The priority footway routes take longer to do at approx 3 to 5 hours depending on routes. Thereafter, the mini ploughs will be going into secondary footway routes throughout Dundee."

Shaftesbury Place - an update

2011-12-07T07:05:00.000Z

Back in August, I met with Shaftesbury Place residents and a member of the City Development Department of the City Council regarding the extremely poor condition of the unadopted Shaftesbury Place's combined road/footway.

Since then, I have been in correspondence with the council's legal officers to ascertain what might be possible by way of getting this extremely poor conditioned road/footway upgraded and adopted by the local authority.

However, another aspect has been the poor condition of the lighting and I am pleased to report some progress with that. The City Engineer has advised me as follows :

"The Street Lighting Partnership is in the process of upgrading the existing Street Lighting at this location due the electrical and structural condition of the existing equipment. The Road Scotland Act 1984 grants legal powers to the Council to install lighting on unadopted roads which the Council feels in its opinion should be lit. There has been street lighting installed in this street for over 40 years, hence the need for the Council to maintain it."

Road traffic notice - Artillery Lane

2011-12-06T14:01:00.000Z

Received today from Dundee 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 carriageway repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Artillery Lane (from Cross Lane to approx. 100 metres south), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Tuesday 13 December 2011 for 4 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

No alternative routes are available

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

Mike P Galloway

Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Upcoming Friends of Wighton events

2011-12-06T13:53:00.000Z

Forthcoming events this week from Friends of Wighton :

Wednesday 7th December, 1.15 to 1.45pm : Lunchtime Recital. The traditional December concert by the wonderful Wighton Singers! Admission free, donations welcome!

Saturday 10th December, 10.30 for 11am : Cappuccino Concert. Alastair McDonald, Singer, Raconteur, Banjo player, TV and recording star! "Alastair has the rare ability of lifting a song directly from the written page & into the hearts & minds of the listening public." (Alistair pictured above right).

Tickets, price £5 (includes coffee and newspapers) from secretary@friendsofwighton.com, 07792 336804 or at the door.

Getting things done ... Pleasance Court - street lighting

2011-12-05T21:35:00.001Z

I have received complaints from residents at Pleasance Court about the poor street lighting behind the housing at Lower Pleasance, due to overgrown trees.

I raised the matter with the City Council and the Forestry Section has responded as follows:

"I am writing to you to keep you up to date regarding your enquiry about trees located in the southern section of Lower Pleasance and the south side of Brewery Lane. As you are aware I had contacted City Development to ascertain if it held any responsibilities here, but it does not. I also contacted the roads maintenance section asking if there was anything it could do to assist with the matter. The department has since inspected the site and decided that due to the difficulty in determining ownership of all the derelict grounds upon which the offending trees are growing, it will - under public safety - issue an order to cut/prune back the offending trees.

I have now received this order of instruction to carry out the pruning works to prune from the lamp posts and prune back the overhanging branches to improve headroom for pedestrians and vehicles.

I will programme this work into our current work schedule. I will arrange for the works to be carried out as soon as reasonably practicable."

A good result.

Day in Edinburgh ...

2011-12-05T21:09:00.001Z

I have been in Edinburgh today at Scottish Government with the "day job."

Despite it being incredibly cold, it was a lovely day - here's a couple of photos!

River Forth from the rail bridge

A real Christmas feel around Princes Street!

Update on the Food Train project

2011-12-04T18:35:00.002Z

Last month, I mentioned the forthcoming launch of the Food Train service in Dundee.

The Food Train is a Scottish charity providing a vital grocery delivery service to older people. This service is run by volunteers and it is recruiting for volunteers to come forward to help across Dundee.

The Social Work Department of Dundee City Council has now given me an update on progress in providing this very useful service :

"The manager has been appointed as is completing his induction. Premises at Market Mews have been secured, and a vehicle purchased.

The recruitment of volunteers in now underway, and discussions are taking place with the Community Planning Partnerships and with Dundee Volunteers Centre. The Food Train Manager is to attend the Older People Strategic Planning Group.

Negotiations are underway with supermarkets. Morrisons has already agreed to support the service.

The service will begin on 23 January 2012. There will be a publicity event to mark the launch of the service.

A communication strategy is in place which will cover the following:

* notifying/updating relevant stakeholders

* service users who are currently on a waiting list for our shopping service will all receive a visit from a member of DCC staff to explain the food train to them

* service users who currently use the DCC shopping service will be given information regarding the food train, and they will be given a choice as to continue with the DCC shopping service or move to the food train

* All relevant DCC staff will be informed/updated on the service

* The Health Partnership will be notified of the service and will promote the service to older people in the community who are not known to Social Work."

I am very pleased at the progress with the Food Train project. It is vital that the City Council supports the ability of the third sector to help elderly and vulnerable people and the Food Train will be a boon to the many local people who will benefit from this shopping service.

X Factor tonight ...

2011-12-03T21:39:00.000Z

In what has been, in my view, a weak series of X Factor (Marcus Collins is best, however!), Amelia Lily gave a superb vocal performance tonight covering 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough':

Russian School's New Year Party!

2011-12-03T18:40:00.003Z

I was delighted to attend the Russian School's New Year Party at Harris Academy later today to give a few words of welcome and see the children perform with such talent and enthusiasm.

The children from the Russian School also made an excellent contribution to the West End Christmas Concert last Thursday.

Here's a short video from today's event :

Blackness Primary School Christmas Fair

2011-12-03T18:27:00.000Z

Today saw the last day of this year's highly successful West End Christmas Week and it was great to see the large turnout of pupils, teachers, parents and local residents at the Blackness Primary School Christmas Fair this morning - see picture (right).

Jack Smith - an appreciation

2011-12-02T21:46:00.000Z

Jack Smith, treasurer of the former Dundee West Liberal Association, and long-time resident of Windsor Terrace on Perth Road, has passed away in his 90th year.

Jack was not just a stalwart of the Liberals in Dundee for many years, he had a successful business career in John Smith (Fruit Importers) Ltd of Dundee, was an officer in the Royal Navy during World War Two, and was a long-standing elder of Meadowside St Paul's Church.

But above all, Jack was a gentleman, with a sharp mind and always good company. I pass on my condolences to his wife Kathleen (Dundee Liberal Democrats' Honorary President) and his sons Walter and Alistair and daughter Alison.