Getting things done - Saggar Street - an update #dundeewestend

Last month, we highlighted that we had received further concerns from residents about the deteriorating condition of the roadway of Saggar Street - Michael is pictured near the junction with Pentland Crescent.

At the time we asked the roads maintenance partnership to undertake repairs, but, given its really poor state, also asked about the possibility of resurfacing the street which we feel badly needs done.

We have now received the following feedback from the roads maintenance partnership :

"Thank you for bringing the pothole issues on Saggar Street to our attention.       We understand the inconvenience and potential hazards these defects can cause.

We would like to inform you that Dundee City Council is actively addressing road maintenance issues through the Road Asset Management Plan.   This plan prioritises the repair and maintenance of road defects, including potholes, to ensure the safety and reliability of our road network.

Our team has scheduled an inspection of Saggar Street, and necessary repairs will be carried out."

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

We recently received further concerns from residents about the deteriorating condition of the roadway of Saggar Street. 

We therefore asked the roads maintenance partnership to undertake repairs, but, given its really poor state, have also asked about the possibility of resurfacing the street which we feel badly needs done.

Getting things done - Colinton Place and Saggar Street #dundeewestend

We have recently had complaints about a number of potholes in Colinton Place and Saggar Street.

We therefore reported these to the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership to ensure these are repaired and received the following helpful response :

"Thank you for your report.   Repairs have been ordered."

Getting things done - Pentland Avenue and Saggar Street #dundeewestend

Fraser is pictured at the wall at the junction of Pentland Avenue and Saggar Street.

Unfortunately it has been damaged - residents advised us by a vehicle - and requires repair.

We therefore raised this with the housing repairs manager at Dundee City Council and have now received confirmation that an Order has been raised for repairs.

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

I have recently received complaints from residents about the deteriorating state of parts of the road surface of Saggar Street.

I have therefore raised this with the City Council seeking repairs to the road. 

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

I recently received complaints about potholes in Saggar Street at the bottom near the junction with City Road and half way up  the Saggar Street hill.

I reported these to the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and the matter was very promptly tackled - response below :

"Bailie Macpherson

Thank you for your email. An order has already been raised for pothole repairs to be carried out and these will be done in the near future if not already done."

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

Following complaints from residents about the poor road surface in parts of Saggar Street some weeks ago, the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership promised a thorough annual inspection and any resultant repairs was due in the near future.

I have since been advised :

"The annual inspection of Saggar Street will take place late June/early July.

However an order has been raised for pothole repairs to be done until the inspection takes place and the planer patching is identified."

Additionally, at the request of residents, I asked the council to consider the provision of "yellow box" markings on City Road at the Saggar Street junction, given the difficulties drivers have exiting Saggar Street at rush hour.

The council's Team Leader in the Network Management Team has updated me as follows and I welcome the promised assessment :

"My initial assessment and observations are that the City Road junction with Saggar Street which is a no through road would not require a Yellow Box Junction markings.

Not all junctions are suitable for the box markings and a traffic survey should be carried out to determine the extent of the problem. We will arrange for this junction to be assessed for the suitability.

Factors which influence a decision to provide box markings are the junction should preferably though not necessarily be controlled by signals. This would cause more delays with the difference in flows and the close proximity of the City Road /Tullideph signalised junction."

Getting things done - Saggar Street #dundeewestend

At the most recent meeting of the Community Spirit Action Group, the residents' group for the north of the West End Ward, concern was expressed at the damage to the council owned wall at the bottom of Saggar Street - see below :

I raised this with the City Council and have now been updated as follows by the Tenancy and Estates Team Leader:

"To help get this fixed, I asked one of the Tenancy Assistants to investigate and report back which he has now done. On inspection, he agreed the walls needs repaired, and in the interim, did what he could to make it safe. 

In addition, he has logged a job for the wall to be rebuilt, the coping stone replaced and any rubble to be removed. The target date for the work is 27th June, but he has asked the Repairs Manager to assign the work as soon as possible."

Getting things done - Saggar Street

I recently received complaints from residents about potholes in the roadway of Saggar Street - see below :

I raised this with the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and have now been advised by the department that "there is a CAT 3 line in to fill three potholes in this area."

Saggar Street - "No Through Road" sign - an update

Some time ago, I highlighted residents' concerns that there was a lack of No Through Road signage at the bottom of Saggar Street and that I had raised this with the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership.

In response, I was advised :

"A dead end "T" sign will be incorporated into new street name plates at the Saggar Street/City Road junction."

I am pleased to note that signs are now erected on both sides of the street at its junction with City Road - see right :

Saggar Street - grass areas

I recently had complaints from residents that the grass areas in front of the flats on the south side of Saggar Street are needing reinstatement.

See photo below of me at the location :

I contacted the City Council about it and have been advised that the City Development Department has requested that its lighting contractor (who recently installed the new street lights) undertake reinstatement work.

Saggar Street - "No Through Road" sign

Residents have complained to me that there is no “T junction” signage in Saggar Street and some visitors' vehicles go up the hill only to meet an unexpected dead end.    

I raised this with the City Council and am pleased with the positive response :

"A dead end "T" sign will be incorporated into new street name plates at the Saggar Street/City Road junction. 

There's no specific timescale for this being done but the new signs will be included in the next street name plate order to be prepared (probably early January) and erected approximately six to eight weeks thereafter."

Saggar Street paths - an update

I recently raised with the City Council residents' concerns at uneven paths in Saggar Street - see an example - right :

The area's Housing Officer has now advised me :

"I visited addresses ... and will instruct slabs to be uplifted and levelled off."

Getting things done - Saggar Street

I have recently, on behalf of residents, raised with the City Council's Housing Department the poor condition of several paving slabs resulting in trip hazards outside some of the flats in Saggar Street - see below :

Utility Box - Colinton Place/Saggar Street

Last month I mentioned that, following the walkabout round the Pentland area with council officers, I had reported paint vandalism to a utility box at Colinton Place/Saggar Street to British Telecom - see right.

I am pleased to now report that BT has confirmed it will have this issue resolved.

Change to Domestic Refuse Collection System : Saggar Street

I have, over a long period of time, pointed out to the council's Environment Department residents' complaints that the wheelie bin system in Saggar Street did not work well, due to storage problems and the hilly nature of the street that makes moving bins a challenge for residents.

I am therefore pleased to have been advised that there will be a change to the bin collection system for numbers 2-10 (even) and 5-11 (odd) to a communal bin system. 

Residents have been advised:

The map referred to above is below (with eurobin positions marked by red dots):

Getting this done ... lining works across the West End

On behalf of constituents, I recently raised the need to have white lining renewed at several locations across the West End:

* Junction of Saggar Street with City Road :   The council has responded - "The Road Maintenance Partnership inspector has advised that these junction lines were re-done 17-1-13."

* Give way lines at the junction of Perth Road at Riverside Drive (north of the Botanic Garden) :   The council has now advised - "For information, the Road Maintenance Partnership inspector has advised that these give way lines on Perth Road at the junction of Riverside Drive have now been re-painted."

* Junction lining of both Abbotsford Street and Abbotsford Place with Peddie Street :    The council has responded - "The Road Maintenance Partnership inspector has included the worn junction lining in Abbotsford Place and Street in the next lining order and this will be done weather permitting as soon as resources are available and previously identified priorities have been dealt with."

I also queried with the City Council's Road Maintenance Partnership why the promised yellow box relining at the junction of Logie Street with City Road has still not been carried out.     The response is as follows and hopefully means this lengthy delay in having the yellow box repainted is coming to an end:

"The proposed patching to be done at the City Road/ Logie Street was further delayed because of planned works on Ancrum Road by Scottish Water. These works have now been carried out and the carriageway patching and subsequent re-lining of these junctions, is provisionally programmed for early February 2013."

Getting things done ... Saggar Street, Benvie Road, City Road and Logie Street

I have had complaints from residents about very worn white junction and other road lining in Logie Street, City Road, the bottom of Benvie Road and at the bottom of Saggar Street - the latter situation is pictured - right.

I have asked that the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership repaints these.

Progress on controlled entry systems

I reported last November that the City Council intended using legislation under the Tenement (Scotland) Act 2004 to ballot owners in blocks of flats where there is a mix of owner occupiers and council tenants to see if a majority will agree to the installation of controlled entry systems.

This is to ensure that the previous problem of just one unco-operative owner in, say, a block of eight flats stopping the majority wish for a controlled entry system that greatly helps home security.

I'm pleased, therefore, to be advised by the City Council that the first of these ballots took place recently and the outcome was a positive vote in favour of secure entry in all the West End Ward properties that were in the first phase of balloting.    This will mean new controlled entry systems in various blocks in Blackness Road, Polepark Road and a block in Saggar Street, which is good news.