Getting things done - Ninewells Avenue - an update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that, some time ago, we reported that the white lining in the middle of Ninewells Avenue, north of the hospital entrance, is badly faded.

At our request this was to have been repainted at the start of July but could not take place due to adverse weather at the time.

We are pleased to advise that the Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager has now advised us :

"We had joint repair and lining works planned at Ninewells Avenue at the start of July, but unfortunately these works had to be postponed due to adverse weather.

These works have since been reprogrammed and will now take place on the 28th and 29th of August."

Looking down Ninewells Avenue #dundeewestend

A superb photograph with thanks to Mila White Photography :

Getting things done - Ninewells Avenue #dundeewestend

Some time ago, at our request, the white lining in the middle of Ninewells Avenue, south of the hospital entrance, was repainted.

However, the lining in north of the hospital entrance along the street is now very badly faded and we have therefore asked the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership to raise an Order to have this refreshed.

Temporary Traffic Order – Ninewells roundabouts

From the City Council :

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of carriageway resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Ninewells Drive / Ninewells Avenue roundabout, Dundee and Perth Road / Ninewells Avenue roundabout, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 24 July for 5 nights (19:00 to 06:00).

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Perth Road / Glamis Road / Dickson Avenue / Charleston Drive / Arran Drive / South Road / Explorer Road / Apollo Way / Riverside Avenue and Tom Mcdonald Ave / Nablus Ave / Mariner Drive / Apollo Way / Riverside Avenue / Perth Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Temporary Traffic Order - Ninewells Avenue

From the City Council :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating cycle lane improvement works. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 30 May 2022. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Ninewells Avenue between Perth Road and Ninewells Drive.

An alternative route will be available via Perth Road, Glamis Road and Ninewells Avenue.

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

Getting things done - Ninewells Avenue #dundeewestend

A resident recently contacted me to highlight that :

"After the upgrade of pavements in Ninewells Avenue, dog bins have been removed and not replaced. 

We had one foot of Ninewells and one at Perth Road before the roundabout, both are no longer there."

I have therefore asked the City Council to replace these.

Getting things done - Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road #dundeewestend

Residents have contacted me expressing concern at the speed with which some vehicles approach the roundabout at the bottom of Ninewells Avenue that links the street to Perth Road.    Several have suggested that additional SLOW markings should be added at approaches to the roundabout.

I highlighted this to the City Council and the Traffic and Road Safety Team Leader has responded helpfully as follows :

"I will get one of my colleagues to have a look on site at this roundabout and see if installing a couple of SLOW markings down is appropriate.

SLOW markings can be used to warn drivers of a potential hazard and where speeds need to be moderated. We just need to make sure that there is not an over proliferation of them as they lose their effectiveness as drivers would start to ignore them."

Temporary Traffic Order - Ninewells Avenue

From the City Council :

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of new cycle lane and surfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Ninewells Avenue (northbound between Perth Road and Ninewells Drive), Dundee

This notice comes into effect on Monday 10 May 2021 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes are available via Perth Road / Glamis Road / Ninewells Avenue.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - Ninewells Avenue #dundeewestend

I recently have been contacted by residents who, noting recent tree and bush cutting along Perth Road near the WL Gore site, asked if this could be extended to Ninewells Avenue.

As one resident pointed out :

"It would be ideal to see this happen up both sides of Ninewells Avenue. The trees and bushes continue to obscure parts of the path on both sides. Some are very very overgrown."

I contacted environment management at the City Council and have now been updated as follows :

"This is work that our contracts team are carrying out for City Development.   It is for improving the sightlines and general improvements to the Green Circular.

"Unfortunately, there are no plans to extend the work to Ninewells Avenue.   However as you have brought it to our attention we can add this to our routine maintenance later this year."

Pavement - Perth Road at Ninewells Avenue roundabout

Some time ago, I raised with the City Council requests from constituents about improving the footway from Tom McDonald Avenue to the south side of Perth Road, near the roundabout with Ninewells Avenue.   There is no properly made up footway here.

The council gave a commitment to provide a footway but it has not been installed yet and I therefore asked for an assurance it will be done soon.    I am pleased to say that I have now received this update from the council’s City Development Department:

“The Engineers have carried out a site survey for the proposed footway link including drop kerb provision.

This scheme is currently being designed and will then be issued with a works order for construction this calendar year 2014.”

Pedestrian safety at Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road roundabout

At the request of residents, I raised concerns about the lack of safe crossing points at the Ninewells Avenue/Perth Road roundabout.

I raised this with the City Council's Network Management Team and have been advised as follows:

"... there (are) no plans to provide a controlled pedestrian crossing at this location but there (are) plans to provide a new footway link across Ninewells Avenue linking Tom MacDonald Avenue to Perth Road complete with drop kerbs.

Due to the level difference between the footway and carriageway on the north side of Ninewells Avenue some further design will be required to provide an acceptable gradient between the existing footway and carriageway.

I will arrange for the scheme for design completion however due to the current budget expenditure and near the end of financial year 2013/2014 these works may have to be constructed in early 2014/2015 financial year."

On Wave 102 News ...

I was on Wave 102 News yesterday about the issue of the so-called “Invergowrie” roundabout.    You can hear the interview by clicking 'play' below:

Daft name for West End roundabout ...

As reported in last night's "Evening Telegraph", I have criticised the council’s naming of a roundabout “Invergowrie Roundabout” despite the fact that the roundabout is nearly a mile from Invergowrie.

As part of the sponsorship of roundabouts in the city, the roundabout at the south end of Ninewells Avenue at its junction with Perth Road has been named “Invergowrie Roundabout.”   It has been sponsored by leading local company WL Gore.

I am all in favour of sponsorship of Dundee’s roundabouts as this brings in income to keep them in a well-maintained condition but the name of this roundabout is plain daft and misleading.  It is the best part of a mile east of the council boundary with Invergowrie and the name can only serve to confuse visitors.

I suspect the rationale was that the roundabout is near Invergowrie Drive, Dundee, but that street does not join this roundabout.    ‘Clayhills Roundabout’ would have made far more appropriate name – it is very close to Clayhills Grove and Clayhills Drive.   

I have asked the council to change the name to something more appropriate.

Pavements and crossings - Perth Road at Ninewells Avenue roundabout

I have recently received requests from constituents about improving the footway from Tom McDonald Avenue to the south side of Perth Road, and also the possibility of improved crossing facilities here, near the roundabout with Ninewells Avenue.   

As one resident in nearby Clayhills Drive pointed out :

"I live in Clayhills Drive and often walk to the bus stop on the Perth Road, but there simply aren't adequate road crossings, meaning you either have to walk on the road or on the grass, neither of which is ideal."

I raised the matter with the City Council and am pleased that steps to improve the footway access will be provided :

"I can confirm there are no plans to provide a controlled pedestrian crossing point in this area.

The traffic team does however intend to provide a surfaced footway access from Tom MacDonald Avenue to the south side of Perth Road this financial year.   This will link existing footways to the bus stops."

Ninewells Avenue - roundabout now tidied

Earlier this month, I mentioned residents' complaints about the overgrown state of the roundabout at the entrance to Ninewells Hospital on Ninewells Avenue.    I raised their complaints with the City Council.

The City Engineer subsequently advised me :

"The grass on the Ninewells Avenue roundabout at Ninewells Drive was left uncut to allow the daffodils to die back as is standard with all daffodil panels on Dundee City Council maintained grassed areas.   The grass on the roundabout has subsequently been cut and is included in the cyclical grass cutting regime carried out on a 2 to 4 week cycle."

Ninewells Hospital entrance

Residents have complained to me about the state of the roundabout on Ninewells Avenue at the entrance to the hospital.

It is very overgrown and I have asked the City Council to give it a tidy.

Ninewells Avenue - blocked drain issue resolved

I have recently received complaints about foul smelling water flowing down Ninewells Avenue from beside the former Wimberley flats.

Scottish Water advised me earlier this week that :

"I can confirm our leakage detection team has attended and confirmed the source of water is coming from a blocked drain at the flats opposite.  We have now arranged for our squad to attend to clear the blockage."

I am pleased to advise that the drain blockage is now attended to and a clean up of the area has been undertaken.

Another mobile phone mast - Ninewells Avenue

At the City Council's Development Management Committee tonight, I moved refusal of yet another mobile phone mast planning application in the West End - this time at Ninewells Avenue and close to Glamis Gardens (formerly Wimberley Court) and the Hillside area.

I made the point that there is too little co-operation in mast sharing between mobile phone companies.   This application was by O2 and Vodafone, but there are already three Orange/T-Mobile masts off Riverside Drive and another on the water tower in Yarrow Terrace.

My motion to refuse read :

1. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 1 - "Vibrant and Sustainable Communities" of the Dundee Local Plan Review 2005 as the development is likely to impact adversely on the environmental quality enjoyed by local residents by reason of design and layout. There are no material considerations of sufficient strength to justify the granting of planning permission contrary to the policy.

2. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 78 - "Location of Telecommunications Equipment" of the Dundee Local Plan Review 2005 as there is a failure to demonstrate that there are no other viable options in respect of alternative locations. There are no material considerations of sufficient strength to justify the granting of planning permission contrary to the policy. 

3. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 1 of Dundee City Council's adopted Non-Statutory "Planning Policies in Relation to Telecommunications Masts and Other Apparatus" as the applicant has failed to investigate all alternative sites in order to minimise the visual impact of the proposal.

4. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 2 "Residential Areas" of Dundee City Council's adopted Non-Statutory "Planning Policies in Relation to Telecommunications Masts and Other Apparatus" as there is a general presumption against the siting of free standing masts in residential areas unless the mast is sensitively designed and sufficient justification is provided.

Unfortunately, I lost the vote 15-11, so yet another mobile phone mast will be erected in the area.

Temporary Traffic Order - Perth Road

The City Council has advised me as follows :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating carriageway resurfacing works. The Order is expected to be in force for ten days from 22 September 2010. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Perth Road from Ninewells Avenue to Clovis Duveau Drive.

Access for residents will be maintained where possible.

An alternative route will be available via Riverside Avenue, Riverside Drive (except HGVs) and Perth Road. An alternative route for HGVs will be available via A85 Riverside Drive, South Marketgait, West Marketgait, Hawkhill and Perth Road.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Tayside House, Crichton Street, Dundee, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date. If you have any queries please contact the City Council on 433082.

The Council has written to affected residents as follows :

Dear Sir/Madam

Perth Road (Ninewells Avenue to Clovis Duveau Drive) - Carriageway Resurfacing Works

I wish to notify you that work is programmed to commence at the above location on Wednesday 22nd September, 2010 and will last approximately 10 days.

The contractor for the works is Tayside Contracts.

In the interest of public safety, a road closure will be implemented and through traffic will be diverted via Riverside Avenue/ Riverside Drive/ Perth Road and reverse. Through buses will divert via Tom MacDonald Drive/Mariner Drive/Apollo Way and reverse.

No on-street parking will be allowed on the section of carriageway being worked on. Access to
properties with driveways will be maintained, though delays will be experienced. Access to Millbay Gardens, Clovis Duveau Drive and Clayhills Grove will also be maintained. We would, however ask that vehicular traffic movements be kept to a minimum, where possible.

Please note that pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained throughout the works.

Number 42 bus service

Regular readers of www.dundeewestend.com will know that I have raised with the City Council's Head of Transportation and the bus companies the lack of services in Ninewells Avenue. I am pleased to advise that the 42 service is being re-routed from 17th August (as part of a number of bus changes involving Stagecoach Fife services) to include Ninewells Avenue. Service 42 will henceforth operate hourly using Ninewells Avenue.

To quote the bus company :

42 Ninewells Hospital - Cupar This service will operate to a revised timetable maintaining the current hourly frequency, but there will no longer be any school variations. The route will follow the new 77 between the Tay Road Bridge and Ninewells (and vice versa) and will provide an approximate 20 minute headway during the day between City Centre and Ninewells when combined with the 16A and 77 services.