Saturday 30 November 2019

Healthy Universities for Healthy Communities: Bridging the Divide

Residents are invited to this Scottish Universities Insight Institute event next Thursday - 5th December - in the West End as part of the ‘Healthy Universities for Healthy Communities Project’. 

In an informal morning celebration, the project will be sharing the ideas and insights generated in its knowledge cafés, held earlier this year, to identify collaborative university-community approaches to improving health and wellbeing for all.    The event takes place at Roseangle Kitchen Café.

In the afternoon, in the Dalhousie Building at the University of Dundee, the keynote speaker, Dr Matt Dolf, who is irector, Strategic Support, UBC Wellbeing, University of British Columbia, will be joined by representatives of the UK Healthy Universities Network and community residents in providing local, national and international perspectives on developing healthier and happier communities. 

You can read more about this interesting day and book either the morning or afternoon session – or both – here.

Friday 29 November 2019

Friends of Wighton - latest update

From Sheena Wellington :

Tomorrow - Saturday 30th November 
Wighton Heritage Centre, Dundee Central Library at 11am 
Caim – harmony folk trio


The three members of Caim harmony trio may be separated by the Irish Sea but they are not divided musically.  Pauline Vallance’s roots in Scotland, Jacynth Hamill’s in N. Ireland and Heather Innes’s in Zimbabwe, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Australia all contribute to Caim’s strong and varied traditional repertoire.  

Heather’s vibrant a cappella singing which served her well in her early days on the folk-club circuit, continues to provide a strong foundation in the group, as does her time as a key vocalist and bodhrán player in the bands “Dúlamán” and “Firefrost”. 

Jacynth has a solid choral background which she puts to good use in arranging material for the group.  Her pure and light voice adds an ethereal quality to the 3-part harmonies as well as suiting the plaintive solo songs she adds to the mix.  

Harp player Pauline’s classical as well as folk background, her instrumental skills and her lyrical voice have enriched Caim’s sound and repertoire.  She is a talented songwriter, turning events she has experienced, items she has read about, or a notion that has taken her fancy into a moving, a poignant or a hilarious song.  

A “Caim” concert combines Scottish and Irish traditional and contemporary songs, story and dance.  “We share songs that are important to us and we invite our audiences to join us in singing and dancing.  You’ll find music that goes straight to the heart, songs and stories to make you laugh, tunes to set your feet a-tapping and haunting harmonies that will uplift your spirit.”

Tickets £5 - doors open 10.30am and tea/coffee available for small donation.

Thursday 28 November 2019

Freeview TV changes #dundeewestend

From yesterday onwards, many people in the West End may need to retune their TV if you are missing channels.

This affects you if your transmitter is Tay Bridge, which serves much of the West End - it also affects the Angus transmitter that serves other parts of our area.

Guidance about how to retune your TV is available here.

Wednesday 27 November 2019

West End Christmas Concert and lights switch on tonight! #dundeewestend

This evening will see the Christmas Lights Switch On for the West End and a spectacular fireworks extravaganza.

This year’s West End Christmas Concert takes place at Dundee West Church at 6.15pm.      The concert will be hosted by Gordon Sharp.    

We are delighted that “The Notables” will perform as well as local school pupils from secondary schools, primary schools and Cherry Blossom Nursery School.   It will be a great concert and everyone is very welcome to attend.   Mains of Fintry Pipe Band will pipe everyone from the church to Seabraes for the Christmas Lights Switch-On.

Just after 7pm, the West End Christmas Lights will be switched on at Seabraes by Santa.   There will again be a spectacular fireworks display after the lights switch-on.

West End Christmas Fortnight is packed with events and we hope that, as in the past 19 years, the local community take part.      We are extremely grateful to all the local businesses for their support of the Christmas Fortnight, without which the events would not be possible.

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Miller's Wynd car park flooding #dundeewestend

Many residents have drawn to my attention significant flooding in the Miller's Wynd car park over the past week - see below :


I took this up with the car parking team at the City Council and one of the car park officers has sent me the following helpful update :

"I inspected Miller's Wynd car park recently and noted that the cause of the flooding is due to water running through gaps in the north wall of Miller's Wynd Car Park, all the way down the car park and on to Perth Road.

I suspect that there is a burst water pipe on the land behind the car park wall and having spoken to Scottish Water, I was directed towards Dundee University who they believe is the land owner.  The pipe appears to be located by the B.S.I. building.

I have brought this matter to the attention of Dundee University's Estates & Buildings Department and I have raised my concerns that the water might freeze over and form black ice, which in turn could result in a slip or fall.  I have therefore requested an emergency repair from Dundee University in order to avoid having to close the car park, and I currently await their response."

Monday 25 November 2019

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2019

Westfield Lane – closed for up to 2 weeks for building repair works.

A90 Kingsway (Swallow roundabout) - overnight (7.30pm - 6.30am) northbound lane closure on Tuesday 26 November for sign installation.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Glamis Terrace – closed from Monday 2 December for one week for sewer connection to new house.

Sunday 24 November 2019

Christmas Fair - Royal Victoria Hospital #dundeewestend


The Friends of Victoria are having a Christmas Fair on Saturday 30th November from 1.30pm until 4pm at Royal Victoria Hospital.

There will be stalls and all proceeds go towards the patients' comfort fund. 

All welcome!

Saturday 23 November 2019

West End Christmas Fortnight starts today! #dundeewestend


West End Christmas Fortnight starts this morning!

Events today include :


This is the 19th year of West End Christmas events – a whole fortnight of fun for all the family!

Download the full brochure of West End Christmas Fortnight events here.

Friday 22 November 2019

Temporary Traffic Order - Glamis Terrace

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 sewer connection to new build house.

The Order is expected to be in force for 1 week from 2 December 2019.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Glamis Terrace for its entire length.

Access for residents will be maintained where possible.

An alternative route will be available via Glamis Road, Glamis Drive, Hazel Drive and reverse.

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 or phone 433168.

Thursday 21 November 2019

Blether Tay-Gither - Storytelling in Dundee


Our November Blether will be on Tuesday 26th November - at 7pm at Madigan's Tearoom and Bookshop at 25 Castle Street.

We will be joined this month by Apprentice Storyteller Lynda Dargie, who will share a couple of tales.  Lynda has shared stories with us before but this time she will be there as part of her accreditation process.  

The Theme is ANIMALS.

Join us for a relaxed evening of stories and tales. bring a story or just come to listen. 
  
Hope to see some of you there – all welcome!

Wednesday 20 November 2019

Great initiative from Revival Church in Taylor's Lane #dundeewestend

Partnering with Dundee Bairns in 2020, Revival Church is proposing to provide school holidays provision of breakfast/lunch for disadvantaged and low income families' children.

This will take place at the church premises at 4 Taylor's Lane, just off the Perth Road - see below :


Tuesday 19 November 2019

Living Together : An Exhibition on Housing in Dundee


From the Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee :

Using photographs, artworks and architects’ designs, the latest exhibition in the Lamb Gallery at the University of Dundee explores some of the most distinctive forms of houses in Dundee, with a particular focus on communal and social housing – from Victorian tenements to pioneering council houses, post-war multis, student halls of residence and more.

The exhibition Living Together features material from our own and private collections as well as the University Archives, Dundee City Archives and Dundee Central Library Local History Centre.    It has been created to accompany the AHRA Conference on Architecture and Collective Life taking place in Dundee from 21st to 23rd November.

The exhibition is now open and runs until 25th January 2020 - opening times are on the poster and admission is free.

More information is available here.

Monday 18 November 2019

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2019

Westfield Lane – closed for up to 3 weeks for building repair works.

Milnbank Road – off-peak temporary traffic lights on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 November for BT work.

Perth Road (at Westfield Avenue) – off-peak temporary traffic lights on Friday 22 November for Scottish Water work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Glamis Terrace – closed from Monday 2 December for one week for sewer connection to new house.

Sunday 17 November 2019

The Truacanta Project - workshop at Roseangle Kitchen Cafe #dundeewestend



The Truacanta Project is about helping communities unleash their compassion and find ways to help each other with death, dying, loss and care.  It is part of the Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief initiative, which promotes more open and supportive attitudes and behaviours relating to death, dying and bereavement in Scotland.

The Truacanta Project is a new initiative being run by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, and funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.   The project will support local communities across Scotland who are interested in taking community action to improve people’s experiences of death, dying, loss and care.   More information about the Truacanta project is available here.

A Knowledge Sharing Workshop with interested parties to establish what is missing and needed in Dundee is taking place next Wednesday - 20th November - between 1pm and 3.30pm in the Roseangle Kitchen Cafe, 132 Perth Road and lunch will be provided.  

This is a community event, connecting people in Dundee who have a mutual interest in improving people's experiences of death, dying, loss and care.   All are welcome to get your views on :

What are your priorities and experiences?
What do you think is missing?
How can we make talking about death and dying easier?
Where should we start?
Who else should be involved?

Please come along and share your ideas about how members of the community, third sector organisations, health and social care teams, and universities can work better together in this area.

Please book a place here

Saturday 16 November 2019

Friday 15 November 2019

A fabulous West End Christmas Fortnight launches soon! #dundeewestend


Saturday 23rd November sees the start of the West End Christmas Fortnight, a fortnight of many activities across the West End of Dundee.    The full brochure is launched today!

A highlight of the fortnight will be the Christmas Lights Switch On for the West End and a spectacular fireworks extravaganza, taking place on Wednesday 27th November.    This year’s West End Christmas Concert takes place that evening at Dundee West Church at 6.15pm.     There will be musical contributions from local nursery, primary and secondary schools.    The concert will be hosted by Gordon Sharp.    

We are delighted that “The Notables” will perform as well as local school pupils from 2 secondary schools, four primary schools and Cherry Blossom Nursery School – it will be a great concert and everyone is very welcome to attend.   Mains of Fintry Pipe Band will pipe everyone from the church to Seabraes for the Christmas Lights Switch-On.

At 7pm, there will be singing by the tree and thereafter at 7.20pm the West End Christmas Lights will be switched on at Seabraes by Santa.

There will again be a spectacular fireworks display after the lights switch-on.

West End Christmas Fortnight is packed with events and we hope that, as in the past 19 years, the local community will take part.      We are extremely grateful to all the local businesses for their support of the Christmas Fortnight, without which the events would not be possible.

Other main West End Christmas Fortnight events include :

Saturday 23rd November                 P6 football Christmas Fortnight competition at Harris Academy.   P6 teams participating from our local primary schools.   All parents and family members welcome to spectate.   

Monday 25th November                Blackness Library – Christmas Craft activities after school (and the following Monday)

Friday 29th November                     Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden’s children’s activities and a “Walk in the Dark” for children aged 4-9 

Saturday 30th November                Christmas Clothes Swap and Repair Café  - The Gate 

Children’s Craft Event  -  West End Christmas Fortnight’s lovely children's craft event led by the wonderful Lisa Earl of Create … Kids Create Craft Workshops.    Taking place at Logie St John’s (Cross) Church Hall.

West End Christmas Fortnight West Port Arts and Crafts Event (and again the following Saturday)

Friday 6th December                      Christmas Lights Switch on in West Port at 5pm – music and fun!     

Saturday 7th December                   Christmas Tea and Carols - The Gate - Afternoon tea and a sing-along of old favourite Christmas Carols. 

Over Christmas Fortnight             Window Spotting Competition for local children.

Download the full brochure here!

Thursday 14 November 2019

Festive Friends Christmas Day invitation

Do you know someone or a group of people that would benefit from more support on Christmas Day?

Dundee United Community Trust will be hosting a free Christmas meal for local people at Tannadice Park from 10am to 3pm in the Hegarty Suite. 

This is a lovely gesture, particularly for those on their own at Christmas.   More details are available here.

Wednesday 13 November 2019

Living Wage Week 2019

This week is Living Wage Week 2019.    

The real Living Wage is now £9.30 per hour, and is based on cost of living.

Living Wage Scotland awards the Living Wage employer mark to Scottish employers - a symbol of responsible business practice.

Why the real Living Wage is needed :

+ 470,000 people in Scotland don't earn the real Living Wage.

+ 182,000 children in Scotland live in poverty despite having one person in their household in work.

In-work poverty remains a real problem.

You can read more about progress with the Living Wage in Dundee here.     

Tuesday 12 November 2019

West End Community Council meeting tonight #dundeewestend

The Community Council meets this evening at Logie St John's (Cross) Church Hall at 7pm - all residents welcome!   

Here's the agenda :

WEST END COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2019, 7.00PM
LOGIE AND ST JOHN`S CROSS PARISH CHURCH HALL
(ENTER FROM SHAFTESBURY TERRACE  -  OFF  BLACKNESS  AVENUE)

1. Welcome and Apologies

2. Community Council Elections- nominations, roles & responsibilities of Community Councillors, priorities

3. Planning Update

4. 8pm - Speaker- Catherine Conroy, Low Emissions Zone, Dundee City Council

5. AOCB

6. Date of Next Meeting – Tuesday 10th December 2019 

Light refreshments will be provided.

Monday 11 November 2019

Sunday 10 November 2019

THIS - An exhibition celebrating the life and work of Jim Stewart


From the Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee :

THIS
An exhibition celebrating the life and work of Jim Stewart (1952-2016)
Tower Foyer Gallery, University of Dundee

Jim Stewart was an inspirational and much-admired author and teacher described by Dundee’s Makar, W N Herbert, as “one of the most significant poets of the last decade”. 

James Clark Quinn Stewart was born in 1952 to a working-class family in a cold tap and outside toilet dwelling on the Lochee Road, Dundee, barely surviving a near-fatal bronchial illness in early infancy. He and his younger sister, Ros, were brought up by their single mother, a devout Jehovah’s Witness. Often at odds with the church in later life, Jim remained devout and became a learned theologian.

Jim studied English at the University of Dundee (where he went on to teach for many years) and completed a PhD at Edinburgh, basing his research on the works of Virginia Woolf – a passion which remained with him, together with a deep reverence for nature and music, all his life.

Known as Jim to friends, colleagues and students alike, he became an inspirational and much-admired teacher.  He wrote poetry from childhood and went on to become one of Scotland’s finest nature poets, if one of the most modest. His keen poet’s eye found beauty in everything: flies, moles, spiders and especially bees. The publishing of collections did not rate highly in his list of ambitions and he often had to supplement his income from short-contract university teaching with bouts of window-cleaning and proof-reading, as he describes in letters included in the exhibition.

Central to the exhibition is a portfolio box designed and created by Marion Archibald at her studio in The Old Printing Works, Thornton. The box contains a hand-painted book of tributes to Jim in the form of poetry and prose. Created by Marion and Jim’s former student Keren Macpherson, the book folds out to five metres in length. 

The exhibition also features several of Jim’s poems along with paintings and etchings by Keren and fellow artists Kirstie Behrens, Merran Gunn and Derek Robertson, interpreting and illustrating Jim’s poems in a unique and personal way.

The exhibition runs until 14th December – Monday to Friday 9.30am-7pm and Saturday 1pm-5pm. 

Saturday 9 November 2019

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - SATURDAY 9 AND SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2019

Tullideph Road (City Road to Ancrum Drive) – closed westbound on Sunday 10 November for BT pole renewal works.

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2019

Westfield Lane – closed for up to 4 weeks for building repair works.

Minto Place – closed for 7 days from Friday 8 November for carriageway resurfacing.  Access maintained for residents.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Glamis Terrace – closed from Monday 2 December for one week for sewer connection to new house.

Friday 8 November 2019

Temporary traffic order - Tullideph Road

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 BT pole renewal works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Tullideph Road (westbound between City Road and Ancrum Drive), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 10 November 2019  for one day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes are available via City Road / Logie Street / Ancrum Road

For further information contact 433082.

Head of Roads and Transportation
Dundee City Council

Thursday 7 November 2019

Wednesday 6 November 2019

Minto Place (east leg) - road resurfacing work

From the City Council :

Work is programmed to commence at the above location on Friday 8th November 2019 and will last for approximately 3 days.    The Contractor for the works is Tayside Contracts. 

On-street parking will not be allowed on the section of carriageway being worked on.  Vehicular access will be maintained although we ask for vehicular traffic movements to be kept to a minimum and advise delays may be experienced.

Please note that pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained throughout the works. 

If you have any queries, please contact the Roads Maintenance Partnership by telephoning 834126.

Tuesday 5 November 2019

Monday 4 November 2019

Weekly Road Report - West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2019

Westfield Lane – closed for up to 5 weeks for building repair works.

Minto Place – closed for 7 days from Friday 8 November for carriageway resurfacing.  Access maintained for residents.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Tullideph Road (City Road to Ancrum Drive) – closed westbound on Sunday 10 November for BT pole renewal works.

Sunday 3 November 2019

Friday 1 November 2019

Friends of Wighton - latest update

From Sheena Wellington :

Lunchtime Recital with Kaitlin Ross, voice, and Catriona Hawksworth, piano
Wednesday, 6th November, 1.15pm – 1.45pm
Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library


Kaitlin and Catriona form a Scottish traditional song and piano duo. 

They blend Kaitlin’s singing of traditional Gaelic and Scots songs with Catriona’s contemporary piano style, creating a unique sound. 

The duo began playing together in secondary school, meeting at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton.   They have since both gained degrees from the University of Highlands and Islands, and Newcastle University. 

Between them they have performed across Europe in a number of bands and projects including Eabhal, HEISK, Sally Simpson and Catriona Hawksworth; and Rafiki Jazz.

Admission free, donations for Live Music Now are welcomed.