Monday 8 December 2014

City Council meetings

This afternoon, I attended a briefing on air quality in the city, organised in advance of a report on the subject to tonight's City Council Environment Committee on the subject.

I have long-campaigned for air quality improvements in Lochee Road, the area from the Polepark to Tullideph junctions being an air quality 'hot spot.'    The report before committee tonight shows some improvement in NOemissions but there is some way to go to reach acceptable targets.

I made the point that there should be traffic modelling undertaken to see if the complex junctions at Cleghorn Street/Dudhope Terrace/Lochee Road/Rankine Street could operate better.

Also at Environment Committee, I welcomed Phase 1 of works to restore steps within Balgay Cemetery [and improvements to drainage in the cemetery] and was assured the final phase would take place in 2015/16.

At Education Committee, I spoke in the discussion about the proposal to consult on the possible closure of Menzieshill High School and extension of Harris Academy's catchment area to include the current Menzieshill High catchment area within the City Council boundary.   I emphasised the need to listen to the views of parents, carers, pupils, staff and the wider community.   Sufficient capacity at the new Harris Academy campus is key as are assurances that all pupils in the catchment area get a place at Harris.

I am pleased to discuss the matter with constituents and can be contacted on 434985;  fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk.

At City Development Committee, I sought and was given assurances that the poorly conditioned road to the Riverside Civic Amenity site (Wright Avenue) will be resurfaced in the near future.