Getting things done - rail noise complaints - action taken #dundeewestend

I am grateful to all residents who contacted me yesterday about the very noisy vegetation works noise by Network Rail that started overnight at about 3am and disturbed households in the Roseangle, Magdalen Yard Road and Bellefield Avenue areas.

I have made a complaint to Network Rail about its poor notification procedure.   It tells me that households within 200 metres of the rail line line work around Riverside Approach were notified in advance.   I have asked for the list of addresses notified (they could not say if letters were posted or hand delivered) but also made the point that given the noise levels 200 metres were thoroughly inadequate.

I have also queried the need to start this work as early as 3am.   I am continuing to pursue the matter on behalf of residents.

Getting things done - rail line at Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

Network Rail recently cut back the vegetation on one side of the rail line at Magdalen Green and residents asked me if the company intended doing this welcome work on the other side of the line.

I contacted Network Rail and have had the following helpful response :

"Thank you for contacting us about the vegetation on our land at Magdalen Green, Dundee.

I can confirm that there are plans to cut back the vegetation on other side of the railway.

I cannot give you an exact date for this, but it is in our programme of work to be done."

Getting things done - rail line at Magdalen Green

Residents have complained to be about litter on and beside the rail line as it passes Magdalen Green.

I raised this with Network Rail and am promised it will be litter picked on 17th April.

Update from Network Rail

I was in touch with Network Rail today following concerns about youths getting onto the rail track yesterday near the rail bridge, just before 6pm.   This resulted in trains being halted and I asked Network Rail to thoroughly investigate any possible insecurity in the boundary fencing at the rail track in the area.

My office was updated late this afternoon as follows :

"The British Transport Police and Network Rail's Track Services have been aware of this incident since yesterday and have been patrolling the area and searching for a hole in the fence since then.     They eventually found a hole in the fence at the Scottish Water compound and the Network Rail maintenance team were due there at 4.30pm today to repair the fence.  Network Rail advised that it was two youths that had got in."

I am grateful to both Network Rail and British Transport Police for their prompt and efficient attention to this.

Network Rail donation to Dundee Museum of Transport @DMofT

This morning, I was delighted to take part in a presentation by Network Rail to Dundee Museum of Transport of a historic rail station sign that originally sat (from the 1950s) on the rail platform of Tay Bridge Station and latterly on the south wall of the station on Riverside Drive.

It is another great addition to the museum and many thanks go to Network Rail for donating it.

Today's presentation

Previous site of the sign on the side of the station

Graffiti on rail line reported

Residents have expressed concern about the extent of graffiti by the rail line - see below - near Riverside Drive, south of the Botanic Garden.

I have reported this to Network Rail requesting its removal.

Getting things done : Graffiti on rail buildings

Residents have complained to me about the very prominent and unsightly graffiti on the rail buildings at Riverside Approach, just as the rail line joins the Tay Rail Bridge.

See photo - right.

I have reported this to Network Rail, requesting that the graffiti be removed as soon as possible.

Campaigning for the West End and across Dundee

Today, I had the pleasure of campaigning with North East Scotland MSP Alison McInnes across the West End, starting with a visit to Dundee rail station, at which Alison and I welcomed potential improvements that would see station refurbishment to the tune of £14 million - see right.

A report to the City Council's Policy and Resources Committee next week identifies that £11.68m of the funding has been secured with the remaining £2.23m being sought from Network Rail.   It is vital that remaining funding is achieved and I will be seeking assurances to achieve that.

After visiting the rail station, Alison and I had an enjoyable time in the West End and she thereafter campaigned in Broughty Ferry, where my colleague Craig Duncan is running a superb local election campaign on behalf of Broughty Ferry residents.

An end in sight for lane restriction on Riverside Drive

Following concerns expressed by constituents that a coned-off lane restriction on the busy Riverside Drive at the site of the Tay Rail Bridge has been in place since late last year, I raised the matter with Dundee City Council to find out when the coned off area will be back to normal traffic.   The cones were put in place during November 2011 following a vehicle hitting the bridge.

The City Council’s Head of Transportation advised me :

“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 have now been advised by the City Engineer :

“The works have now been designed which involves some kerb realignment in the central reserve to ensure that minimum headroom to the bridge is achieved above the carriageway.

Network Rail have just recently completed repairs to the damaged plate girder utilising the traffic management measures in place. 

The kerb realignment works have still to be fully programmed but will start sometime in April for a period of approximately 2 weeks.”

I am pleased that there is an end in sight to the coned-off traffic management at the rail bridge on Riverside Drive.   Its an extremely busy section of road with a large traffic volume so the removal of the coned area and safety works will be welcomed.

Riverside Drive Walkway - an update

Further to my article earlier this month about concerns from residents about the state of the walkway from the railway station to Tesco Riverside and the fact that it is claustrophobic given the concrete barriers that Network Rail has insisted upon being in place as the adjacent roadway runs in parallel to the rail station concourse, I have now received the following useful update from the City Council's Director of City Development:

"We have now met with Network Rail and they have agreed that we can extend the Riverside layby to both the east and the west. Network Rail were concerned with the potential for accidental collision to their structure particularly at the new enlarged west access. We have mitigated their concerns by proposing 'Trief' safety kerbs at the entrance together with some protective bollards.

I have attached a copy of our plan showing our proposals. The remaining area from our proposed layby to Tesco roundabout has now had shrubs cut back providing much improved visibility and our proposals have reduced the length of high concrete containment barrier by 40% which will dramatically increase vehicular / pedestrian activity at the layby. Together these proposals should improve the security and visual perception of the area."

I view this as positive progress towards removing the claustrophobic nature of the walkway.   The plans referred to above can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/riversidewalkway.

Walkway on Riverside Drive

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.

Graffiti clean-up by Network Rail

On Sunday, I highlighted the eyesore of the graffiti mess on railway buildings at the north end of the Tay Rail Bridge, adjacent to Riverside Drive and Riverside Approach.

I am pleased to say that yesterday Network Rail advised me that they would clean off the mess today and tomorrow.

I was interviewed on Radio Tay News about the matter earlier today - click 'play' to listen:

Network Rail graffiti problem

There's a lot of very prominent graffiti on the rail buildings at the north end of the Tay Rail Bridge, adjacent to Riverside Approach/Riverside Drive.

The photo (right) is of part of the south side of the buildings;  the graffiti on the north side is large, unsightly and there's rather a lot of it.    

At my request, the City Council's graffiti team contacted Network Rail some weeks ago asking that this mess be removed.    Network Rail logged the request but the graffiti is still there.

I have been in touch with Network Rail and am assured that their Community Relations Manager for Scotland will look into the matter.   Hopefully we will see this graffiti removed soon.

Rail boundary danger reported

This morning, following concerns from residents, I reported to Network Rail the damage to the fencing at the rail line on Magdalen Green near to the footbridge over the railway at the green's west end. It is a great concern that children, adults and dogs would have no difficulty getting onto the rail line and I have asked Network Rail for urgent repairs.

Network Rail feedback

Following my raising concerns about the state of fencing at the rail line on Riverside Drive in the area south of the Botanic Garden, and the extent of graffiti in the area, I have had the following feedback from Network Rail :

"I write with reference to your enquiry, regarding fencing situated at Riverside Drive, Dundee, and I can confirm that our Maintenance Department have carried out the necessary repairs to ensure that the fence is now safe and fit for purpose.

With regards to your request that the graffiti situated near to the location mentioned above is removed. I would advise that Graffiti is a major problem within the rail industry. Its removal is expensive and time consuming. We fully appreciate the concern and distress that the irresponsible and anti-social behaviour of graffiti artists can cause.

Given the demands on our time and resources in delivering a safe, efficient and reliable railway, Network Rail is compelled to prioritise all work it is required to carry out. With graffiti, we give priority to the removal of anything that is racist or obscene. We remove other graffiti within our ongoing maintenance and repair schedules.

We have passed details of this graffiti to the relevant manager who will take appropriate action. We can not give you a firm date when the graffiti will be removed - please bear with us."

Friday latest ...

At lunchtime today, we held the final planning meeting in advance of the Dundee West Transition Town Group launch public meeting. Our planning meeting today was very productive and we are hoping for a good turnout at the public meeting on Thursday :

Dundee West Transition Town
Public Meeting
Dundee West Church
Thursday 4th March at 7pm

More details at http://transtowndundeewest.blogspot.com.

Later today, I was pleased to be advised by the City Council that, following my raising residents' concerns about a gap in the fencing by the railway at Magdalen Green, the Council has been advised by Network Rail that repairs have now been undertaken.

Dundee Railway Station Latest

As City Councillor for the area of Dundee's railway station throughout my eight years on Dundee City Council, and as the Council's Planning & Transport Convener and Chair of TACTRAN, the regional transport partnership - both for two years - I have long campaigned for improvements to the station. The people of Dundee rightly feel that the station requires a major modernisation.

During my period as TACTRAN Chair, I met with the Regional Director of Network Rail in Scotland and - in raising the need for Dundee station refurbishment - it struck me that intense negotiation was going to be required with Network Rail, and with other partner organisations such as First ScotRail, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government. What is clear, however, is that Dundee has not had a fair share of rail capital funding improvements. My entry on www.dundeewestend.com back in April of this year (see http://tinyurl.com/dundeerail) pointed out :

"Network Rail announced plans for a new roof for Waverley Station in Edinburgh as part of a £130 million overhaul of the station. It comes on top of some £190 million announced last May for Edinburgh Haymarket."

Only yesterday, the Glasgow Evening Times reported in relation to Dalmarnock Station :

"SNP vows £8m station revamp will go ahead." (see http://tinyurl.com/glasgowrailway)

The SNP Government's Strategic Transport Projects Review failed to commit to improving Dundee Station - a very disappointing outcome. We need to see a commitment from government as well as railway industry to improving the station.

Last week, the media highlighted the City Council's latest proposals to improve the station. Click on the headline above to read a report and see the TV news item from STV - "£10 million Dundee rail station plan revealed."

As a former member of the Dundee Waterfront Board, I was surprised to see the figure of £10 million being bandied about. I reproduce below an e-mail I have since sent to Mike Galloway, the City Council's City Development Director. I think we need transarency and answers to the points I have made :

Subject : Rail Station Refurbishment

Mike

I refer to media reports regarding the “Plans for £10m railway station revamp” (The Courier; 24th September – the Press and Journal and STV reported the same cost figure).

Given that your presentation to the Waterfront Board in Q4 2008 on the station study referred to 2 comparative estimated costs of :

OPTION 1 : £33m
OPTION 2 : £34.5m

I am extremely surprised at the £10m figure now being quoted. Even if the cost of commercial office and hotel building was removed from the 2008 figures, the total cost is very substantially in excess of £10 million.

Can you please give me an indication as to what revised proposals consist of, reassurance that the revised much lower intended cost will actually deliver the sort of quality improvement to the station that everyone in the city wishes to see and that the revised proposals are financially robust?

Can you also indicate to me when a report will be given to all elected members through either the City Development or Policy & Resources Committee?

Many thanks.

Best regards
Fraser
Cllr Fraser Macpherson
Councillor for the West End
Liberal Democrat Group Leader - Dundee City Council

Graffiti removal requested

I have recently had lots of graffiti complaints and the mess on the rail bridge pillars on Riverside Drive and surrounding area in the ownership of Network Rail is a prime example of this.

I have this week been in touch with Network Rail requesting a graffiti clean up.

January 2009 Update to West End Community Council

I have today published my January 2009 update to West End Community Council.

Subjects covered include :

* Graffiti – Magdalen Green and surrounding area
* Speed Limit – western end of Perth Road
* Network Rail Mast
* West End Christmas Week De-Brief Meeting
* Ground at High Mill
* Paint on road and pavements in Thomson Street
* Former Homebase site
* Handrail Seafield Road
* Fencing at rail line
* Hawkhill by-pass at Hunter Street junction
* Tay Rope Works Planning Inquiry

The Community Council meeting takes place this Tuesday at 7pm at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall.

You can download a copy of my update by clicking on the headline above.

West End mast complaint

Yesterday, I wrote to Network Rail over their insensitive siting of a railway communications mast on Riverside Drive, near to the Tay Rail Bridge. See photo above.

I am disappointed that Network Rail has not taken heed of the advice of the City Council’s Director of Planning and Transportation to minimise the visual impact of the mast, which has been sited next to the Riverside Drive ambassador route, a principal entry point to the City Centre.

I have written a letter of complaint to Network Rail’s Town Planning Department and I have already received an assurance from the company’s Public Relations Manager in Scotland that my complaint is being investigated.

Back in June of last year, Network Rail’s Town Planning Department wrote to the City Council advising that the company was erecting a number of railway communications masts in the area.

I have been advised that these have permitted development rights and do not require planning permission from the local planning authority, but the company must write to the local authority to see if has any views on the siting of a mast.

The Director of Planning & Transportation’s response to Network Rail had made clear that “the proposal should be sited in such a way as to minimise its visual potential impact when viewed from the road to the south which is a principal entry route to the city.”

In my letter to Network Rail I state :

"Now that the mast has been erected, I write on behalf of constituents who have complained about its visual effect, to express my concern that no heed was taken of the view expressed in the response by the Director of Planning and Transportation, as the mast has been sited in such a way as it had a significantly detrimental effect on the streetscape to the immediate north of the Riverside Drive ambassador route into the City Centre.

"Whilst I appreciate you had permitted development rights to erect this structure, I would have hoped that some cognisance of the feedback from the City Council as the local planning authority would have been taken. … I would be grateful if you could explain why such an approach was not taken."

Given the large areas of ground owned by Network Rail to either side of the rail line running through the City, it would have been easily possible to site the mast well away from the busy ambassador route as well as away from residential areas and it is disappointing that Network Rail has not done so.