Tuesday 25 September 2007

Monday and Tuesday

Yesterday included my attending the official reopening of the coastal walk between Douglas Terrace, Broughty Ferry, and the Stannergate - in my capacity as City Council Planning & Transport Convener. Its a super renovation funded by the City Council, SUSTRANS and the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.
Local resident, Mrs Silvers, did the honours and even provided the ribbon for the ceremony as we arrived to find the official ribbon was locked away in a works' hut!
This morning, I participated in a panel discussion in my role as Chair of TACTRAN (the Tayside and Central Scotland Regional Transport Partnership) at the CPT Conference at Gleneagles. CPT is the voice of the coach, bus and light rail industries. Also participating in the panel discussion (hosted by Louise Batchelor of BBC Scotland) were Cllr Russell Imrie (Chair of SESTRANS - South East Scotland) and Cllr Brian Collins (Chair of SWESTRANS - Dumfries & Galloway).
I think all agreed there is a clear need for partnership working to achieve real improvements in public transport services across Scotland and, in the short time (4 months) in which I have chaired TACTRAN, I have seen the Regional Transport Partnerships as key to this.
Coinciding with the Conference, TACTRAN has announced its Sustainable Travel Grant Scheme (click on headline above to view more).
Back in May, I suggested everyone "Vote Dundee!" to get the City on the new Monopoly board (see http://frasermacpherson.blogspot.com/2007/05/vote-dundee-and-last-word-on-election.html) - delighted today to see Dundee's success - the only Scottish winner! See "Dundee in Monopoly vote win" in The List at - http://www.list.co.uk/article/4955-dundee-in-monopoly-vote-win/