Getting things done - Western Cemetery #dundeewestend

Michael is pictured at the Western Cemetery's west wall where residents have highlighted that the ivy has greatly spread and is now damaging the wall.

We contacted environment management at the City Council regarding this and were initially advised by the Service Manager as follows :

"I can update that an initial visual inspection has been carried out by the City Engineers.

However vegetation is overgrowing on the walls (the roots of this are on private land), which prohibits a full inspection to ascertain and cost remedial works.

I will contact the adjacent landowner asking them to remove the vegetation as soon as possible."

The adjacent owner is the University of Dundee who own the Westpark student residences area over the boundary wall.

We did, in response, ask that as much overgrown foliage as possible is removed by the council from the cemetery side of the wall and were helpfully advised thereafter as follows :

"By way of a further update, the Forestry team have confirmed that the ivy will need to be cut back to the boundary by them as this work is at height, using the platform.

This work has been carried out a few times over the years and will need to be undertaken outwith active nesting season.

Forestry have recorded this to be carried out."

Getting things done - Western Cemetery #dundeewestend

We recently received concerns about gravestones in the Western Cemetery lying in their sides and sought an explanation from the City Council.

The Operations & Development Manager (Environment) at Dundee City Council has advised :

"Yes we have contractors in working in the Western stabilising stones.

The stones you see have deliberately been laid down for safety reasons and will be erected over the coming weeks.

We have been carrying out this type of work over the years but were keen to concentrate on the Western.

Apologies this looks unsightly but I will ask for an update from the contractor."

Western Cemetery Memorial Garden #dundeewestend

It is great to see progress with the planting of the new memorial garden at the Western Cemetery, with the first phase now completed :

Western Cemetery Association : Update on new urn field

The accompanying plan is available here.

Western Cemetery cremated remains section

Last year, I reported on progress with the proposal for a cremated remains section in Western Cemetery that the Western Cemetery Association has championed, with support from the City Council.

As there has, as yet, been no interments of sales of the lairs for urns, I asked the City Council's Head of Environmental Management for an update on steps the council is taking to ensure local undertakers are aware of the cremated remains section.   

He has advised me that:

"... we have had our annual meeting with the undertakers and the urn area at the Western was discussed.  So they are aware of the opportunity.  Our Bereavement Section will make a fresh effort to raise this with the undertakers through their regular interaction." 

The council provides details of its bereavement services here.

Western Cemetery Association welcomes bank volunteers!

This afternoon, staff from Barclays Bank  volunteered to join with  members of the Western Cemetery Association and  Dundee City Council Officers  to plant the area along the west wall backing on to the new urn field - see photos right and below:

Dr Ann Prescott of Western Cemetery Association said, “We were delighted that staff from Barclays Bank volunteered to help us with planting in the cemetery.     There has been good progress towards the provision of the new urn field, which will allow for the future burial of cremated remains in the cemetery.”

Progress at Western Cemetery

Memorial Rail now in situ

I have previously mentioned the proposal for a cremated remains section in Western Cemetery that Western Cemetery Association and I have promoted and has the support of the City Council.

Earlier today, along with representatives of the council's Environment Department and of the Western Cemetery Association, we discussed progress on-site.   The main memorial rail is now in place and we discussed many practical issues including planting and the seating area.

There is substantive and welcome progress on this important project for the West End and representatives of Barclays Bank are kindly assisting with planting at the start of May, which is greatly appreciated.

West End Wednesday!

Yesterday, I participated in a meeting with the Western Cemetery Association and the City Council's Environment Department to finalise the project to create a new cremated remains section in Western Cemetery - see right.  

There was agreement on the way forward and costings will be progressed prior to Christmas to enable the new remains section to become reality in the near future.

Last night, I attended the latest meeting of Community Spirit Action Group, the community group for the "north" part of West End Ward, covering Pentland, Tullideph, Ancrum and the Cleghorn area.   

There was an excellent presentation by City Archivist Iain Flett on the Logie Burial Ground, World War II factories in the west of the city and the history of Irish in Dundee.   Iain is not only very knowledgeable, his talks are also highly entertaining and he gave a well-received talk to Community Spirit members.

I was also able to update Community Spirit Action Group on parking issues in Ancrum Drive and the latest news about West End Christmas Fortnight.

Many thanks to the Western Cemetery Association!

I have mentioned in recent months the efforts being made to establish a Perth Road Traders' Association.   Local businesses have have rightly mentioned the need to improve the physical environment in the shopping area - the seating area at Sinderins (I have asked Community Payback to have the seats repainted and they have kindly agreed) and the seating at the advertising site at the bottom of Ryehill Lane are good examples.

And, with regard to the advertising site at the bottom of Ryehill Lane, I asked the owners JC Decaux to permit access for a community clean up, and the company kindly agreed.   So full marks to the Western Cemetery Association for tidying the site yesterday - and my thanks to Ann Prescott for the photos below:

Western Cemetery

Some time ago, the Courier reported the possible return of burials to the Western Cemetery, something I knew would be welcomed by many residents of the West End.

I have been working with the Western Cemetery Association and the Environment Department of Dundee City Council to move forward the proposal that would see the provision of plots for the burial of urns within the cemetery.

We had a very productive meeting yesterday at the West End community room at the Vine - and the proposal will now see 126 plots of lairs with a maximum of 4 family urns per lair being provided later this year.  We discussed at length the provision of a tablet granite book to give memorialisation to the lairs, considering both design and costings.

I am pleased with progress with this excellent initiative and hope to see it come to fruition later in 2012, for the benefit of the West End.

All prepared for West End Christmas Week ...

Following a very productive meeting I attended with the City Council's Environment Department and the Western Cemetery Association at the Vine this afternoon, and with thanks to all helpers, we got tomorrow's West End Community Fayre set up at Dundee West Church.

All looking good for the launch for the 2011 West End Christmas Week, our 11th year ...

All set up at Dundee West Church!

The super artwork winners from the West End Christmas Week schools' competition, with thanks to Park Place, Ancrum Road, St Joseph's and Blackness Primary Schools

West End Monday

Today, immediately before my weekly surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre, I took part in a very productive meeting with the Western Cemetery Association and the City Council's Environment Department to move forward the decision of the City Council from May to create a new cremated remains section in Western Cemetery.    It is planned that the new remains section will open later in the autumn.

After my surgeries, I attended a committee meeting of WESHA, the West End Sports and Heritage Association, at which we discussed ways the project will improve sports and environmental facilities in the West End.   WESHA is intending to discuss with the City Council taking a lease of the Riverside changing facilities and is investigating funding sources for improvements.   It was an extremely positive meeting and good that there is real momentum with the initiative.

West End website updates!

Further to my recent update about the West End Community Council website, here's a couple of further West End updates :

* Community Spirit, the community group for the northern part of the West End (Pentland/Ancrum/Tullideph/Cleghorn and surrounding areas) has a new site at www.dundeecommunityspirit.org.uk.    The site will be an excellent way to keep up to date with news in this part of the West End.

* The Western Cemetery Association has a new blog at http://dundeewca.blogspot.com.    The blog will be a great resource to keep in touch with the Association that exists -

• To promote sustainable development of the site by improving the habitat for flora and fauna.
• To encourage local residents to contribute to the maintenance and devopment of the site.
• To provide a pleasant and safe environment for visitors.
• To promote the site as a resource for the study of local history and genealogy.

Western Cemetery Association

Great to see the efforts by the Western Cemetery Association being recognised by the Beautiful Scotland campaign!    

See http://tinyurl.com/wcabeautifulscotland.

Monday activities

In addition to the launch of Barney's Fund that I mentioned last night, yesterday :

* The Courier covered the background to the motion I intend to bring to the City Council's Policy and Resources Committee on 13th June.   This surrounds the plight of the people of Palestine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the issue of the boycott of Israeli goods.    I am hoping that cross-party discussions prior to 13th June will achieve a cross-party consensus on this matter.

* The Courier also highlighted my view on the forthcoming Scottish Liberal Democrat leadership election.

After my two Monday surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre, I attended City Council committee meetings yesterday evening at which :

* I sought assurances that local suppliers in Dundee would benefit from a new Housing Department Decoration Card Scheme.

* I welcomed a new food waste collection pilot scheme, but asked how the number of separate collections to households can be avoided by collecting different collections at the same time.    As things now stand, there is potential for some households to have 5 separate collections - general waste, blue bin (paper/cardboard), brown bin (garden waste), green box (plastics, bottles etc) and now the new food collection.   It is clear from the reply given that the Waste Management Department has given thought to rationalising the number of collections, which is to be welcomed.    Given  the likely requirements on local authorities by 2013 to collect food waste, it is good that the City Council is moving this pilot forward now.

* I questioned the Chief Executive about progress on shared services, during discussion of a report on an overview of local government, undertaken by the Accounts Commission.

* I sought assurances that the City Council will work with residents across the city who are keen to form new Community Councils.

* I welcomed a report that will result in a new cremated remains section in Western Cemetery.    Having worked with the Western Cemetery Association to move this forward, I paid tribute to the Director of Leisure & Communities and his staff for all the work done with the design proposal.

And then came Tuesday ...

Following a very productive meeting with representatives of the Western Cemetery Association and the City Council's Leisure and Communities Department on-site at the cemetery at lunchtime, I attended an opening exhibition view of the shortlisted designs of the V and A at Dundee project, held at the library of the University of Abertay, Dundee.   I am dreadfully impressed by the imaginative designs and the 3-D Fly Throughs are really helpful. 

I hope there's a great turnout at the exhibition and that people give their views on the designs.   My personal preference is the Delugan Meissl design - really striking - and my photo of it from the exhibition is pictured above.   Rather better images are available on the V and A at Dundee website!

This evening, I attended an excellent meeting at Blackness Primary School about the possibility of starting a 'walking bus' - the video below from Ireland was shown - it really sums up the concept and it would be great to see the project progressed at the school :

Western Cemetery Association

I attended a very useful meeting on Thursday with representatives of the Western Cemetery Association and the Director of Leisure & Communities and some of his team, about the cemetery and supporting the Association's work.

The Association does excellent work in assisting with the conversation of the cemetery and we had a very positive meeting.

Western Cemetery Association

I had a useful meeting today with members of the Western Cemetery Association and the Director of Leisure and Communities of Dundee City Council.

We discussed a proposal to provide an additional area for urns in the cemetery.

It was a very productive discussion and we agreed steps to be taken to hopefully provide the additional urns in the future.

Blackness Primary pupils help planting effort at Western Cemetery

Was delighted to attend an event organised by the Western Cemetery Association (WCA) yesterday - Primary Six pupils from Blackness Primary School helped the Association’s work in encouraging biodiversity by helping to plant bulbs in the cemetery - see photo of the pupils busy with the bulb planting effort (right).

Western Cemetery is part of the Tayside Green Kirk and Graveyard Initiative. Already the WCA has planted a long lavender hedge and beds of fuchsias at the entrance, which have been attracting bees and butterflies all summer. The children added crocuses in front of the hedge to brighten the area next Spring.

Also yesterday, I helped the effort to organise West End Christmas Week by delivering flyers to local shops giving details of how local businesses can participate in the forthcoming Christmas Week's events.

Wednesday ...

Apart from a whole load of 'day job' activities today, I had the pleasure of attending the fascinating guided walk at Western Cemetery, ably led by Ann Prescott of the Western Cemetery Association and Iain Flett, Dundee City Council Archivist. An excellent turnout - here's a couple of photos (above).

Later I attended the City Council Housing Working Group, of which I am a member. Good presentations and discussion on tenant participation and housing investment.

Tonight, I attended the Harris Academy Parent Council - both interesting and informative.

And ... now home to recordings of 'Coronation Street' and 'The Restaurant'!