Vote Dundee! And last word on election results ...

Firstly, many thanks to the local resident who advised me about the new Monopoly game - click on the headline above to view more - and make sure Dundee gets included!

As her e-mail advises :

"We're in 6th place just now and Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow aren't even on the board! I was always very competitive when it came to Monopoly and this is just adding a whole new dimension!! Vote now!! Get anyone else you know to vote too!!! The closing date for voting is 25th May."

Janet & I have good friends who live in the Burgess Hill area in Sussex and we note Burgess Hill is one place above Dundee!

And ... a final word on the election results; further to my earlier blog entry saying I had spoken with the City Council's Public Relations Department about the display of the election results for the City Council, there are now PDFs of the detailed ward results available for downloading at :

http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/elections07/results.htm

Friends of Magdalen Green success

Last night at the Friendship Hall at Dundee West Church, I chaired the launch public meeting of Friends of Magdalen Green. Click on headline above to view my earlier blog entry about this.

There was a super turnout of nearly 70 residents and a good lively discussion on the issues surrounding the Green took place. Liz Broumley did an highly entertaining and informative presentation, and the Friends group is now formally launched, with a Constitution and office-bearers. Chair of the Friends of Magdalen Green is local resident and community councillor Sheila Roy - congratulations to Sheila and the other newly elected office-bearers!

Six Cities Design Festival Update

Towards the end of last month, I mentioned Dundee's participation in the Six Cities Design Festival (click on headline above to view story).

If you've passed the City Square recently, you can't but help notice the work underway to transform the Square into a temporary park (see right). As the Six Cities' website puts it :

"Dundee City Council’s Landscape Design Team had the incredible opportunity to construct a park in City Square. Using revolutionary synthetic yarns manufactured in Dundee, the design team plan to roll out the ‘green carpet’ across the city’s civic space to create Design Park. This temporary space will act as the Dundee Festival Information Point and challenge us to think about the design of our public space."

You can read more about Dundee's participation at : http://www.six-cities.com/Dundee.php

Ward Road Gym

Until I became the Council's Finance Convener during the last council administration, I sat on the Ward Road Gym Board. The gym board has had great success in ensuring the refurbishment of this much-used City Centre sporting facility, with co-operation from the City Council.

Was pleased to learn earlier this week that the gym now has its own website - click on the headline above to view it (and very professional it looks too).

The gym was in my old Tay Bridges Ward, but due to boundary changes, is now part of the ward adjacent to the new West End Ward.

Council administration update

Spoke on Wave 102 and Radio Tay today about the partnership agreement between the LibDems and Labour. Along with the other group leaders, spoke on the stv news ('North Tonight') this evening on same matter - click on the headline above to view.

West End - good news!

Two bits of good news :

• The handrail I requested for the south end of Pennycook Lane (next to the Pennycook sheltered housing) has now been provided by the City Council - see right.

• The blocked drain on the west side of Windsor Street I had recently mentioned in FOCUS has now been cleaned out.

Statement by Councillors Helen Dick and Fraser Macpherson, Liberal Democrat Group, Dundee City Council

Last week, we met with all three other political groups on the City Council to discuss a way forward for the administration of the Council for the next four years. The discussions were constructive.

We have now had the opportunity to read fully the manifesto proposals of the other parties. We have substantial concern at the number of costly proposals by the SNP group which, if introduced, even in part, would lead to a large increase in Council Tax in the City. We have worked, as part of a joint administration, over the past four years, to keep Council Tax increases to a minimum, whilst protecting vital services. The SNP manifesto, if introduced, would put all this in jeopardy.

Discussions with the other two groups on the Council have centred on maintaining services, with responsible growth within the context of keeping Council Tax increases to a minimum. We are pleased that they support proposals to give increased capital resources towards tackling unadopted pavements and there is agreement to streamline and make more efficient the Council’s decision-making process.

We have today reached agreement with the Labour group for a new Labour/Liberal Democrat partnership agreement on the Council. The Liberal Democrat group will continue to work positively, in partnership with others, for the City of Dundee.

Scottish parliament, fly-posting … and daft idea of the week

Had a read of the Scottish Sunday papers late last night on return from London. A very different read to the English editions I had read on the flight up to Edinburgh!

I wryly smile at the comments of commentators who are criticising the Liberal Democrats for not cosying up to Alex Salmond and the nationalists at Holyrood. Eddie Barnes in 'Scotland on Sunday' quotes Salmond’s view before the election that Nicol Stephen and the LibDem MSP were “Barclaycard politicians – my flexible friends.” Sorry Alex, got that one wrong. I am afraid the LibDems will simply not sign up to expensive referenda aimed at separation.

Of course, Nicol and his colleagues can’t win with the newspaper columnists. If they had signed up to Mr Salmond, they’d have been criticised for signing up to anything to keep the ‘Ministerial Mondeos’. If they do the right thing and reject the SNP separation referendum costing millions and an uncosted programme that is undeliverable, they get equally criticised! Tom (who he?) Brown in the same newspaper says - “Petulant LibDems betray their principles and the people.” Wrong Tom, the Liberal Democrats are right to reject the SNP programme at Holyrood. Actually, judging by the article elsewhere in the same paper saying the SNP has admitted it will tear up its manifesto, it would appear the SNP has rejected the SNP programme at Holyrood.

On an entirely different matter, was pleased to see in Friday night’s Evening Telegraph that the City Council is undertaking a crackdown on fly-posting in the City. Readers of this blog and of the FOCUS in the West End will know that I have campaigned on this issue and it is good to see the City Council being proactive.

Lastly, daft idea of the week comes from our local Labour MP, Jim McGovern, whose “solution” to the problems with the recent elections is a return to the first-past-the-post electoral system. Click on the headline above to view the article about this in the Press & Journal.

I think we all accept that there were many problems with the 3rd May elections. A return to the stone-age first-past-the-post electoral system is absolutely not the solution. FPTP is a crude system that delivers results that can bear no relation to how the majority actually voted.

Whilst accepting that having different electoral systems on the same day is not a clever idea, on the whole the STV council elections worked – most of the problems surrounded the “twin” constituency/regional parliamentary ballot paper. There is no need for separate days for council and Scottish Parliament elections. The answer is a proportional and fair STV election for both. And think of the other advantage … no second class “regional” MSPs – all MSPs would have a constituency, but elected by a fair system.

London Photographs

I had a "day job" event to attend in London on Friday so Janet and I made a bit of a weekend of it and we are just back (having caught the flight back to Edinburgh by the skin of our teeth this morning!) We had a great time, so as a bit of light relief from politics and all that, here's a few photos!

Above : Me at Institute HQ on Friday.

Above : Spectacular stunts at Covent Garden!
Above : Just exactly how this bloke manages to keep so still for so long defies me!

Above : Janet about to have yet another fantastic meal!
Above : Fraser having a good read of this week's "Liberal Democrat News"

Above : More from Covent Garden; this bloke was really impressive and entertaining.

Above : Ramesses II at the British Museum

Friends of Magdalen Green launch event

The Friends of Magdalen Green group gets formaly launched next Wednesday with a public meeting in Dundee West Church, Perth Road.

We hope as many residents as possible will attend.

For further details, please click on the headline above - which will display a poster advertising this event.

You can read more about the group at http://magdalengreen.blogspot.com/

Council results again

I was speaking with a West End constituent yesterday who pointed out the relatively meaningless way the way in which the City Council election results are displayed on the Council's website. These merely show the stage at which candidates were elected (and give no indication of the performance of unsuccessful candidates) - to take the West End Ward as an example:

WEST END WARD ..... Turnout - 49.55%

Donald Hay - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Elected at Stage 8

Fraser Macpherson - Liberal Democrat Focus Team
Elected at Stage 1

James Walker Barrie - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Elected at Stage 1

Richard McCready - Scottish Labour
Elected at Stage 1

This really gives the reader no impression as to how the three candidates who were elected at Stage 1 performed in relation to one another, or how many first preference votes they received.

Yesterday, after a briefing for newly elected councillors, members were given a full breakdown of the results, and the following therefore gives a more meaningful impression of candidate performance in the West End.

It should be noted that, despite all the complications of surpluses transferred as candidates win or get eliminated (there were 8 stages of the Count in our Ward), in fact the four candidates at the top right at the start were the candidates finally elected. As one party (the nationalists) had more than one candidate here, I have indicated the winning and losing candidates.

West End Ward - First Preference Votes

Elected Candidates

Fraser Macpherson, Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team 1693

Richard McCready, Scottish Labour 1331

Jim Barrie, SNP (winning) 1326

Donald Hay, Scottish Conservative and Unionist 738

Not Elected

Chic Brodie, SNP (losing) 495

George Burton, Green 307

Luke Ivory, Solidarity 95

Angela Gorrie, SSP 69

I spoke yesterday to the Council's public relations department and suggested that a link beside each ward result on the website to take you to a PDF of the full breakdown would be a helpful addition.

The list (and mug shots!) of all 29 new council members are now on the Council website and you can follow a link to this by clicking on the headline above.

Session Street proposed Traffic Order

I have received the following notice from the City Council about a proposed Traffic Order in the West End Ward area :

Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating works for a new commercial and housing development. The Order is expected to be in force for sixty five weeks from 21 May 2007. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Session Street from the north side of the entrance to the Jahangir Indian restaurant for a distance of 60 metres or thereby in a northerly direction.

Access to the Jahangir Restaurant will be maintained from Hawkhill.

An alternative route will be available via Hawkhill, Horsewater Wynd and Guthrie Street for westbound traffic, and via Hawkhill, Brown Street and Guthrie Street for eastbound traffic.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to Andy Scrimgeour, Network Management Team, Planning and Transportation Department, Tayside House, Crichton Street, Dundee, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date.

If you have any queries please contact Mr Scrimgeour on 433168.

Presentation to Neil, Windsor Street, Council negotiations

A very enjoyable West End Community Council meeting last night at which Bailie Neil Powrie's enormous contribution to the West End over nearly 28 years on three local authorities (Dundee District Council, Tayside Regional Council and latterly Dundee City Council) was rightly recognised.

Iain Luke, my predecessor as councillor for the now abolished Tay Bridges Ward, and former MP for Dundee East, gave an excellent speech about Neil's contribution to both the West End and to the political scene in the City, and Neil was presented with a gift (see above right - Neil knows he's featuring on the blog as I asked his permission!)

Also at the Community Council last night, following on from the article in my May 2007 West End Community Council Update about road safety at the Windsor Street/Perth Road junction, I suggested Community Council representatives and I meet with Planning & Transportation Officers on-site about the problems. Am also keen that the other West End Councillors participate.

A good piece by Brian Allison in the Courier this morning about the Council Administration negotiations (click on headline above to view). Helen (my council colleague) and I had very constructive talks with all other 3 parties yesterday. Clearly, the outcome of any negotiations will depend on policies and the way forward each groups sees as best for the City in terms of the delivery of services.

We will be studying carefully the manifestos given to us by others as will the other parties in relation to ours. All parties will consult their members and I have no doubt other parties will be meeting each other.

Bridge Tolls to stay?

Reading the article "Greens set to back SNP minority government" in the Courier this morning (click on headline above to view story), I was reminded of the letter I received from a Green Party supporter some months ago, criticising the Liberal Democrats on the City Council for backing a Council motion (supported by Labour, Conservative & SNP as well as ourselves) calling for removal of tolls on the Tay Bridge.

The Greens, he made clear, strongly support retention of the tolls on the Tay Bridge (despite the clear unfairness of the fact that tolls on the Erskine and Skye bridges have already gone but ours remain) and the actions of the Greens in the parliament indicates they have consistently supported tolls retention.

The question has to be asked, if the Greens are genuinely to try to prop up Alex Salmond, is the price of this that the SNP drops its tolls abolition policy?

I have never been much convinced of the SNP's so-called conversion to 'no tolls' on the Tay and Forth Bridges. Let's quote from an SNP press release during the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election early last year:

"The SNP is campaigning for a freeze in the level of tolls on the Forth road bridge at £1."

(source : http://www.snp.org/press-releases/2006/snp_press_release.2006-01-26.2988114605/view?searchterm=tolls)

So I think we need reassurance from Mr Salmond as to what he is giving away to the Greens in return for their support.

PS : I did not think the body language of Robin Harper, Shiona Baird and Patrick Harvie as they left St Andrew's House (or indeed that of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon) gave any indication that talks had been exactly a meeting of minds.

May Community Council Update

If you click on the headline above, you can read my update for tomorrow night's West End Community Council meeting.

Way forward, Utility Box fly-posting

Yesterday saw our councillors from across Scotland meeting in Perth to discuss ways forward. Obviously different Councils have different priorities and will form differing administrations depending on local circumstances, but it was good to meet colleagues. Although some disappointments in a few councils, the picture is generally very good.

I was asked (along with Kate Dean, who has been the LibDem Council Leader in Aberdeen) to speak to a group of new councillors in authorities where we had not had representation in the past. It is brilliant to see the breakthroughs in places like Clackmannanshire, North Lanarkshire, Stirling, North Ayrshire, etc, and having originally been the sole LibDem on Dundee City Council (no longer the case!) I was able to explain the need to work with others.

There was an update on national negotiations and it is very clear that Nicol & team are simply not going to waver in making no independence referendum a precondition of any talks with the SNP Parliamentary Party. Totally agree with this. I made the point that there are equally concerns about the huge list of SNP spending commitments which are frankly not properly costed and I said this will make a national partnership agreement with the SNP exceptionally difficult to achieve. The SNP is simply not going to deliver what it promised. The audience burst into applause when I said that. Methinks an SNP minority administration is on the cards in Holyrood.

I also spoke on the Tay Talk In, pointing out why we do not support an independence referendum. People had the right to choose independence last Thursday by voting for parties that support separation (SNP, Greens, Solidarity and SSP) but far less than half the people of Scotland did. We are hardly going to support a costly referendum designed to deliver something we are diametrically opposed to! Talking on the Talk-In was a total challenge – on my mobile, in a covered car park in Perth, with poor mobile reception, not really able to hear what Ally the Talk-In presenter was asking me!!

I am trying to keep our LibDem members fully updated on any discussions involving myself & my colleague Helen with the other groups on the Council. The Courier this morning fairly summed up the current situation (click on headline above to read this). I am the only “surviving” group leader as Bruce Mackie and Jill Shimi (formerly Conservative and Labour Group Leaders) stood down from the City Council and Willie Sawers (formerly SNP Group Leader) chose not to stand for the SNP Group Leadership on the new City Council.

This morning I spoke with all three new group leaders and agreed to meet the SNP tomorrow morning, the Conservatives at lunchtime and Labour later in the evening (quite late on actually as I want to go to West End Community Council tomorrow night!) The basic principles Helen and I are working on is that policy comes before position, how “workable” an administration arrangement is matters greatly (decision making process, involving all in the administration) and that the arrangements are sufficiently robust to last the whole four years.

I am keen to read others’ manifestos (I am giving them all copies of ours) and if today’s calls to all three parties are to go by, I think a constructive exchange of views is probable.

If you go to http://www.dundee.prai.co.uk/news/000518.html you can read about my complaint about the Solidarity Party and the disgraceful fly-posting of utility boxes in the West End (and indeed right across the City). According to the Courier today, Solidarity’s response is that I am highlighting their irresponsible behaviour as a smokescreen to hide some apparent disastrous LibDem electoral performance. Sorry, Solidarity, the disastrous electoral performance was yours. What I was highlighting was the complaints from dozens of West End residents about the mess left by supporters of this party and I hope we’ll see them clean the posters off right away.

Election Aftermath

During the election campaign, I always said it would be like getting our lives back after the election! So it was really good yesterday to have a day almost devoid of elections, politics and the Council. Our older son was off to Rome on holiday after wearing out much shoe leather in the run-up to 3rd May so having dropped him at Edinburgh Airport, we had a nice day out in South Queensferry (see picture!), where my late grandparents lived for many years. Great lunch too!

There was great hilarity in the Macpherson household yesterday morning when we read Steve Bargeton’s column in the Courier. He’d picked up the spelling error in the letter sent by my campaign to postal voters. I think anyone who has received the 60 FOCUS newsletters I have produced in the West End over the past 6 years knows that my spelling and grammar is pretty good; so just for the record, if you click on the headline above, you can see what was sent as a PDF to party HQ who were undertaking the mail merge to personalise the letter. Some ‘helpful’ party worker decided to retype it to convert the document to MS Word; unfortunately what was then produced was not exactly a faithful replication of the original! Such is life.

The reality of election campaigns is that, whatever party you are standing for, it is an exceptionally busy and demanding time, and mistakes happen in all campaigns. The Labour Party in Coldside Ward managed to produce a leaflet urging people to support “Cowan” on one side, but “Cowans” on the other. I do not doubt that Dave Cowan knows perfectly well how to spell his name!

In reality, there were more serious errors which simply didn’t help the electorate get to grips with the new STV electoral system. The Tory candidate in East End Ward (“a well known haridresser in Broughty Ferry” – we assume that is a hairdresser) made this amazing statement :

“The new method of electing Councillors by Single Transferable Vote means that you have three votes at this election … All she asks is that you give her one of these votes.”

Absolute rubbish and no wonder some voters put three Xs on their Council voting paper. I was speaking with a Labour councillor yesterday who (although he won comfortably) said how infuriating it was to see X against his name & that of his running mate, and with a couple of Xs on the paper, the paper was made void.

The information to voters was simply not done well enough. And although I have mentioned above the confusing messages from a candidate, fundamentally the official information was too late, too confusing and ultimately the fault of the Scottish Executive.

There were only 88 rejected papers in my West End Ward (but I can tell you that many of these were people genuinely trying to make a vote/preference, not just spoil their paper). In Coldside Ward, where the LibDem candidate was last to be eliminated and lost by a whisker, there were 256 “spoilt” papers.

Back to the Steve Bargeton column … Steve gets it absolutely right when he says the electoral administration across Scotland was “an absolute shambles.” Dundee’s election administration was probably the best in Scotland (our Count ran really smoothly and the electronic counting here did actually work) but even then I have some real concerns about the postal vote administration and have already been in touch with the Council’s Chief Executive about this. I stress the fault lies fairly and squarely with the Scottish Executive and their contractors DRS, not with the City Council. Indeed, here in Dundee, City Council officers saved the day in getting the postal ballots posted out.

There have been calls for the Council elections to be held on a different day than the Scottish Parliament. I do not agree with this. The voters are now asked to vote for local councillors, MSPs, MPs, MEPs and the occasionally referendum – it is all overkill. The problem was three different electoral systems on the same day :

First past the post for the MSP constituency members
Regional list vote for the “top up” MSPs
Single transferable vote for local councils

A single voting system (ie moving the parliament to STV) would mean that there would be two votes only & the ballot papers would be filled in the same way. It would also remove the “two classes” of MSP – it is difficult to defend the “regional members” system, many of whom are simply people who failed to get elected in the “real” election.

One last thing. I won’t weep at the departure of many of the minor “parties” from the Scottish parliament, but I do agree with John Swinburne of the SSCUP about the way in which “Alex Salmond for First Minister” appeared at the top the regional ballot paper. Swinburne says in the Herald yesterday, “If you saw Alex Salmond’s name on the top of the list you would presume that you’re voting for him, wouldn’t you? Of course you would. It’s sharp practice.” I am of the view that registered political parties should not be allowed to name individuals in any of the party descriptions they register for use on ballot paper. One for the Electoral Commission I think, but having had dealings with that organisation in the past, don’t hold your breath!

Ure Street

I have been advised of the following by the City Council :

"Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating drainage connection works. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 14 May 2007.

Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic Ure Street at a point 100 metres or thereby south of Blackness Road.

Access to premises will be maintained from either end of Ure Street.

An alternative route will be available via Bellfield Street and Ure Street.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to Mark Cobb, Network Management Team, Planning and Transportation Department, Tayside House, Crichton Street, Dundee, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date.
If you have any queries please contact Mr Cobb on 433168."

And ... thanks to all for their congratulations today ...

It has been a lovely day with lots of phone calls and e-mails from residents pleased at the West End Ward result yesterday - many thanks to you all. I paste a few of these below :

'Congratulations on your re-election! You deserve a wee holiday now i think... ;-) '

'Warm congratulations, Fraser! Already I've heard from several people who are as delighted as I am that you are back in. Well done topping the poll! We really do appreciate how hard you work for the West End. Long may that be the case. Hope you and Janet will have a chance to celebrate this weekend! '

'Congratulations, Fraser, on topping the poll in the West End! As I am sure you know, this is because you have represented us effectively 24/7 and throughout the year. Rather different from the candidates who spring up like mushrooms before an election, and are virtually never heard of thereafter. I hope you will however find time to relax this weekend and enjoy your success. '

Thank you, West End!

Can I thank everyone in the West End who voted for me yesterday! I am delighted to have topped the poll in the West End Ward, ahead of Labour, SNP and Conservative (who got the 2nd, 3rd and 4th slots in the ward representation).

A few more thank you's if you don't mind! Firstly to Janet who was (as always) my superb agent (wife also!!) and campaign organiser; to all Dundee LibDems who helped as well as the many local residents who lent their time to help me on a personal basis; and to all my family and friends.

To top the poll in the large new STV ward was a super result and I'll continue to work extremely hard for everyone in the West End.

I'm also delighted that Helen Dick, my council colleague and sister-in-law, was re-elected in Strathmartine Ward. Although we had no further gains this year, we came exceptionally close in wards like Coldside, Maryfield, East End and Lochee. Although it is disappointing for candidates to be eliminated at the very final stage, we made staggering progress in these wards. On a day that doesn't see a large national swing to the SNP (ie next time!) we will see LibDem gains across the City. Also pleased at the progress at parliamentary level in both Dundee constituencies; it is good to see progress when being squeezed in a close race could have happened but didn't.

I was asked by the press on leaving the Count what I felt about the results. I said that the Liberal Democrats in Dundee will work in co-operation with other councillors for the good of the City, just as we have always done.

We have a number of priorities, indicated in our manifesto - including a modernised and slimmed down structure for the Council (both politically and departmentally), tight control of Council Tax levels, properly tackling the issue of unadopted pavments and graffiti in the City, expansion of recycling facilities and ensuring the continued provision of quality services by Dundee City Council - to name just a few. You can download our manifesto by clicking on the headline above.

I look forward to working for the West End and our City over the next four years.

Polling Day approaches!

As I am doing up to 15 hours a day campaigning across the West End in the run-up to polling day on Thursday, updating the blog may be problematic before Friday!

However, I print below a message to the people of the West End, and thank everyone for such a positive and warm reception to what has proved to be the most enjoyable election campaign I have been involved in!

Dear Resident

The first duty of any councillor is to provide a service to all the people in his or her Ward.

Since being elected as one of the West End’s councillors in 2001, I have tried to show what this concept of service should mean. I have helped many hundreds of residents with issues and problems, and I have kept you in touch with what’s going on through regular FOCUS newsletters – now having reached its 60th edition.

If you re-elect me as your Councillor, I promise to carry on these services. I will be available at all times to listen to residents’ views and continue to deal efficiently with matters of local concern.

I hope I have shown you what a hard-working Councillor I have been – and will continue to be – for the West End. I hope you can put your trust in me and in the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team.

Kind regards

Fraser

Pavements - Blackness Road

I recently mentioned in my FOCUS newsletter about the planned footpath upgrade in part of Blackness Road. This is now underway as the photos below show. Many thanks indeed to Donald Suttie (www.rockwellmedia.co.uk) for these.

Six Cities Design Festival

The Six Cities Design Festival has finalised its programme of events and exhibitions. The festival will celebrate and promote design in all of Scotland's six cities, and Dundee is playing a leading part.

By checking http://www.six-cities.com/ you can have a look at the varied line-up and book a place for any of the events that might take your interest.

Milnbank Road and Morven Terrace

Had complaints from residents that the electricity sub-station in Milnbank Road (near to Bankmill Road and the playpark) is badly graffitied (see right). I have reported this to Scottish & Southern Electric asking for it to be tidied up.

In my recent FOCUS Special Edition for Ancrum and Pentland areas, I highlighted the visit I had recently made to meet residents in Morven Terrace who pointed out that the pavement at the entrance is so narrow that many elderly people walk at the side of the road and there is no "Elderly Persons Crossing" warning sign near the entrance (there is one in the car park; rather the wrong location!) Furthermore a "slow" sign as you exit the Terrace is bent and covered by a hedge. Having reported this to the City Council, I have now had the following feedback from the Director of Planning & Transportation :

"The site has been investigated. and I have requested the maintenance section to repair / replace the 'bent' sign and arrange for the foliage to be cut back. The 'elderly persons' crossing sign will be repositioned."

Support coming from many places!!

Dundee Double for Sheena!

With thanks to Sheena Wellington for this latest news :

Dundee singer Sheena Wellington will be appearing at both of the city’s Universities next week!

On Monday 30th April, she’ll be providing the songs at The Big Work Debate hustings at Abertay (tickets from andrewscott@number10.org or 01382 221545).

On Saturday 5th May she’ll be at Dundee University Chaplaincy for an evening of music and song relating to the period around the Act of Union of 1707 (Tickets £5.00 from d.j.patrick@dundee.ac.uk 07732 752 609) Also appearing

The Chaplaincy event, which will include a performance of Sir John Clark of Penicuik’s Leo Scotiae and songs from Mark Ashmore and Nicola Cowmeadow, has meant a lot of research particularly on the pro-Union songs.

“The Unionist cause may have won in 1707 but they certainly lost the battle of the songs!” said Sheena “We were spoiled for choice with the anti-Union & Jacobite material but it was a struggle finding a couple of Whig songs worth singing which were reasonably contemporary with the events!”

Sheena has sung at several of Lesley Riddoch’s Votepods has enjoyed the passion and power of the debates and expects Dundee to top the lot. Her efforts to appear in strictly non partisan colours took a knock at the Glasgow event when the Scottish Voice candidate arrived wearing a rosette the exact lilac shade of her suit!

Details:-
‘Ane end of ane old song’: An evening of music and song from the Union of 1707 and its aftermath

University of Dundee, Chaplaincy Centre
Saturday, 5 May 2007
7.30pm
with Mark Ashmore (bass), Nicola Cowmeadow (soprano), Graeme Stevenson Ensemble & Sheena Wellington

Tickets cost £5.00 and are available from Dr Derek J. Patrick d.j.patrick@dundee.ac.uk or call 07732 752 609 for information and bookings.

The Great Work Debate, April 30th – 7.00pm,
Main Lecture Theatre, Abertay University, Dundee.
Music from Sheena Wellington. Free tickets by e-mailing the organisers andrewscott@number10.org at Dundee Voluntary Action or phone 01382 221545

Consultation on proposed traffic orders - West End and City Centre

The City Council has advised me of Notices of Proposal related to Traffic Orders that will be advertised in the local press on Friday of this week :

PROPOSAL 1 :

"DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (VARIATION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS)
(NO 2) ORDER 2007

Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of varying the provisions of several Waiting Restriction Orders affecting the City. The effect of the Order is set out in the Schedule below.

Full details of the proposals are contained in the draft Order which together with plans showing the lengths of road affected and a Statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined during normal office hours and without payment of fee during a period of 21 days from 27 April 2007 at the following addresses: -

1. Dundee City Council Offices, 4th Floor Reception, 21 City Square, Dundee.
2. Broughty Ferry Neighbourhood Library, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

Any person may within 21 days from 27 April 2007 object to the proposed Order by notice in writing to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), Dundee City Council, 21 City Square, Dundee. Objections should state the name and address of objector, the matters to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made.


SCHEDULE

1. To relieve congestion in Brook Close, Dudhope Crescent Road Car Park Access Road, Fisher Street, Broughty Ferry, George Street/Quarryknowe, Long Lane, Magdalen Yard Road/Richmond Terrace and Upper Constitution Street.
2. To protect sightlines in Forest Park Place/Forest Park Road, Forthill Road, Liff Road/Quarryside/Perrie Street, Lochee Road and Strathmore Avenue."

(There are 5 more parts to the schedule but the two above include all those related to the West End, amongst others)

PROPOSAL 2 :

"DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984


DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (MEADOWSIDE AT ALBERT SQUARE, DUNDEE)
(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2007


Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. As part of environmental improvements in Albert Square and the relocation of the taxi rank to a point west of Reform Street it is no longer necessary to allow taxis in Meadowside on the south side of Albert Square.

Full details of the proposals are contained in the draft Order, which together with a Statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined during normal office hours and without payment of fee at Dundee City Council offices, Reception, Floor 4, 21 City Square, Dundee by any person, during a period of 21 days from 27 April 2007.

Any person may within 21 days from 27 April 2007 object to the proposed Order by notice in writing to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), Dundee City Council, 21 City Square, Dundee. Objections should state the name and address of the objector, the matters to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made."

Friends of Magdalen Green Blog!

Taking a few minutes out of the local election campaign last night, I have now created a Friends of Magdalen Green blog - with thanks to the Group for the material and photographs used to get it started.

You can access it by clicking the headline above.

Beautiful campaigning day!

Apart from a short time helping Chris Hall, our Lochee Ward candidate in Menzieshill this afternoon, I have spent most of today campaigning in the West End. It was a lovely morning - the photo above was taken in Blackness Road - and I can honestly say that my third election campaign is proving to be by far the most enjoyable.

Very grateful to the City Council's Rapid Response Team who spent one and a half hours yesterday removing graffiti in the area of the 100 steps in Perth Road, following my request.

Good news at Victoria Park!

Further to the recent article and photo about the graffiti mess at Victoria Park (click on headline above to view) - and the promise to me that the City Council would get community services to have it painted, pleased today to see it has been done (see right).

However, there's still a huge amount of graffiti across the City - not just in the West End - and we are specifically proposing an additional Rapid Response Team whose sole responsibility will be graffiti-busting, as part of our 2007 local election campaign in the City.

The local campaign here in the West End is going extremely well and I am most grateful to all residents who have phoned, written or e-mailed with messages of support - much appreciated!

Union Street and new housing office official opening

Following my earlier article about the new West District Housing Office (click on headline above to view), I attended the official opening on Friday. Much improved facilities - for both the public and staff - compared to the previous offices.

I had recently received a complaint about the bus facilities in Union Street. I have now received a response from the Planning & Transportation Department saying that the facilities in Union Street (full length) are to be renewed but as part of the improvement programme for the street, which is some time off. Therefore, meantime, the officer advises - "I will investigate the costs of providing a bench."

Wednesday & Thursday

Attended Blackness Area Residents' Association meeting on Wednesday evening and been spending much time campaigning across the West End.

Yesterday, met with Housing Department staff at Pentland to look at the parking problems. We agreed that I will now formally request that the department carries out a feasibility study to look at options to improve the situation. There are clearly physical limitations - the steepness west of Saggar Street for example - although we did see scope for extending the turning circle area at the top end of Pentland Crescent & providing more parking. This could be done without a loss of trees.

On Saturday past I reported on the blog the damage to the bus stop opposite Clayhills Grove (see previous story by clicking on headline above) - pleased to receive following feedback from the City Council:

"Further to my last e mail the Elite solar bus stop pole that was damaged in Perth Road has been repaired and checked operational."

Monday and Tuesday

Monday morning saw a useful planning meeting of the steering group of Western Cemetery Association - I have put together a blog for the group (click on headline above to view) using material they have gathered.

Last night saw the last full Council and main committee meetings before the May elections. The Finance Committee, which I chair, had a sensible report on ways to increase Direct Debit payment of Council Tax - an area in which the City Council is improving.

Today, Nicol Stephen MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader, visited Dundee and toured the vastly improved facilities at St John's High School. Photos below show Nicol with myself and our Dundee West parliamentary candidate (Michael Charlton) and our other Dundee West City Council candidates (Helen Dick, Chris Hall and Murray Dick); also me at the Nicol Battle Bus!

Tonight, we held a very productive planning meeting of Friends of Magdalen Green.

I'll be posting full details of its inaugural public meeting on the blog in early May.

Magdalen Green, Seafield Lane

Again, a beautiful day! Whilst campaigning earlier on, came across bags of rubbish dumped besides waste bins and dog bins on the edge of Magdalen Green next to Magdalen Yard Road (see right) - I have reported this to the City Council.

Now trawling through my e-mails and note feedback from Home in Scotland regarding my request for a further "Residents' Parking Only" sign residents in Seafield Lane had requested given the extent of other cars parking in the narrow lane:

"...we will arrange for a sign to be put up as soon as possible. Hopefully this will help to alleviate the problem."

Beautiful Saturday!

The Macpherson Team had a super day in the West End (to be accurate, we spent the morning helping elsewhere across the City) but the afternoon was spent in the West End campaigning. The reception has been exceptionally positive and I am grateful to all residents for their support.

Whilst campaigning in Perth Road, I noticed the bus stop information panel opposite Clayhills Grove has been vandalised (see below); have reported this to the City Council.

Can I thank everyone helping us today - a real team effort - many thanks!

Graffiti in the West End again ...

And further to my blog entries earlier this week on the subject of graffiti, pleased to see in tonight's Evening Telegraph that our local Police are stepping up patrols in the West End to hopefully tackle the problem. Click on the headline above to view story.

New housing office

The new West District housing office opens on Monday coming (16th April) and covers council housing services in our area of the City - you can read more about the new office by clicking on the headline above.

Victoria Park

In the recent Evening Telegraph item about graffiti (referred to below) I mentioned the graffiti in Victoria Park residents have complained about.

Pleased therefore to receive this from the City Council Leisure & Communities Department today in relation to the badly graffitied white building :

"I will have community services have this repainted"

Latest West End Updates

Firstly, following a call from a concerned resident today to the effect that the "infra red" detector on the traffic lights at the top of Shepherd's Loan have stopped operating (meaning that your car can sit there forever waiting on the green light), I spoke with the Planning & Transportation Department & the matter will be immediately investigated.

I recently raised the condition of the roadway at the Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout and received the following feedback from the City Council this afternoon:

"Over the winter, the roundabout at Glamis Road / Glamis Drive did receive temporary treatment for pothole defects. The area road inspector has confirmed that these have now been permanently patched with hot material and this work was carried out during the week beginning 02/04/2007."

The Evening Telegraph tonight featured an article about the graffiti issue I mentioned yesterday (click on headline above to view the story) and the paper called me today about the matter I spoke about at the Community Council meeting last night regarding residents' concerns about helicopter noise around the Dundee Airport vicinity. I have been in touch with the Airport Manager about these concerns.

Good news at Sinderins!

Pleased to learn today that the graffiti on the very prominent utilities boxes at Sinderins junction has been cleared off, following my request. As you can see, it looks a whole lot improved.

The Evening Telegraph has contacted me today about the graffiti issue; this is an area where the City Council has been very proactive, reaching agreement with Virgin Media (formerly Telewest) about action to remove graffiti.

One other site I have asked to be given priority given the extent of residents' complaints is at Corso Street (see below left). I have also asked the Leisure & Communities Department to remove graffiti at Victoria Park (below right).

Useful meeting with the River Crescent Residents' Association last night about a number of issues including the noise of helicopters from Dundee Airport.

Tonight the West End Community Council meets - you can get further details/agenda by clicking on the headline above.

West End Community Council Update - April 2007

You can read my latest Community Council Update by clicking on the headline above.

The Community Council meets tomorrow night at Logie St John's Cross Church Hall at 7pm.

Happy Easter!

Can I wish everyone a very Happy Easter.

Beautiful weather has made campaigning in the City Council elections a thoroughly enjoyable experience thus far and we had a super day yesterday in various parts of the City.

The lane closure on South Marketgait has now been temporarily lifted - click on headline above to view more.

Phone Box Success!

Back in December, I raised the issue of the "missing door" on Milnbank Road's phone box and the problems I had encountered trying to get a response from BT to get it fixed. Click on the headline above to view the original story.

Anyway, despite assurances the company would try to fit a new door in January, it didn't happen, so I have since been in touch with BT again and this time it has paid off - there's now a new door on the box - see right (taken in last week's brilliant sunshine!)

Busy week!

In my blog of 17th March, I reported that I had asked the Waste Management Department for a new litter bin in Blackness Street following the bin being burnt (see story by clicking headline above). Pleased to report that a new bin has now been provided (see right).

Grateful to all residents who have wished me the best for May 3rd's City Council elections - really heartened by the really positive feedback locally.

Had a useful meeting with the Lord Provost and representatives of the Western Cemetery Association at the City Chambers yesterday - we are getting to the stage of the Association being formally set up with a Constitution, Office Bearers, etc, which will then allow it to seek funding for improvement works at the Cemetery. The Cemetery has an absolutely fascinating past.

Have been in touch with the City Council again about the graffiti mess at Victoria Park and with Servite Housing about damage to the entrance sign at Muirlands sheltered housing.

Graffiti on Utilities Boxes

Residents will be aware that I have raised with the City Council on numerous occasions the problem of graffiti on utilities boxes. The Council has spoken with the principal owner (a TV cable company) and agreement has been reached regarding removal.

The council surveyed the problem across the City and is now tackling them. I recently specifically sent reminders about Sinderins and also raised the issue at Ancrum Drive/Road (and some others), following residents' complaints. I have received this feedback from Waste Management today, which is helpful :

"I've asked the team to prioritise the boxes at Sinderins and to rank the other boxes in order of priority. We are aware of the boxes at Ancrum."

Benvie Road, Mitchell Street, Fyffe Street

Spent the last few days campaigning right across the West End, with super feedback (and rather super weather too!)

Had the following feedback from the Acting Chief Engineer about my request to resurface Fyffe Street and Benvie Road (road surfaces really poor) :

"I have asked one of the officers to inpect Fyffe Street and Benvie Road. The 07/08 programme is just about completed."

With regard to graffiti problems in the Fyffe Street and Benvie Road area, good feedback from Waste Management whose officers have spoken with local businesses. They have agreed to remove graffiti on their premises - the department will equally be removing graffiti from the Mitchell Street Centre area.

Latest updates

Had a very helpful meeting with Perth Road area tenants - who are threatened with eviction - last night - reported in today's Courier - hope to meet with landlord's solicitor (and tenant reps) w/c 10th April.

Tonight's Tele had an article about my concerns about the problems facing residents in the Pentland area getting parked and also my letter about tackling litter problems in Nethergate.

Spent the day helping Dundee East colleagues campaigning although pleased also to hear from 2 Logie Estate residents about graffiti removal and bins issues.

Lastly, the new Greenmarket Car Park opens on Sunday; click on the headline above to view more.

Parking in Pentland

As residents will recall, I have highlighted various parking problems in the West End in the past.

The last local edition of FOCUS the old Tay Bridges Ward area gave good news regarding proposals for residents’ priority parking and the consultation to take place on these. This should go a good way to helping the parking issues around the Sinderins area and eastwards along the Perth Road from there, including many adjacent streets.

Now, a number of Pentland area residents have highlighted to me the problem of parking in streets like Saggar Street, Pentland Crescent and other nearby streets (see photo).

As the Housing Department has responsibility for estates management in the area, I have contacted the Department and am pleased to advise that the West District Housing Manager has agreed to meet me on-site to look at possible solutions. Further updates on the blog in due course!

Latest update ....

A few days since I have been able to pause for breath and update the blog - so here goes!

Firstly, many of you will have read in the local press on Saturday and heard me on local radio yesterday about the deep concern of a number of tenants regarding a local landlord who has served eviction notices on them, despite their being long-standing and good tenants. I am of the view that the tenants have been treated very badly and the comments by the landlord in Saturday's Courier accusing me of "electioneering" for having the cheek to speak out on behalf of constituents, were highly inappropriate.

I am pleased to advise that I have spoken with the landlord's solicitor today who has apologised on his client's behalf for the comments in the press. He has proposed a meeting with myself and tenant representatives and I will be speaking with the tenants about this and hope that we will soon have a proper solution to this that allows the tenants to remain in their homes.

On another local matter, pleased to get the following information from the Council's street lighting department about the faulty lighting in the car park near the Muirlands sheltered housing (there has been an issue as to responsibility here - i.e. is it privately maintained by the Housing Association or part of the adopted street lighting?) :-

"I have made contact with Servite Housing and have arrange a meeting on site ... to try and resolve this situation. In the short term I have repaired the lights."

Residents are naturally delighted the lighting is back on.

Janet & I were delighted to attend Wave 102's Local Hero Awards last Friday night (see photo!) I had the real pleasure of presenting the "Contribution to Charity" award to Pat Stevenson, who has done so much for Advocating Together (Dundee) - a superb local organisation helping people with learning disabilities - and based in my ward in Ryehill Lane.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable night - and a great credit to Wave 102 - let's hope the Local Hero Awards will be an annual feature in the Dundee calendar.

Wednesday/Thursday

Was on both Radio Tay news and news on Wave 102 yesterday speaking about Council Tax collection.

This morning, helping my Lochee LibDem Team with leaflet distribution, came across the filming of the latest View video in Dryburgh (see above) - you can read the story from yesterday's Courier by clicking on the headline above. A fair turnout of people to see what's going on!


Following complaints about the mess/derbis/glass around the Scottish Water waste water pumping station on Riverside Drive, I have had the following feedback from Scottish Water:


"I have requested that the ground of Windsor Street waste water pumping station be tidied up and all debris removed."

Week thus far ...

Had a very busy week thus far with constituents' queries and issues. At Council committees on Monday night, I spoke on a couple of matters:

• The summary of the 2006 Air Quality Updating and Screening Assessment for Dundee was on the Environmental Services and Sustainability Committee. The particulate matter concentrations in Union Street were above average. The report to committee indicated this will have been adversely affected by major construction projects in the vicinity. However, I sought assurances that this will be closely monitored and this assurance was given.
• The Communities Committee included detail of a consultation process on the future of Community Councils, given the new ward arrangements. This is to be welcomed, although I stressed that a "one size fits all" approach would not be appropriate. In some places it may be an exiting Community Council will comfortably 'fit' into the new STV ward area. However, in others, a combination of different Community Councils in an STV ward (or other representative organisations) may be the more appropriate way forward.

The Blackness Area Residents' Association AGM takes place tonight (with bingo afterwards) in the Corso Street sheltered lounge at 6.30pm. The West District Housing Manager is the speaker - on local housing issues.

Spring Clean Balgay Hill

There will be a spring clean on Balgay Hill this afternoon (1pm to 3pm) involving Friends of Balgay, Countryside Rangers and others.

You can read more about Balgay Hill by clicking on the headline above.