West Port - 1960s #dundeewestend

A wonderful photo of the West Port in the 1960s, taken by the late Dr Denis Bethell

Getting things done - West Port #dundeewestend

We recently received concerns that a parking sign in West Port was damaged and leaning over.

We therefore reported this to the roads maintenance partnership and an Order has been raised to repair this.

View of the West Port - 1970s #dundeewestend

With thanks to SJ Bogue and Dundee Memories, a view of the West Port 1970s.

Getting things done - West Port #dundeewestend

We recently received concerns from residents about the poor road surface on West Port at Johnston's Lane - see photo.

We raised this with the Roads Maintenance Partnership and have received the following helpful response :

"Thank you for your email. The local inspector has raised an order for repairs to be carried out."

Getting things done - Perth Road and West Port #dundeewestend

Residents have mentioned to us that the telephone boxes in Perth Road (at the Miller’s Wynd car park - this one is pictured) and in the West Port need flyposting and graffiti removed and a proper clean.

We therefore wrote to BT requesting that this be carried out.

Artwork in the West Port #dundeewestend

We have been in correspondence with the council's Public Art Officer and the creator of the West Port Pyramid and Canopies sculptured artwork Stan Bonnar and are pleased that there has now been given some long overdue tender loving care, with the paintwork washed on the canopies and removal of the unsightly rails round it.

The Public Art Officer hopes to have a further upgrade of the sculpture and to include the seats as part of this - and we will keep residents updated on this.

Getting things done - West Port #dundeewestend

Residents have highlighted to us that the pyramid artwork on the West Port needs some TLC. 

The paintwork around it badly needs a repaint and the area spruced up.

We raised this with the Executive Director of City Development at the council who has asked the public art officer to see what can be done to improve this, which is welcome.

Many thanks Trudy!

In her spare time, Trudy Cunningham, the University of Dundee's Environment and Sustainability Manager, has been weeding the Bonnie Dundee tubs at West Port.

The tubs are looking great - many thanks Trudy!

Temporary Traffic Order - Old Hawkhill, West Port and South Tay 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 road safety measures during Dundee Dance Event being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Old Hawkhill / West Port / South Tay Street (between Hunter Street and Nethergate), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 3 October 2021 for one evening (5pm to 11pm).

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Access will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Hawkhill / Perth Road / Nethergate.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Temporary Traffic Order - West Marketgait, West Port Roundabout and Hawkhill

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 bus priority improvements.  The Order is expected to be in force for 3 weeks from 22 March 2021.  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) West Marketgait northbound from its junction with Nethergate to West Port Roundabout, (2) West Port Roundabout on the south side of the outer lane and (3) Hawkhill from West Port Roundabout to Brown Street.

An alternative route will be available southbound via West Marketgait, Dudhope Crescent Roundabout, Lochee Road, Polepark Road, Brook Street, Guthrie Street, Horsewater Wynd and Hawkhill and northbound via Nethergate, Perth Road and Hawkhill.

For further information, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS - phone 433275.

West Port artwork - an update

Residents will know the artwork in the West Port, where public toilets once sat - photo above.

Art UK explains its background :

"Pyramid and Canopies - Stan Bonnar 

Commissioned in 1983, the West Port 'Pyramid and Canopies' was not only a sculptural artwork, but also formed the roof structure and stairway down to a newly modernised underground public toilets. 

The last images in the series, provided by the artist, show the work as it initially appeared. Bonnar was given the brief of proposing artworks for the West Port area of Dundee, and during this creative survey, he saw that the old Victorian 'men only' public toilets had fallen into disrepair."

Stan was recently in touch with me about the current state of the artwork which definitely needs some tender loving care to remove graffiti, repaint it and clean the pyramid.

The City Council's planning officer who deal with public art matters is kindly arranging this.

Stan has suggested some improvements including creating seating - to quote him :

" ...  the seating would be installed as part of a conservation scheme for the trees and pyramid at some time in the future.  I hope that the artwork will be able to be 'topped off’ by reinstating the globes.

It would be great if they were made to light up as this would accentuate their functioning in the artwork as a symbol of oneness. (red supporting blue - blue supporting red - each the environment and meaning of the other). 

And of course this is reflected in the symbolic value of the pyramid."

Stan has kindly produced a mock-up of what this could look like - below :

West Port Christmas Lights Event tonight! #dundeewestend

The West Port Christmas Lights are switched on tonight – at 5pm – all welcome – don’t miss it!

Music and fun from around 4.45pm!

Meet at the Christmas Tree in front of Molly Malone’s (previously The Globe).

Another great West End Christmas event tonight! #dundeewestend

The Christmas Lights Switch On in West Port is later today!    Don’t miss it!

Events take place in West Port in front of the Globe :

4.20 – 4 30      Fiddlers

4.30 – 4.40     Trombone Trio

4.40 – 4.55     Children’s Christmas Choir

4.55 – 5.00     Piper

5.00               West Port Christmas Tree Lights Switch On

5.00 – 5.10     Piper

There will be hot spiced apple juice being served to adults and hot chocolate being served to the children.

Getting things done - Hawkhill and West Port #dundeewestend

Residents recently raised with me the fact that the street lighting in parts of the Hawkhill by-pass (near Blackness Primary School) and West Port was not on in the morning when it was still dark.

I am grateful to the Street Lighting Partnership who promptly resolved this - a timeclock issue, now fixed.

The Street Lighting Partnership Manager advised me that timeclocks are being phased out to avoid such issues.   She indicates :

"We replace the timeclocks with a photoelectric cell which operates on the ambient lighting levels. Currently we are using cells which switch the lights at 35lux in the evening and 18 lux in the morning.

Unfortunately it is not a straight swap for these components and often some additional cabling and tracking is required."

West Port Christmas Lights Event tonight! #dundeewestend

The West Port Christmas Lights are switched on tonight – at 5.30pm – all welcome – don’t miss it!

Lights Switch On includes a piper, singers and a string quartet.    

Roast chestnuts, apple spiced Christmas drinks and hot chocolate for the children.

Meet at the Christmas Tree in front of The Globe!

The West Port Christmas Lights are on!

The West Port celebrated its Christmas Lights Switch On in style earlier tonight with the well-attended (despite the rain!) 'Westport Wonderland' - a fantastic Christmas Market in the former Westport Gallery, the Parlour Cafe hosting a second hand book sale, Hot Chocolate Bar, fresh waffles and apple pie and the Rep hosting a window spotting competition with the brilliant prize of a Family ticket to their production of The Witches.

And there was great music and the Christmas Lights being switched on too!

Here's a video and a few photos from tonight's celebrations :

The Christmas Market (above and below)

Mia switched on the Christmas Lights!

The West Port Christmas Tree

Photopolis : Hawkhill, taken from West Port

This view of the Hawkhill in Dundee below was taken from the West Port, looking west.

Thomas Aitken's public house, The Globe, is listed in the Dundee Directory as Nos. 57 and 59 West Port, and is still so named today. Behind it is Johnston's Lane.

No. 1 Hawkhill is listed in the Dundee Directory as John Mathieson, broker, which may have been the West Port Loans Office. M. Boland & Co.'s clothiery was Nos. 20 and 24 Hawkhill.

City Centre Parking Permits - West Port vicinity

The West Port area has traditionally been part of the City Centre Parking Permit scheme.   However, I have highlighted with the City Council over a considerable period the need to correct an anomaly whereby a small number of households in the western part of the street have been excluded from the scheme, due to an error in the boundary.

I was given a commitment some time ago that this would be addressed as part of the City Centre Controlled Parking Zone review.

I recently asked the council's Head of Transportation for an update on the situation and he has responded as follows :

The City Centre Controlled Parking Zone review is still on-going and the Residents' Parking Zone issues are included within this review.  It is planned to bring this to committee late Autumn 2014 and implement any changes in summer 2015.  In the meantime any previously agreed concessions will be maintained.

Photopolis : Hawkhill, taken from West Port

This view of the Hawkhill in Dundee is taken from the West Port, looking west.

Thomas Aitken's public house, The Globe, is listed in the Dundee Directory as Nos. 57 and 59 West Port, and is still so named today. Behind it is Johnston's Lane.

No. 1 Hawkhill is listed in the Dundee Directory as John Mathieson, broker, which may have been the West Port Loans Office. M. Boland & Co.'s clothiery was Nos. 20 and 24 Hawkhill.

West Port Lights Switch On!

At teatime tonight, we had our second lights switch on in the West End of the week, with the Christmas Lights being switched on in the West Port.   Well done to Cohen aged 7 who did the honours!   Here's a couple of photographs from the switch on:

Cohen switches on the West Port Christmas Lights!

The West Port Christmas Tree