Logie Steamie #dundeewestend

With thanks to Shirley Grant and Dundee Memories, the Logie Steamie in the early 1950s.

Proposal for a Logie 20mph speed limit #dundeewestend

Residents will be aware that we have long campaigned for - at the request of residents - a lower speed limit in the Logie estate, where roads are very narrow and there is a large population of elderly people, particularly on the north side of the estate where the sheltered housing is.

Fraser raised this at the council's former City Development Committee some time ago and this was agreed as a future 20mph project.

The City Council will shortly be consulting on a proposed new 20mph which is rather larger than Logie itself.

Please see the proposed public notice which will be promoted shortly as part of the consultation exercise on the proposal.     

The list of affected streets is highlighted as part of this public notice :

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (LOGIE AREA, DUNDEE) (20 MPH ZONE) ORDER 2024

Dundee City Council in exercise of the powers conferred on them by Section 84 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (which Act of 1984 is hereinafter referred to as “the said Act”) and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf and after consultation with the Chief Constable in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9 to the Act hereby make the following Order  : 

1.	This Order may be cited as Dundee City Council (Logie Area, Dundee) (20 mph Zone) Order 2024.
2.	No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any lengths of roads specified in the Schedule to this Order at a speed exceeding 20 miles per hour. DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (LOGIE AREA, DUNDEE) (20 MPH ZONE) ORDER 2024 - SCHEDULE

 LOGIE AREA

1. ASHBANK ROAD (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

2. BANK MILL ROAD for its entire length

 

3. BAXTER STREET for its entire length

 

4. BENVIE GARDENS for its entire length

 

5. BENVIE ROAD for its entire length

 

6. BIRCHWOOD PLACE for its entire length

 

7. BLYTH STREET for its entire length

 

8. BROOK CLOSE for its entire length

 

9. BROOK COURT for its entire length

 

10. BROOK GARDENS for its entire length

 

11. CITY ROAD (BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH MILNBANK ROAD AND PENTLAND AVENUE) for its entire length

 

12. CLEGHORN STREET for its entire length

 

13. DANIEL PLACE for its entire length

 

14. DANIEL STREET for its entire length

 

15. DANIEL TERRACE for its entire length

 

16. EASSON’S ANGLE for its entire length

 

17. EDWARD STREET (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

18. ELM STREET (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

19. FLEUCHAR STREET for its entire length

 

20. FOREST PARK PLACE for its entire length

 

21. FOREST PARK ROAD for its entire length

 

22. FRIARY GARDENS for its entire length

 

23. FYFFE STREET for its entire length

 

24. GLENAGNES GARDENS for its entire length

 

25. GLENAGNES ROAD for its entire length

 

26. GLENAGNES STREET for its entire length

 

27. LARCH STREET (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

28. LAWRENCE STREET (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

29. LIME STREET (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

30. LOGIE AVENUE (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

31. LOGIE GARDENS for its entire length

 

32. MILNBANK GARDENS for its entire length

 

33. MILNBANK ROAD for its entire length

 

34. MITCHELL STREET for its entire length

 

35. PITFOUR STREET for its entire length

 

36. ROSEBERY STREET for its entire length

 

37. ROSEFIELD PLACE for its entire length

 

38. ROSEFIELD STREET (ALL) for their entire lengths

 

39. SCOTT STREET for its entire length

 

40. SYCAMORE PLACE for its entire length

 

41. URQUHART STREET for its entire length

 

42. WALTON STREET for its entire length

Update on Logie home insulation #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that we have long-campaigned for better insulation of the houses in the Logie estate.

Given their historical nature - the oldest council housing scheme in Scotland - and Conservation Area status, they are not suitable for external wall insulation. However, an internal solution (IWI) is the answer.

Back in March, we held a well-attended meeting of over 40 tenants at the Lime Street sheltered lounge at which two senior housing officers updated the audience that the council intended to undertake a trial at one void property with latest internal insulation techniques and, assuming success, move forward with a programme of internal insulation for Logie council tenants to be programmed within the housing Capital Programme.

As reported recently in the Courier and Evening Telegraph, we recently asked for an update from the council and the Head of Housing and Construction Services has advised :

"Similar to the pilot property at Tullideph, we intend to use the next available void in Logie to trial the IWI solution. We are just waiting on a Void becoming available and then this pilot will progress alongside Tullideph*."

It is looking likely that a start on site for the full programme at Logie will be within the 2026/27 financial year - similar to that for insulation improvements Abbotsford/Corso.   We think the tenants at Logie, Corso and Abbotsford have all waited too long for these improvements and we will continue to press the council to programme this is as soon as possible.

* Tullideph - although most of the estate already has external wall insulation, this relates to council properties that could not be undertaken due to owner objections in a block and therefore an internal insulation solution is required for these tenants.

Logie housing scheme - presentation this Saturday! #dundeewestend

 

Improving home warmth in Logie #dundeewestend

As reported in the Courier and Evening Telegraph earlier this week, I have been highlighting that the housing in Logie is now over 100 years old, many tenants and owners highlight how difficult to heat the houses are and there needs to be urgent action by the City Council to improve insulation in the houses in Logie.

I have over the years spoken with many residents about this issue - and at other locations in the West End. In many parts of the city, council housing and ex-council houses have now benefitted from external insulation. However, because of solid wall construction and its historic and conservation area status, Logie cannot have external insulation measures.

The answer is, of course, internal insulation and there were two 'trial' properties for internal insulation in Sycamore Place and Birchwood Place some time ago. The results were positive but I have real concerns that any progress on this has stalled.

I therefore contacted the City Council's Head of Housing and Communities seeking an update and he has responded as follows :

"As you are aware, properties in the Logie estate are of solid wall construction and as such would not be suitable for an external wall insulation solution. The area, however, comes under consideration as being of specific architectural significance in Dundee’s history and heritage.

This means that changing the outward appearance of the flats is unacceptable to city planners which in turn means we have to consider other options such as internal wall or cavity wall insulation to improve the thermal efficiency of the flats and overall buildings.

Proposals are currently being developed along with timescales and funding for this is being allowed for in the housing revenue account capital investment programme but timescales are still not clear as to when this will be delivered during the 5 years of the plan in light of competing priorities which we have also had to factor in.

Once we are clearer, we will of course update you further."

I have responded making very clear my view that there must be progress soon. I have made the point that, of all the council-built properties in my ward, the Logie houses are - unsurprisingly, given their construction - some of the hardest to heat.

This particularly worries me given the number of elderly tenants in the sheltered area north of Logie Avenue.

I have made the point that, in terms of the council's housing capital plan going forward, priority for insulation works should be given to properties that are particularly hard to heat and residents in fuel poverty.

I will, of course keep residents updated on this important issue as I am anxious to see real progress on this, particularly given soaring energy costs.

Road safety in Logie #dundeewestend

At a recent meeting of the council's City Development Committee, future 20 mph zones were discussed.    

On the proposed list of new zones to be implemented in the period to 2027, I was disappointed to note no new proposals for the West End and I highlighted during the meeting that I regularly raise with roads officers residents' requests for further 20 mph zones in residential areas.

The area I have had most requests for is the Logie area where there is a large elderly population given the northern part of the estate is sheltered housing.    Having very narrow streets, Logie meets the criteria for a 20 mph zone so, after the meeting, I wrote to officers to again press the case for Logie to be considered in the future.

I have had a positive response from the Senior Engineer – Traffic & Road Safety - at the City Council as follows :

"With regard to your concerns raised, please be assured that the council is committed to logging and assessing all requests for 20 mph limits and although this year's Committee Report did not have the Logie area listed in the five-year programme, this list is not in a priority order and sites can and will be added.

I can confirm that the Logie estate area will be added to the 20 mph five-year programme list in next year's annual Road Safety Committee Report."

This is good news and I will continue to raise other parts of the West End where residents make requests for lower speed limits in highly residential areas.

Logie : Scotland’s First Council House Scheme - an online event #dundeewestend

The Friends of Dundee City Archives are doing an online talk via Zoom about the history of the Logie housing scheme on Thursday 3rd June at 1pm.

Sarah Aitken, Assistant Archivist at Dundee City Archives, will speak about Dundee's pioneering Council Housing Scheme at Logie - the first of its kind in Scotland.

Find out why the site at Logie was chosen, why Dundee was the first council to build homes and who were the first people to live in those homes.

You can book your attendance here.

Logie area - house insulation update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that, some time ago, I highlighted a site visit I had undertaken to two then void council properties in the Logie area to view the trial at internal insulation the council had undertaken to ensure the council properties in Logie have better insulation and all properties meet the Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Standard (EESSH) target.

As the tenants are aware, as the oldest council estate in Scotland and its Conservation status, external insulation is not possible and an internal solution is the way of ensuring warm homes into the future.

The work in the trial properties was very impressive. However, due to the COVID-19 health emergency, progress with this across Logie has been delayed so I asked the City Council for an update.

The Head of Housing and Communities has now advised as follows :

"Thank you for your recent enquiry on progress with EESSH . I can confirm the latest compliance figure is 86.05% (as of March 2021). This figure will be updated prior to our Social Housing Charter return to the Scottish Housing Regulator in May and with further EPCs lodged which have been delayed due to the Pandemic the figure should increase to nearer 90%.

Regarding the Logie estate it is still our plan to provide internal wall insulation to tenanted houses on this estate and we are looking at combining with other programmes to provide a more comprehensive solution however we are at the early stages of scoping this out.

COVID-19 has significantly delayed our insulation programme and we are only able to start our 2019/20 Programme at the end of April and realistically this will have a knock-on effect on programmes further down the line including Logie and Corso Street.

We will be in touch regarding further developments on these projects when we have more detail."

Happy 100th birthday Logie!

Today marks the centenary of the official opening of the Logie scheme in the West End - happy 100th Logie!

We had planned to have an event tonight in the Lime Street sheltered lounge with local residents to mark this significant milestone and there was to be an exhibition at Blackness Library and in the Central Library along with talks by the Dundee City Archives.

Sadly, none of this is now possible at this time because of the COVID-19 health emergency but we do intend to run events like this at a later date as it is important to recognise the importance of Logie, as Scotland's first council housing scheme, in the history of the provision of social housing.

Meantime, you can read one of the excellent articles by the Dundee City Archives' blog here - all about the story of the building of Logie, with links to other articles.

House insulation - Logie area - an update #dundeewestend

As residents are aware, I have long campaigned for insulation improvements for the Logie area.  

Logie's properties are a hundred years old next year and, given the conservation status of the estate, cannot benefit from external wall insulation.   

I have therefore been pressing the council to progress internal insulation improvements and discussed this recently with Logie tenants at a residents' meeting I organised at the Lime Street sheltered lounge.

I recently asked the council's Director of Neighbourhood Services for an update on progress and have received the following helpful reply :

"I can confirm that we have completed two pilot installations in the Logie estate and that these have been successful in raising the Energy Efficiency levels to a rating which ensures EESSH* compliance. 

Overall, prior to this pilot, Logie has some 85 out of 120 houses which are compliant with the EESSH standard. 

It is our intention to develop a programme of IWI installation for this estate for the 2021/22 Financial year subject to available resource. This project will benefit tenants only as it is not our intention given the nature of the works involved to offer to owner occupiers.  I can confirm that it would be all (council owned) properties regardless of EESSH 1 compliance.   We are looking ahead towards complying with EESSH 2.

In the meantime we will look at houses in the estate that are not compliant with EESSH at present to establish whether there are short term measures we can carry out in the interim that ensure EESSH compliance until the IWI programme is carried out (this may be as simple as supplying Energy Efficiency Light bulbs).

In terms of other stock that has missed out on the EWI programme the Housing Asset Management Unit are currently developing options for these properties one of which is IWI to individual tenants properties . They will keep you updated on progress with these discussions and any outcomes."

* EESSH = Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

Getting things done : Logie improvements

Last year, I highlighted the poor condition of the east footway of Ashbank Road and had been promised reconstruction of the pavement would take place.

I am therefore pleased to see the necessary work started before Christmas :

I also asked for improvements to the north pavement of nearby Logie Avenue at the lock-ups and outside the lock-ups themselves and this work was also undertaken just before the festive season :

Good news for ground floor Logie tenants

I am pleased to report that Dundee City Council recently made a bid to the Scottish Government for additional funding for energy efficiency measures - the Capital Stimulus Programme.    As recently discussed at the council's Neighbourhood Services Committee, the bid was successful and the funding will be used to carry out a programme of underfloor insulation for ground floor council tenants in the Logie area, together with some other areas.

The properties that will achieve the greatest benefit from this type of work are those with particularly deep under-floor areas and tenants should notice a marked improvement in their warmth and comfort after the insulation has been installed.  There is a variation in the depth between different properties in the same street and, for this reason, there will be some sample underfloor surveys before the council can determine the flats that need the work and identify those with sufficient underfloor areas to allow the contractor to work safely.  

The work itself entails applying rolled insulation material to the underside of the floor and keeping it in place with nets that are fixed to the underside of the floor joists.     Some flats already have hatches which allow access to the underbuilding but, for those that do not and where there is a deep underbuilding, new hatches will need to be cut to allow the work to proceed.

It is likely that the work will start early in the new year but identified properties were advised over the weekend of the possibility of a survey before Christmas. 

I asked the council's Service Manager Housing about how owner-occupiers can also be helped and he advises :   "This scheme is for tenants only but owners can approach Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to determine whether they are eligible for free insulation/heating measures (this is means tested)."

Do please contact me if you have any queries - my hone number is 459378.

Logie and Blackness areas walkabout

Yesterday, along with the Assistant Area Housing Manager and the local Housing Officer, I had a useful walkabout round the Logie and Blackness areas to discuss a number of local issues.

These include tackling the flooding issue on Logie Avenue at the lock-ups (see below), some missing or damaged street signs including the damaged one in Glenagnes Road at its junction with Blackness Road (see right) and fly-tipping at an empty property in Blackness Road.

The Neighbourhood Services Department (the new department from 1st January that covers both Housing and Environment) is ensuring that the Logie Avenue flooding issue is tackled both in terms of having the leak repaired permanently but also to ensure the pavement and lock-up area is given a better surface.

I have followed up non-housing issues with the appropriate departments to ensure all matters are properly resolved.

Residents' meetings

Over the past couple of days, I have had three very positive meetings with local residents – with residents from the Tullideph area (Tuesday afternoon), Logie area (Wednesday morning) and the Corso/Abbotsford area (Wednesday afternoon).

The main purpose of these was for council officers to update tenants about the current housing rents consultation and also to give attendees details of the current consultation on 20mph speed limits in residential areas.

I am very grateful to all residents who attended and to the council officers who did such a good job presenting to the residents and answering questions.

Logie railings - site visit

Yesterday, along with two senior representatives from the City Council's Neighbourhood Services Department (Housing) and the Community Payback Manager, I participated in a useful site visit to look at progress the Community Payback Team has made in repainting the garden railings on the non-sheltered side of the Logie estate.

Back in April at a residents' meeting I chaired, we discussed with residents the idea of asking Community Payback to (with owners' consent) paint the railings of owned properties on the south side of the estate.   As many of the railings were badly needing painted, this was welcomed by residents and I have to say that Community Payback has done an excellent job thus far with the painting - a couple of photos below :

Thus far, the railings right down Logie Avenue have been painted and the team are now in Elm Street working down the side streets eastwards.   It is hoped to make some more progress up to when winter weather sets in, then complete the job in the spring.

Community Payback can repaint the railings with owners' permission but is not in a position to repair them.   However, I have had discussions with the Dundee Historic Environmental Trust who can consider applications for grant funding for repairs from owners on an individual basis.   E-mail me at logie@frasermacpherson.org.uk or call me on 459378 for more information.

Speeding concerns - Logie Avenue

Several residents have recently expressed concern about the speed of a minority of drivers in the Logie area, particularly running through the main street - Logie Avenue.

There are concerns that some drivers from outwith the area are using Logie Avenue as a short cut and I asked the council's Head of Transportation for a speed/safety survey to be carried out, which he has kindly agreed to.

Given the large number of elderly people in the area, particularly in the sheltered housing part of Logie, it is important that vehicle speeds are kept to a minimum.

Logie area - street light replacement

A number of constituents in Logie have contacted me expressing their concerns about the replacement street lighting in parts of the local area.

I raised the concerns with the City Council's Street Lighting Partnership Manager, who advises :

"I can confirm that we are currently in the process of replacing some of the lighting columns in the Logie area as part of our agreed capital replacement programme. The existing concrete columns in that area are now in the region of 50 years old and are beyond their expected service life and despite appearing to be robust from the outside are no longer serviceable. Their replacement is with our standard residential column and lantern arrangement which provides the best economical and lighting output.

Street lighting is not a planning issue so there is no requirement to consult with members of the public when replacing existing lighting schemes and indeed it is not standard practice to do so. I am sure you will appreciate that with 25,000 lights to maintain in the city this would be an enormous strain on resources should we have to consult every time we need to replace a column and is simply not possible.

Historically, columns were placed at the front edge of a footpath (in the days of fewer vehicles) but over the years experience has shown that it is advisable to position them at the rear of the footpath in order to afford them some protection from accidental damage due to vehicles whilst at the same time maximising the available footpath width for wheelchairs and buggies which need to pass. Obviously this is dependent on suitable planting depth being available below ground and hence why we sometimes have to deviate from this rule.

I appreciate that the result of this is that it does bring the light source closer to properties and that this can be a concern for some (and yet is welcomed by others). I would state however that the new modern optics contained within the street light are far better at controlling the output of light to where it is needed (i.e. onto the footpaths and carriageway) and away from properties than those previously installed. Nonetheless, it can still be an issue for some residents and in those cases we would always seek to find a compromise position (e.g. the installation of a shield if necessary) with the householder. 

We are always happy to discuss such issues and assist where we can."

Logie walkabout

Yesterday, along with the local Housing Officer and two representatives from the City Council's Environment Department, I took part in a walkabout around the Logie area.

The six-monthly walkabouts take place in a number of areas (Pentland and Blackness are other examples) and are a useful way to look at local issues and problems and ensure these are taken up and resolved.

A number of issues were raised - including the need to have this damaged fence in Glenagnes Street (see above right) repaired.      

Logie residents' meeting

Last night, I had the pleasure of chairing a well-attended meeting of residents in the Logie Estate that took place at the Lime Street Sheltered Lounge.

I am most grateful to the Housing Strategy Manager from the Housing Department of the City Council who took part and we updated residents about the issue of improving the railings across Logie (and there’s now a way forward to get them painted, where required) and the lock-ups in Glenagnes Street following the recent council decision about these and other council-owned lock-ups across the city.

We had a good discussion about a number of other issues including bin and recycling collections and speed limits in the area.

Tuesday activities

This morning, I had the pleasure of supporting Shelter Scotland's awareness raising campaign - Illegal Evictions: Know Your Rights, run with the support of Police Scotland, Crimestoppers and the Scottish Association of Landlords.

Shelter is running this excellent campaign to ensure that tenants and landlords know their rights and responsibilities and that illegally evicting a tenant is a criminal offence.   I am pictured below at the Dundee University Students' Association with Shelter and Police Scotland representatives:

This afternoon, I had a very useful meeting with Housing Department officers and a representative of Community Payback about improving the Logie Estate's railings.   We are confident of getting many of the railings desperately needing repainted  attended to over time in the coming months where the support of owners is agreed.

This evening, I attended West End Community Council, where there was an interesting presentation from the Chair of the West End Local Community Planning Partnership (LCPP) and the West End's Communities Officer about the LCPP's work in the West End.     As always, there was a good discussion about a variety of local issues as well as an update from Police Scotland.