Getting things done - Scott Street/Pentland Avenue #dundeewestend

Following residents reporting the graffiti to us at the Scott Street to Pentland Avenue steps, we raised this with environment management at the council to ensure it was power-washed off.

Getting things done - Scott Street #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who contacted us about a trip hazard at the east end of Scott Street.

Directly outside the back door of Queen Anne pub, there was a metal cover missing from the ground.

We reported this to the City Council's roads maintenance partnership asking that the appropriate utility company was contacted to have a new cover fitted.

We are pleased to say we received a prompt response as follows :

"This missing cover has been temporarily made safe and has been reported to Scottish Water."

Balgay Park entrance at Scott Street - and Sycamore Place update #dundeewestend

The state of the road surface within the “triangle” at the Scott Street entrance to Balgay Park has unfortunately further deteriorated - see photo.

We are pleased to advise that the City Council has updated us that repairs to the road surface here are to take place and the Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager has told us that this work should be taking place next week :

"These works are currently scheduled to be undertaken week commencing 4th March."

Residents will also recall that we were pleased to have been informed last year that resurfacing of the really poor road surface in nearby Sycamore Place between Logie Avenue and Balgay Road was planned for 2023/24.

We recently queried this as the financial year is close to an end and the Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager responded as follows :

"Sycamore Place has unfortunately slipped into next financial year due to delays associated with winter maintenance and the various storm events we have experienced since October (9 total)."

We have replied making clear we would wish to see the resurfacing done as early in the new financial year as possible.

Getting things done - Glenagnes Road and Scott Street #dundeewestend

Following residents mentioning to us that the foliage at the junction of of Glenagnes Road and Scott Street was very overgrown and reducing the width of the pavement/path there (see photo), we asked Home Group who has responsibility here to have this cut back.

We thereafter received this update from Home Group’s Operations Manager :

“Our maintenance surveyor attended the site several times and can advise the whole of Glenagnes Road and Scott St have all been faced off back beyond trip fence.”

The foliage had also been encroaching onto some back gardens in Logie Gardens and we were assured this was also attended to.

Getting things done - Scott Street #dundeewestend

We recently received complaints from residents about the extent of graffiti on the glass recycling boxes at the east end of Scott Street - see photo.

We therefore asked the City Council's rapid response team to remove the graffiti and are pleased that this was very promptly cleaned off.

Heart Space - free offer! #dundeewestend

Heart Space Yoga and Bodyworks in Scott Street is now offering free community classes - indeed a quarter of its full timetable is free of charge.

This is a very generous offer and details are below and you book classes at www.heart-space.yoga/book :

Temporary Traffic Order - Scott Street

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 Scottish Water ironwork repairs being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Scott Street (between Ashbank Road and Glenagnes Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 18 April 2022 for one day.

 

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Glenagnes Road / Blackness Road / Balgay Road / Pentland Avenue.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Getting things done - Steps from Pentland Avenue to Scott Street #dundeewestend

As residents will be aware, I have long campaigned for decent lighting at the steps from from Pentland Avenue to Scott Street.

The steps are well-used and often by elderly people and are dark at night - particularly in the winter months.

People have had to rely on what light reaches the area from the adjacent roads - a most unsatisfactory situation.

It has proved technically challenging to provide street lighting here but I am delighted at the final outcome.

The Street Lighting Partnership Manager has now advised me as follows :

"We have finally been able to complete the installation of lighting on the steps at Scott Street. I know that this has been a very difficult and complex installation for the team but they have finally managed to achieve it.

I hope that they will provide some assistance to the community in that area in the hours of darkness and I am confident that they will make a considerable difference."

Lighting issue - steps from Scott Street to Pentland Avenue #dundeewestend

Over the years, I have had numerous requests for better lighting at the steps from Pentland Avenue down to Scott Street.

This has always proved a difficult site to provide a solution at as this earlier response from the Street Lighting Partnership Manager indicated :

“I have looked at several option for lighting these steps over the past year or so and I cannot find a suitable option for these steps. Having looked at solar powered light for the steps and subsequent talks with manufacturers, they all come to the same conclusion (that) there is insufficient sun light during the winter months to sustain power for the light at this latitude.

The cost of excavating and powering a light by the normal means on the steps would run into the thousands of pounds, providing I can get a way leave to track in to the adjacent ground."

However, I have had more requests from residents recently to see if a solution can be found and went back to the street lighting team about this.

I was advised by the Street Lighting Partnership Manager at the end of last week as follows :

"We did change the lantern on the column at the bottom of the steps in 2017 in order to try and throw some light onto the steps but the practicalities of installing lighting in the vicinity are very difficult.

Let me discuss with colleagues and I will come back to you. 

In the meantime, I wonder if the trees at the top need cutting back again? I recall they were a problem before."

I have raised the need to thin tree foliage with environment services at the council and will keep residents update on the lighting issue here.

Getting things done - Scott Street and Pentland #dundeewestend

Over a prolonged period, I have received complaints about the lack of maintenance of the slopes at the west end of Scott Street and on Pentland Avenue - see below :

Scott Street - west end

Pentland Avenue

I have raised this on numerous occasions with the City Council and the latest update I have received is from the new area environment manager and I am grateful for his helpful response and trust we will now see improvements to the situation here and also to the general grass maintenance of the Pentland area into the future :

"First of all regarding the ground at the top of Scott Street. Due to the steepness of the slope we do not cut the grass as we do not have anything capable that would manage and be legal under Health & Safety regulations. Part of it gets cut with a tractor mounted flail which we hire in, but it can only go so far in from the street, the rest was left to naturalise, but one person's naturalisation can be another person's mess. 

This could be something that can be looked at over the winter period to see if we can improve the appearance of the area and I will run a few ideas past our projects team.

The bankings at Pentland Avenue have a similar problem but approached in a different way. We have one machine that can manage to cut the grass on these bankings but it works City Wide. When I made enquiries I discovered that it was in the workshop and will be unlikely to be back in service this week. Depending where they are on their cycle, once it is repaired they should get to Pentland Avenue in no more than a couple of weeks.

I have discovered since taking on the West End that the whole Pentland/Saggar Street area is "challenging" due to the terrain. Our service revisions carried out at this time do not seem to have done us any favours in respect of this area. There is not a great deal we can do now that we are well into the grass cutting season and it would be difficult to change things, but I have already asked our quality and development section look at the grass cutting regimes in this area as I do not want to see the same level of complaints next year as I have had this year."

Getting things done - Scott Street and Pentland Avenue #dundeewestend

Yesterday afternoon, I had a really useful site visit with council environment officers regarding the overgrown and unsightly sloped areas in Pentland Avenue and Scott Street - at the west end of each :

West end of Scott Street

Slope in Pentland Avenue

It was agreed at the site visit that the overgrown area in Scott Street will be strimmed back in the near future.

With regard to Pentland Avenue's slope which is a real challenge to maintain given its significant gradient, it has been agreed to plant lupins or a similar plant next season which will improve the look of the area.

Open planned maintenance - Scott Street and Pentland #dundeewestend

I have received complaints about the frequency of maintenance of areas at Scott Street and Pentland - see photos below :

Scott Street - west end

Pentland

I have asked the council's Neighbourhood Services to urgently attend to this.

Temporary Traffic Order - Fleuchar Street, Blinshall Street and Scott Street

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 works for the SSE cable renewal scheme.  The Order is expected to be in force for 20 weeks from 6 March 2017.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (1) Fleuchar Street from Eassons Angle to Blyth Street, (2) Blinshall Street from Lochee Road to Douglas Street and (3) Scott Street from City Road to Glenagnes Road.

Pedestrian access and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Eassons Angle, Milnbank Road and City Road, (2) Douglas Street, Smellies Lane and Lochee Road and (3) City Road, Milnbank Road, Rosefield Street and Glenagnes Road.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee  DD1 1LS and if you have any queries please contact 433082.

Balgay Road/Scott Street pavement improvements

Having, on behalf of residents, raised the poor condition of pavements along Balgay Road and in the short west part of Scott Street west of Balgay Road (towards the Balgay Park entrance) in the past, I am pleased to see the long-awaited resurfacing now being completed.

Here's a plan of the works kindly supplied to me by Tayside Contracts and a couple of photos of the works :

Slippy leaves tackled

A number of residents have contacted me recently regarding slippy leaves on pavements in parts of the West End.

I am grateful to the council's Neighbourhood Services for promptly sweeping up leaves at the locations I have highlighted.

A recent example is at the steps from Scott Street to Pentland Avenue (see right) and also in sheltered housing areas such as Abbotsford Place.

Busy Wednesday!

Earlier today I had the pleasure of visiting Heart Space Yoga and Bodyworks in Scott Street to see round the impressive facilities and meet Ian Alexander and Finlay Wilson who have, over the past five years, built up services aiming to improve quality of life by increasing physical activity levels and offering numerous services for well-being.

Here's a couple of photographs from my visit :

Later, I attended the latest meeting of the Jericho House support group, a regular meeting at which a number of us discuss fundraising and other projects to support this important facility in the West End Ward, that assists those recovering from alcoholism.   

We concentrated our discussion of final arrangements for the impending Open Day at Jericho House aimed at local organisations working in the alcohol and addiction fields, to showcase the work of Jericho House.  

This evening, I attended the latest Harris Academy Parent Council, which commenced with another joint meeting with Menzieshill High School Parent Council.    The working together of the two school communities in coming together is impressive and there was very positive discussion over a number of subjects - visits to the new school building for pupil year groups, parents and the wider community and school uniform being just two.

Temporary Traffic Order - Fleuchar Street, Blinshall Street & Scott Street

Further to my earlier update, I am now advised by Dundee 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 SSE cable renewal works.  The Order is expected to be in force for twenty weeks from 4 April 2016.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (1) Fleuchar Street between Eassons Angle and Blyth Street, (2) Blinshall Street between Lochee Road and Douglas Street and (3) Scott Street between City Road and Glenagnes Road.

Pedestrian access and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible.  All closures will run concurrently.

An alternative route will be available via (1) Eassons Angle, Milnbank Road and City Road, (2) Douglas Street, Smellies Lane and Lochee Road and (3) City Road, Milnbank Road, Rosefield Street and Glenagnes Road.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee  DD1 1LS, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date.  If you have any queries please contact 433082.

Lighting issue - steps from Scott Street to Pentland Avenue - an update

I have previously highlighted residents’ requests for proper lighting on the steps from Scott Street to Pentland Avenue - see below:

The steps are well-used and the adjacent street lighting only gives limited coverage.    Providing traditional lighting would be very costly given the layout and slope and so the council’s Street Lighting Partnership agreed to my request to investigate the viability of solar lighting.

I recently asked for an update from the Street Lighting Partnership, who now advise :

“I have looked at several option for lighting these steps over the past year or so and I cannot find a suitable option for these steps.     Having looked at solar powered light for the steps and subsequent talks with manufacturers, they all come to the same conclusion (that) there is insufficient sun light during the winter months to sustain power for the light at this latitude.

The cost of excavating and powering a light by the normal means on the steps would run into the thousands of pounds, providing I can get a way leave to track in to the adjacent ground. 

Until I can find an alternative means to power a light or a manufacturer develops a more efficient means of using alternative energy I can not see a way forward with this queries (but) I will continue to pursue a solution for lighting for these steps.    Until then if your constituents do not wish to use the steps in the dark there is a lit alternative route via Scott Street to Pentland Avenue.”

I will continue to pursue this matter as having better lighting on the steps would greatly assist residents using them at night.

Getting things done - Pentland Avenue and Scott Street

Residents have mentioned to me the overgrown trees that sit at the far west end of Scott Street are now so high that they protrude across the south pavement of Pentland Avenue.

I took at this concern with the City Council and the Assistant Forestry Officer has updated me as follows :

"I have inspected the trees along the south side of Pentland Ave as per your constituents' enquiry.  

There are a number of trees and other vegetation that is beginning to obstruct headroom and encroach the footway for pedestrians, (Scott street junction to City Road junction). 

My intention will be to crown lift and prune/trim back these trees to make an improvement for pedestrians using the south side footway. 

The works will be included in our work programme or added to the local area ground maintenance programme and carried out as soon as reasonably possible."

Lighting issue - steps from Scott Street to Pentland Avenue

Steps - Scott Street-Pentland Avenue

Last year, I raised, on behalf of residents, the need for lighting on the steps from Scott Street to Pentland Avenue.   The steps are well-used and often by elderly people and are quite dark at night, relying on what light reaches the area from the adjacent roads.

At the time, the council's Street Lighting Partnership advised :

"… we looked at putting lights on the stairs.   Unfortunately it's just not technically feasible and the costs would not justify since there is a lit route via the end of Scott Street."

However, as I have continued to receive requests from residents for lighting here, I have again raised the matter with the Street Lighting Partnership, who have updated me as follows :

"I have spent some time looking into alternative method of lighting this footpath.    The position on conventional lighting remains the same. 

I have looked at some solar powered lighting by Philips Lighting and was advised that Solar Lighting it not really feasible in the North Hemisphere as there is insufficient sun light to keep the batteries charged for the whole year. possibly as technology moves a more cost effective and easier method of lighting footpath my become available.

I will continue to pursue the lighting industry for a permanent answer to these problems."

With the agreement of the Street Lighting Partnership, I have asked a contact I have at the University of Dundee, who has expertise in solar lighting, to hopefully provide some advice on this matter that could provide a solution.