Autumn Workshops at the Wighton

Latest news from Friends of Wighton with thanks to Sheena Wellington (click on headline above for more information) :

The autumn season at the Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library starts with a free Come’nTry day on Saturday 1st September, 11am – 3pm.

Members of the public will get a chance to try out whistle, fiddle and medieval harp under the expert guidance of Helen Forbes, Karen Hannah read and Simon Chadwick.

Regular classes start on Saturday 8th September, fees for each session being £4/£2.50 concessions.

For those interested in traditional song there is a regular Tuesday afternoon workshop, tutored by Maureen Jelks, from 2-3.30pm in the Wighton Heritage Centre.

The first of the Autumn Lunchtime Recitals with Graeme Stevenson on harpsichord takes place on Wednesday 5th September from 1.15 -1.45pm. Admission is free, donations in support of the programme are welcome.

Bus Timetables

Following the update I did in July regarding the Stagecoach Strathtay bus services that run through the West End (click on headline above to view), the bus company has kindly sent me updated timetables for the various services it runs through the West End.

If you’d like me to send you copies, please e-mail me at buses@frasermacpherson.org.uk or come along to the September West End Community Council meeting (Logie St John’s Cross Church Hall, 7pm, Tuesday 11th September) where copies will be available.

Timetables include :

Tayway Service 13 : Monifieth to Ninewells Hospital via Hawkhill and Perth Road

Tayway Service 39 : Montrose to Invergowrie via the Perth Road shopping area

Service 5 : City Centre to Tullideph Road via Brook Street and Pentland Avenue (the infamous timetable with Tullideph spelt wrongly as featured in the local press)

Service 72 : Tayport to Ninewells Hospital, including Roseangle, Magdalen Yard Road, Windsor Street, Speed Street, Newhall Gardens, Invergowrie Drive and Victoria Hospital

Service 74 : Barnhill to Hawkhill & return via Perth Road shopping area

Fife Stagecoach Service 42/96 : Cupar/St Andrews to Ninewells via Perth Road

Dog Bin

Residents have brought to my attention that there used to be a dog waste bin at the end of the tunnel going underneath Riverside Avenue from the Perth Road, near to the boundary with Invergowrie.

It has disappeared and I have therefore asked the City Council's Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department to replace it.

Recycling and refuse again

Last Friday I mentioned West End recycling and refuse issues (click on headline above to view) and here's a couple of updates:

Firstly, with regard to the possibility of siting one of the mini-recycling units for the Abbotsford/Corso area adjacent to the commercial units in Peddie Street, I am pleased to have been informed by the City Council that the private landowner has agreed to this. The City Council will now progress with consultation letters regarding the other two proposed sites to get residents' feedback.

Secondly, last Friday, I mentioned the "second phase" of the wheeled bin refuse extension in the West End. I have now been advised that two more streets are proposed to be added :

Palais Court (No's 29 - 43)

Pleasance Court - No's 48 - 78 (Off Brook St)

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

It is amazing just how much has been crammed into the past few days! Leaving aside that I am burning the midnight oil with my day job (currently exceptionally busy), I chaired the TACTRAN (Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership) Board meeting on Tuesday, plus participated in two other internal TACTRAN meetings (Tuesday/today) and a TACTRAN induction session on Tuesday too, so I am all TACTRANed out! That said, find it very interesting and worthwhile working with colleagues across the Tayside and Stirling Council areas on transport and related matters.

On Wednesday morning, the Lord Provost and I visited the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland on the 'Alba Explorer' (see picture above right) during its visit to the Victoria Dock in Dundee. 'Alba Explorer' is a 72’ ocean going yacht formerly operated by Chay Blythe’s Global Challenge business now owned by the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. The Trust does really super work encouraging young people to learn about the challenges of sailing - you can read more about this by clicking the headline above.

A busy set of surgeries tonight at Mitchell Street Centre, Harris Academy and Blackness Primary School with various issues including licensing and cleansing matters for me to follow up.

Delighted to see the request for barbecue stands on Magdalen Green I had made to the City Council following requests from Friends of Magdalen Green has resulted in two very sturdy ones being installed - a great result and many thanks to the Leisure & Communities Department.

Lastly, talking of cramming things into a few days, hats off to SNP councillor Nigel Don (err, or should that not be ex-councillor Nigel Don) who in Monday's Evening Telegraph "vowed to continue with his roles as North East Scotland MSP and Lochee councillor" but by today had dumped the councillor role. Nigel's a thoroughly nice man, who I first met when he was my SNP opponent when I won the Tay Bridges Ward by-election back in 2001, but I must say the volte face between the position on Monday and the resignation today is quite incredible. One can only speculate at the internal manoeverings within the Dundee SNP, but what we are left with is that a councillor elected in May for four years has resigned before four months are out and the public purse is saddled with the significant cost of an unnecessary by-election.

Development Quality Committee

At Development Quality Committee last night, councillors discussed around 20 planning applications. I moved refusal of a couple in the West End, including an application for a proposed advertising unit in Riverside Drive. Being immediately north of the waterfront, I felt the siting of this was inappropriate, partly because of the adverse effect on the amenity of the locality but also because of public safety on such a heavily trafficked road.

In a tight vote, my motion was successful by two votes.

Phone box update

Further to the blog entry on Saturday about the telephone box on Magdalen Yard Road opposite Step Row being vandalised (click on headline above to read), pleased to advise that BT e-mailed me this morning to advise that they have programmed in repairs following my request.

Blyth Street and Fleuchar Street - white lines

Having had complaints about the worn junction lines here, I have taken up the matter with the City Council and am pleased to note the feedback :

'I agree that the give way markings at the junction of Blyth Street and Fleuchar Street require to be refreshed. As such I have arranged for this junction and others locally to be repainted. A work order has been issued to Tayside Contracts and the work should be carried out within the next few weeks.'

Phone Box vandalism reported ...

Residents have complained to me that the telephone box on Magdalen Yard Road opposite Step Row has graffiti on it and one of the glass panels has been broken. I have reported this to British Telecom, asking for repairs.

Delighted to see Friends of Magdalen Green getting a mention in the Criagie column in today's "Courier."

Recycling and wheelie bin refuse collections ...

On Wednesday, I attended the August meeting of Blackness Area Residents' Association and the issue of the proposed mini recycling units in Corso Street, Abbotsford Street and Abbotsford Place was again raised. Back at the start of July, I attended a public meeting BARA held on the matter (click on headline above to view the details) and since the latest BARA meeting I have received an update from the Waste Management Department as follows:

"I have received confirmation from the P&T department that they agree to the new proposed locations for the recycling facilities. However I have been informed that the piece of land on Peddie Street where we propose to site one of the facilities belongs to a private landowner. We therefore are required to ask permission from the landowner to use the piece of land. Obviously if the landowner refuses we will be unable to use the site.

"... It was agreed ... that once we have received confirmation from the P&T department we would letter the nearby households for consultation and depending on response then decide whether to proceed with the installation of the sites. It was my intention to letter the nearby households for all three sites at once. However if there is going to be a delay with the Peddie Street site, we can proceed and letter the other two sites first."

Hopefully progress towards getting recycling facilities into Abbotsford and Corso on sites acceptable to residents.

I have also been advised that, following the recent refuse wheelie bins extension into parts of the West End (replacing the "traditional" collection), a second phase is about to commence. I list below the streets in the second phase. There were a number of issues residents raised with me when the first phase was introduced and there was much liaison with Waste Management at that time to get concerns addressed. If any resident has any issues or concerns about the latest extension, do please contact me at blogcomments@frasermacpherson.org.uk or call me on 459378. Anyway, here's the list of "second phase" streets :

Airlie Place (No's 6,7,8,10,12,14,16,18)
Bellfield Street (St Joseph's Schoolhouse)
Brook Street (No 82.Above Veterinary)
Cross Lane
Ford's Lane
Fort Street
Greenfield Place
Mid Wynd (4 flats from 79 Perth Rd, Ryehill. (1E,1F,2E,2F) & Purdom Hse
Minto Place
Nethergate - West Of Marketgait (No 125)
Old Hawkhill
Pennycook Lane
Richmond Terrace
Roseangle (Except No 50 - 60)
Ryehill Lane
St. Peter Street
Tay Square (except No 10 - already has w/b)
Tay Street - South (Nos.43-79 & 56)
Temple Lane
West Port
Windsor Court (140's)
Windsor Street

Busy couple of days ...

A busy couple of days with City Council meetings resuming yesterday, after the summer recess.

At the Planning & Transport Committee, which I chair, we had news of useful progress towards getting the final section of that ugly old overhead walkway at the railway station end of South Marketgait finally removed. Earlier yesterday, in the comfortable surroundings of the Tartan Coffee House in Perth Road, we held the first meeting of the 2007 West End Christmas Week committee, with lots of useful new ideas to make the 2007 event special and different. Having been involved in organising the West End Christmas Week since it started in 2001, it is difficult to believe that we are already at Year 7!

Also yesterday, the Evening Telegraph again featured the graffiti problem in part of the West End (click on headline above to view) - I am pleased to note that the City Council advised me that they would tackle the removal of remaining graffiti in the Blackness Road area yesterday.

This afternoon, I attended the 'Greater Balgay Stakeholder Group' meeting, at which Friends of Balgay, Leisure & Communities staff and West End councillors meet to discuss issues affecting Balgay Park (including the cemetery) and Victoria Park. Later on, a very useful initial meeting between some residents of the Cleghorn/Pentland/Ancrum areas with the West End councillors and our local communities officer to discuss local issues and consider a possible community group for the area.

Steps from Tullideph Street to Lochee Road

I recently received complaints from residents about the condition of the steps here and, having taken up with matter with Dundee Contract Services, am pleased to have now had the following feedback :

"Further to your earlier enquiry I confirm that we have now received an instruction from Economic Development to have the bushes etc. in the area cleaned up.

These works will be carried out within the next two weeks."

Pentland recycling

On behalf of residents I recently asked about the possibility of extending the blue (paper) recycling service to Pentland. I have now received the following response from the Waste Management Department :

"The "Pentland" area hasn't been included as yet - vehicle access difficulties seem to be the major bugbear in this general location according to my operational colleagues. I've asked them to consider it for future evaluation."

Blackness Road graffiti tackled

If you click the headline above, you can read the story in tonight's Evening Telegraph about the unfortunate appearance of more graffiti locally - this time on Blackness Road.

Following this matter being raised with me yesterday, I was in touch with the City Council Waste Management Department about it and I am pleased to say the graffiti has now been removed (earlier today) - I have also reported the matter to Tayside Police.

Jedburgh Road

Residents have complained to me about the state of the road surface here. I have now had the following feedback from the City Council :

Area supervisor has visited site and will make arrangements for potholes to be repaired.

Temporary Traffic Order - Apollo Way

I've been advised that Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating carriageway resurfacing works.

The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 27 August 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 Apollo Way from Riverside Avenue to Explorer Road.

Pedestrian access will be maintained.

An alternative route will be available via Riverside Avenue, Kingsway, Myrekirk Road, South Road and Explorer Road.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the 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 the City Council on 433168.

Update on West End recycled jewellery project

Further to Saturday's blog entry about this (see below!) you can now hand in any jewellery donations at the Tartan Coffee House, 53 Perth Road.

West End pavements

I am pleased to note that, following my request that the pavements in Menzieshill Road, Whitefauld Road and Hillside Terrace are included on the Unadopted Footways List for future adoption, I have been advised that they will be added at the next review.

West End recycled jewellery project

I have been speaking recently with Fiona Coull - Fiona is a fourth year Jewellery and Metalwork student at Duncan of Jordanstone.

She's studying for her dissertation and looking in to how to be an ethical jeweller, without compromising good quality design.

Fiona says, "I am researching the possibility of maintaining an ecological workshop, and rethinking jewellery practices to maintain 'green' ethics.

"Classmates and I have set aside week in September in which we will hopefully transform unwanted trinkets in to fresh, interesting new pieces of jewellery. This project aims to prove or disprove my theory that jewellery can be created to a very high standard using unorthodox materials and still prove beautiful, practical and appealing.

"DCA has agreed to exhibit final products so our local community can see the results for themselves."

Materials Fiona is looking for include: any precious/semi-precious/costume jewellery that is no longer worn or wanted by the owner. Any old cutlery, old foreign currency, badges and/or unwanted trinkets also appreciated.

All donations are very welcome - please contact Fiona at F.L.Coull@dundee.ac.uk - if you can help. Fiona hopes to arrange a couple of places in the West End where people can drop off items and I'll update the blog with these locations once they are arranged.

Riverside Avenue

I have been advised by the City Council that, in order to undertake patching of the roadway, Riverside Avenue will be closed to traffic between the Swallow roundabout and the junction with Apollo Way at the Technology Park only from 7pm each evening until 1am the following morning on Monday 6th August for a maximum of three working days.

The alternative route is through the Technology Park and Myrekirk Road and any queries can be answered by the Road Network Team on 433168.

Glamis Road

Residents here have pointed out to me the lack of bus shelters in Glamis Road between the Dickson Avenue roundabout at north and the Blackness Road roundabout to the south and, following my contacting the City Council about this, the location has been added to the list of outstanding bus shelter requests. The street here is quite exposed and shelter provision would be a boon.

In my capacity as Planning & Transport Convener, I have recently asked the department to undertake a review of requests for bus shelters. Well over 300 were replaced as part of the SmartBus project (this included the real time information etc) and after this extensive expenditure on new, improved shelters, requests for additional shelters have been put on a waiting list. Having asked for a number of West End sites to be considered for shelters following residents' requests, (and being aware that other councillors have asked for sites in their areas) I am keen to see how the City Council can progress these requests.

Land west of Richmond Terrace

I received details late yesterday of the outcome of the appeal in respect of the planning application I successfully moved refusal of at the Development Quality Committee some months ago.

I am pleased that the Reporter has agreed with the decision to refuse planning permission, particularly as the planning application had been of concern to residents nearby; and note that, in upholding the decision to refuse permission, he writes:

"... as I consider that greatest weight requires to be attached to the adverse effect on the conservation area, contrary to Policy 61, I find that, overall, that the proposal would not be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the local plan."

West End Christmas Week 2007

Ok, I know it seems a little bit premature to be talking about Christmas, but the West End Christmas Week takes a fair bit of planning and therefore an initial meeting of the informal committee that organises the week has been planned for 13th August. If you would like to participate, call me on 459378 or e-mail christmas@frasermacpherson.org.uk.

Last year's West End Christmas Week was a great success (you can read a bit about it by clicking on the headline above) and we're working for a big success again this year, with a number of new initiatives too.

Review of polling districts and stations

The City Council is undertaking a review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations at present and is currently seeking comments on the current arrangements. You can see the list of current polling stations at http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/elections07/stations.htm and if you click the headline above, you can download existing ward maps.

As there was a boundary review as recently as last year, I doubt there will be calls for dramatic changes. In the West End, the existing polling districts and 10 polling stations seem sensible. The only adverse comments I received during May's election was some confusion about the new polling station at the Al-Maktoum Centre (serving part of my former Tay Bridges Ward and part of the former Logie Ward) and certainly a few people due to vote at the new polling station turned up at St Peter Street Church Hall on 3rd May (where they used to vote). Hopefully this teething problem introducing the new station will not occur again in the future.

You can send comments on the City's Polling Districts, Places and Stations to the City Council by 10th August - by e-mailing stuart.galloway@dundeecity.gov.uk.

Back from holiday ...

We've been away on holiday the last couple of weeks (which explains lack of blog entries) and just back (seriously jet-lagged, having had two overnight flights on the way home!)

Anyway, great holiday - a couple of photos from both locations (Hawaii and Las Vegas) below. For friends and family I've put a few more on my Myspace pages - www.myspace.com/frasermacpherson - and if you click the headline above, you can see my rather sad attempt at posting a video from Hawaii on http://www.myspacetv.com/!

I have returned to find my e-mail server down so I don't have much of a clue about what's been happening whilst we've been away but I must take this opportunity to sincerely thank the resident who very kindly sent me a text when I was away to let me know the outcome of the Tay Rope Works Planning Appeal. I am delighted at the Reporter's Decision, dismissing the developer's appeal and upholding my motion to refuse planning permission. Am also most grateful to both the group of local residents who took a very active part in the Public Inquiry and also to West End Community Council for all it did too.

Photos! - Hawaii first; really liked Hawaii - not been before - nice climate (not over-hot) and plenty to do and see :

Above : View from hotel balcony

Above : Yours truly!

And a couple from Vegas :

Above : Obvious place to eat in Vegas, I suppose!

Above : Me outside the hotel in Vegas

Magdalen Green ... and continuing exchanges with OFCOM on digital TV ...

Firstly, following requests I had raised with the City Council from representatives of the Friends of Magdalen Green about the need to replace the missing 'no parking' signs on the Green edge (given the damage to the Green caused by vehicles) and the need for a BBQ facility, pleased to receive the following response from the Leisure & Communities Department yesterday :

"I will have temporary signs placed on Monday with the view to erecting a more permanent sign in the coming weeks. I have also instructed a local blacksmith to supply and install 3 barbecues."

If you click the headline above, you can read the previous correspondence I had with OFCOM, the TV regulator, about the lack of digital terrestrial television in much of the West ENd and other parts of the City. Here's the latest exchanges:

OFCOM to me :

Dear Fraser,

I don't know the exact criteria used by the ITC to choose relays but they would have principally considered population coverage, achieving a reasonable distribution across the UK and availability of frequencies. The list was capped at 80 transmitters, but could conceivably have been another number. It would have been easier and cheaper to engineer just the main transmitters but population coverage would have less. Conversely the number could have been greater than 80, but the population gains for each additional transmitter is progressively more difficult to achieve. Shortage of frequencies means that some of the main transmitters could actually serve more people if relays in other regions were not on-air.

The problem of further expansion was that it was ITV digital (previously ONdigital) that was the main driving force paying for engineering half of the six multiplexes and also developing receivers and marketing the platform. ITV digital's financial difficulties and eventual failure put a halt to further development of the terrestrial platform for quite some time. When their multiplexes were re-licensed in 2002, Digital Terrestrial Television was a shaky proposition: operators in other countries that had launched services were also failing.

Since 2002, things have of course improved immensely with the Freeview proposition. Since that time, the broadcasters have increased the powers of many of the transmitters to improve coverage, but no further digital transmitters have been built. Although this does leave some areas unserved, there are sizeable chunks of population in a similar situation across the UK. It just wouldn't be possible to serve all of those until analogue signals are switched off to free up frequencies for digital services to use. Although it's no consolation to many viewers in Dundee, it is intersting to note that of the four nations, Scotland actually has the highest digital television coverage as a percentage of its population: 82% compared with 73% in England, 58% in Northern Ireland and 56% in Wales.

I hope that helps

Peter

Peter Madry

Senior Associate Technical Advisor - Broadcast Technical Policy - Ofcom - www.ofcom.org.uk

And my response to this back to OFCOM :

Peter

Thanks for this & I do appreciate the efforts you have made to answer my questions.

I suppose my fundamental question cannot be fully answered as it appears somewhat lost in the midst of time - ie why 80 transmitters (and not more) were chosen and why a relay transmitter with a population of over 35 000 was missed out.

My specific issue really concerns the fact that had the 80 been 100, having been given previously the population coverage for the "top 20 non-digital relays" it would have very significantly reduced the numbers failing to get digital by simply increasing the number of relays covered by that relatively small amount of transmitters.

I do accept that expanding digital to ALL relays in advance of the analogue switch-off was never a practical proposition but by arbitrarily stopping at 80 transmitters at this stage has left my constituents, served by one of the largest "non-digital relays", feeling, rightly, aggrieved.

I am, however, grateful for your response.

Best regards

Fraser

Cllr Fraser Macpherson
Councillor for the West End
Convener of Planning and Transport - Dundee City Council

Park and Ride facilities for Dundee

Marlyn Glen, MSP for North East Scotland, has been in touch with me in my capacity as Chair of the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN) asking what proposals exist to provide for future Park and Ride facilities for Dundee.

Having discussed the matter with the Director of TACTRAN, here's the response to Marlyn's question :

The TACTRAN Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) contains a specific proposal to develop bus-based Park & Ride/Park & Choose networks in Dundee, Perth and Stirling, with the aim of improving sustainable access and reducing congestion in all three main regional centres.

During the development and appraisal of the RTS an outline Park & Ride strategy, building on existing experience and facilities at Perth and Stirling, and extending this to include Dundee, was subjected to initial "high level" assessment. This identified a positive case for developing regional Park & Ride and assumed the introduction of an additional 8 or 9 bus/coach-based sites, 4 of which would potentially be around Dundee.

These would be aimed at improving access on the eastern (A92), northern (A90) and western (A90) approaches to Dundee, and on the southern approach via the A92/Tay Bridge. In the case of the first three corridors it is likely that sites would be located in Angus and Perth & Kinross, with the southern corridor served by a site at the south end of the Tay Bridge in Fife.

As you will be aware, we are currently awaiting Ministerial approval of the RTS. In the meantime we are developing various aspects of the Strategy, including commissioning more detailed work on defining the regional Park & Ride strategy. This will involve identifying more specific site options and a prioritised implementation programme.

The intention is to complete this work over the next 6 months, with a view to having a more defined set of proposals for inclusion in our RTS Delivery Plan, and for funding consideration through the Comprehensive Spending Review and the ongoing Strategic Transport Projects Review.

We are also in discussion with neighbouring Partnership SESTRAN, who will lead on taking forward the scheme on the southern approach to Dundee, which will be located in their area.

The work we will undertaking over the next few months will enable us to develop more specific proposals, including identification of proposed sites on each of the corridors. This will be followed by more detailed scheme design and appraisal on each corridor, in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG).

This stage of project development will include consideration of detailed matters such as city centre traffic management and bus priority measures, in conjunction with Dundee City Council.

We hope that the above illustrates that TACTRAN views development of Park & Ride at Dundee, and our other regional centres, as a key element of the RTS. We anticipate that we will be in a position to progress developement of specific corridor-based proposals in the latter part of this year.

London ... and Wimberley

I have been away with the "day job" to London for the past few days - photo (left) is of part of my employers' Annual Reception at the very impressive Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

Whilst I was away, the Evening Telegraph phoned me about residents' concerns at the state of the former Wimberley Student Halls of Residence - click on headline to view the story. I have been in touch with the Secretary to the University of Dundee about the situation and have been assured that the University is actively marketing the site. Clearly, residents rightly want to see progress in terms of having the boarded up buildings eyesore removed as soon as possible.

Playparks, Street signs ...

As readers of the West End FOCUS will be aware, I have recently raised the issue of playpark enhancements. I have now been advised that a cyclical inspection/maintenance/safety check was carried out at the Roseangle playpark on 2nd July and is about to be carried out at Victoria Park's playground. I have asked for detail of any work undertaken or enhancements considered as a result of these.

Pleased to note that the street signs for McGonagall Square and Abbotsford Street I had asked be replaced some time ago (click on headline to view original story) have now been promised for mid-August. This has taken some time to resolve but, having been given the list of streets where replacement or new signs are being provided, these are just two locations out of many across the City. I would add that I have, following residents' requests, asked Abertay Housing Association if it can make arangements to clean the "Baltic Gardens" sign within the sheltered housing quad area.

BARA and BBC

Since my last blog post, on Wednesday evening, I met with over 30 residents of Abbotsford Place and Street and Corso Street, together with a member of the Waste Management staff to discuss the proposed 'mini' recycling centres for each of the three streets.

The meeting, organised by Blackness Area Residents' Association (BARA), arose out of residents' concerns about the siting of these. It was clear the residents welcomed the opportunity to have these facilities, but did not want them at the locations proposed for a variety of reasons including too close to lounge windows and gardens.

I'm pleased to say that an acceptable compromise has been reached whereby the Waste Management representative is to undertake a site visit next Tuesday with two of BARA's office-bearers to look at the viability of three alternative off-pavement sites the residents would prefer the recycling units were located at. It was agreed that they would be sited there, but only if viable in terms of lack of slope, acceptable surface, etc, but whatever the outcome of this, the unacceptable sites are 'off the agenda' and it was clear speaking with residents after the meeting, that they are happy with this.

You'll recall that, just after the election, I mentioned I'd put in a complaint to the BBC about their handling of an eve-of-poll election broadcast (click on headline above to view original story). Anyway, I received their decision yesterday (pasted below). Given the assurances now given to ensure no repeat of the problem, I now consider the matter closed!

Dear Councillor Macpherson

Scotland Live, Radio Scotland, May 2 2007

I have been asked to look into your complaint about the eve of poll election feature on Scotland Live on 2 May. I’m sorry that you have been unhappy with the earlier response that you have received from the BBC, and I hope I can deal with your concerns here.

We have now had an opportunity to listen to the item in question and we have been in contact with the programme makers in Scotland. We have also reviewed the previous correspondence between you and the BBC.

You may be aware that it is the role of the ECU to investigate complaints to determine if there has been a serious breach of the standards set out in the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines. You can find these at www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines.

The item in question was a programme made up of series of reports about the campaigning activities of the various parties contesting the Dundee West constituency in the elections to the Scottish Parliament. You complained that the BBC failed to include the Liberal Democrats in the piece and that this was clear bias, whether intentional or not.

As you know, the intention was to carry pieces from each of the main parties which would feature activists on the ground in the final run-up to polling day. The BBC had told the parties that parliamentary election candidates would not be interviewed for the piece. The parties were not told, however, that council candidates would not be interviewed either. In the event, the Liberal Democrat interviewees, including yourself, were both council candidates and the BBC decided at a very late stage that these could not be used. You are quite right, and Phil Wells has already conceded, that this led to serious imbalance in the item. This was compounded by the fact that a Conservative interviewee who was included turned out to have been a council candidate as well, though this was not realised by anyone at the BBC until the item had been broadcast.

There is no dispute that to broadcast the item in this form was a serious mistake and a serious breach of the standards set out in the BBC guidelines on broadcasting during elections. These say:

We should make, and be able to defend, our editorial decisions on the basis that they are reasonable and carefully and impartially reached. To achieve this we must ensure that:
…news judgements at election time are made within a framework of democratic debate which ensures that due weight is given to hearing the views and examining and challenging the policies of all parties.

Phil Wells, the editor of Scotland Live, has already written to you to apologise. He said that “It is our responsibility to check and in this we failed”. Had this apology not been made prior to you complaint being looked into by the ECU, this part of your complaint would certainly have been upheld. However, in the light of Phil Wells’s admission, I have to say that I consider that it has now been resolved.

You have also complained, however, that you have been given “absolutely no reassurances as to how this sort of error will be avoided in future”. We put this to the programme team, and this is the reply we received:

The programme editor spoke to everyone involved in the piece - radio reporters, the producer and the senior broadcast journalist with responsibility for planning. He reiterated the absolute importance of checking the credentials of people appearing on the programme, both when setting people up ahead of time and when meeting them on the day. This is particularly true during election time. He also spoke to the whole programme team at its weekly team meeting to drive the message home. In the future, as editor of the programme, he will monitor any e-mail or interview request which goes to a political party. This should prevent something like this happening again.

This, it seems to me, is the proper response to the errors which were made and should be sufficient to ensure that this or similar errors are not repeated. In the circumstances, I feel that the actions already taken mean that this aspect of your complaint has also been resolved. It would, plainly, have been better to have notified you at the time of what had been done, and I’m sorry that this did not happen, but I’m afraid that a procedural lapse such as this does not fall within the remit of the ECU to address as a complaint.
As your complaints would have been upheld had an apology not already been made and the actions taken not satisfied me that it was resolved, a summary of my decision will be posted on the BBC Complaints website. I will notify you when this has happened. Meanwhile, I hope you will accept my further apologies on behalf of the BBC, and my thanks for giving us the opportunity to look into it.

Yours sincerely

Fraser Steel
Head of Editorial Complaints

Community Organisation for Cleghorn/Pentland/Ancrum and other matters ...

I have been speaking with a number of residents in the Cleghorn Street/Benvie Road (and surrounding streets), Pentland and Ancrum Drive areas about hopefully setting up a Community Council or community group for the area. The area is to the north of the West End Community Council area and seeing the good work that Community Council does, there's no doubt that a community group for Cleghorn/Ancrum/Pentland would be good for the area.

We have now got enough interest for the Communities Officer to arrange an initial informal meeting to get the ball rolling. If you live in the area and are interested in attending, please contact me at community@frasermacpherson.org.uk or call me on 459378.

Yesterday, apart from attending a Board Meeting of Dundee Contemporary Arts (of which I am now a member), I met residents in one street in the West End where a utilities company has left the roadway in a mess, following recent "repairs" - I am on the case! I have also spoken with a number of residents about the extension of the refuse wheelie bins being undertaken as a number of residents have genuine issues arising out of this.

Stagecoach Strathtay bus changes from August

Stagecoach Strathtay is to introduce major changes to its local bus service network with effect from Monday 13 August 2007.

I list the major changes below (but only insofar as they affect services that serve parts of the West End), provided by the Stagecoach East Scotland Network Manager.

Stagecoach will commence marketing iniatives over the coming weeks, and Dundee City Council will ensure that www.dundeetravelinfo.com will be updated by mid July and that all at stop timetable displays will be updated also.

REVISED BUS SERVICES in the Arbroath & Dundee area
Commencing 13th August 2007

New service 5: Dundee city centre – Tullideph Road
This new service will operate from Dundee city centre to Tullideph Road via Brook Street, Scott Street, Pentland Avenue and City Road serving areas not currently served. It will run every 30 minutes during the day on Monday to Saturday.

Service 13: Monifieth (Broomhill Drive) – Ninewells Hospital
This service will be extended from Ethiebeaton Park to Monifieth (Broomhill Drive) via Grange Road and Monifieth High Street. The current frequency of every 30 minutes will continue, although timings will be adjusted slightly to improve reliability. Broomhill Drive will benefit from an improved level of service.

Service 16: Dundee – Perth
On Mondays to Saturdays the 0613 journey from Dundee to Errol will run 5 minutes earlier, and the 1455 journey from Perth will run to Dundee bus station (arr.1610) every day.

Service 39: Montrose - Invergowrie
This service will be extended from Dundee city centre to Invergowrie via Perth Road and Dundee Medipark/Technology Park. The frequency of the service between Arbroath and Invergowrie will be increased to every 30 minutes, with the section between Montrose and Arbroath continuing to run hourly. During the evenings and all day Sunday, buses will operate as service 39A (see below).

New service 39A: Montrose - Invergowrie
This new service will run hourly during the evenings and all day Sunday from Montrose to Invergowrie via Arbroath, Carnoustie, Monifieth, Broughty Ferry, Dundee city centre, Blackness Road, Dickson Avenue, Ninewells Hospital and Dundee Medipark/Technology Park. This will provide a much improved level of service west of Dundee city centre at these times.

Services 40/40A/40B/40E
These services will be withdrawn and replaced by new services 39/39A and 73/73A.

Service 73/73A: Arbroath or Carnoustie – Ninewells Hospital
This service will be improved to run every 10 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday between Carnoustie and Ninewells Hospital via Monifieth, Broughty Ferry, Strathern Road, Dundee city centre, Blackness Road, and Dickson Avenue. Service 73 will run every 20 minutes with one journey per hour running to/from Arbroath via Muirdrum. The other 2 journeys per hour will provide a new service to the Queen Street and Newton Avenue area of Carnoustie. Service 73A serving the Westhaven Park and Ravensby Road areas will run every 20 minutes.

New Service 74: Barnhill/Broughty Ferry – Dundee University
This new service will run via the Barnhill loop previously served by the 69C, and then continue to the city centre and University. Buses will run every 30 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday.

Services 75/75A/76/76A: Carnoustie - Invergowrie
These services will be withdrawn and replaced by improved services 13, 39/39A, 73/73A, 74, and 77.

Err ... and yet more on digital TV ...

Following up on the last entry about digital terrestrial television in the West End (or lack of it for many residents), there's no doubt about the strength of feeling people have about the unfairness of the way in which it has been rolled out, if my postbag has been anything to go by recently!

I paste below the latest exchange with OFCOM, following my earlier exchange with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (click on headline above to read the last exchange on this from last month). The bottom line I feel on this is if OFCOM's predecessor (the ITC) decided to upgrade only 30 of the larger relay transmitters to digital in advance of the analogue "switch off" (for us, three years away), why was the Tay Bridge transmitter not one of the relays chosen, as it serves over 35 000 people?

Anyway, here's the latest. Firstly OFCOM replying to my earlier e-mail to them:

Dear Fraser,

I apologise for the delay in replying to you.

It is certainly true that there are a number of relay transmitters serving relatively large numbers of households that do not yet broadcast digital services. The ITC (one of Ofcom's predecessor bodies) decided which transmitters would be used to broadcast digital television in the mid 1990s. The problem they faced was that there was no new portion of spectrum available for digital television, so digital services would have to be squeezed in any gaps between the frequencies used by analogue TV services. This meant that digital services couldn't be installed everywhere and even where they were, powers would have to be limited to avoid causing interference to analogue viewers.

The broad aims for the ITC were to maximise coverage whilst also providing equitable coverage in each programming region and nation. This was set against quite considerable engineering challenges and expense in adding transmitters and antennas to the existing transmitter sites while continuing to broadcast analogue TV. There were also a number of consequential works for the broadcasters as some analogue services had to change frequency, which often meant buying new equipment.

The ITC came up with a list of 80 transmitters for which licenses were advertised, including all 50 analogue transmitters that were classed as 'main' transmitters together with 30 of the larger relays. Although the list details just 80 transmitters (so that the applicants for the licence to broadcast digital services could gauge their financial commitments) it was always expected that once these transmitters were established that further transmitters would get digital services where frequencies could be found. Each additional transmitter would have knock-on effects elsewhere in the UK that would need dealing with. However, things went wrong when ITV digital got into financial difficulties in 2001. Their licences were eventiually re-awarded in 2002 which lead to the setting up of Freeview.

What has happened now is that digital switchover has caught up. The problem with adding digital services to transmitters like Tay Bridge now is that with analogue television still operating, its powers would have to be limited and temporary frequencies used, if indeed frequencies could be found. When switchover then occurs in Scotland in 2010, Tay Bridge's temporary digital services would need to be re-engineered, as will happen for the digital services at all 80 existing sites. It is worth noting that the broadcasters are already investing in upgrading broadcasting antennas and masts in the first few regions: Border and Westcountry.

Works will commence in both STV regions next year as there is a lot of preparatory work required to be done before switchover actually happens. However, until the analogue television services are switched off, the availability of digital services will remain limited.

I hope that's useful, please feel free to get in touch if you'd like to discuss any points in more detail.

Best regards,

Peter

Peter Madry
Senior Associate Technical Advisor - Broadcast Technical Policy - Ofcom - www.ofcom.org.uk

And my e-mail back :

Peter

Thanks for your e-mail.

Can you advise the rationale the ITC used when drawing up its list of "30 of the larger relays" and why Tay Bridge, serving over 35 000 people was omitted?

Also you indicate "once these transmitters were established that further transmitters would get digital services where frequencies could be found. Each additional transmitter would have knock-on effects elsewhere in the UK that would need dealing with. However, things went wrong when ITV digital got into financial difficulties in 2001."

Can you advise why the demise of ITV digital resulted in the decision not to further extend digital services to relay transmitters prior to the analogue switch-off?

You will appreciate that the main point of my queries surround why so few relay transmitters were chosen, leaving large centres of population, like that of the Tay Bridge transmitter area unserved by digital until 2010.

Many thanks.

Best regards

Fraser

Cllr Fraser Macpherson - Councillor for the West End
Convener of Planning and Transport - Dundee City Council

I'll keep residents updated on this issue as always.

West Loan, Polepark Playpark (again), Perth Road area, Seabraes good news ...

With thanks to colleagues, we finished the last of the latest West End FOCUS deliveries yesterday & whilst delivering the West Loan area (north side of Perth Road just west of Clouvis Duveau Drive) I was pleased to note the Leisure & Communities Department busy tidying the overgrown grass here (see photo, above right).

Following residents' complaints recently, I raised concerns about the grounds maintenance both here and at the nearby Technology Park. The latter is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and SET locally has promised me they will raise it with their national organisation to get the overgrown grass tidied there too.

I've already had a positive response to my recent raising of the state of the Polepark Road playpark (click on headline above to view) with the Waste Management Department promising a tidy-up.

Also pleased that the Department and SET have agreed to meet tomorrow to look at how to tackle the graffiti at Seabraes that I have raised recently and featured in the local press.

Lastly, thanks to the Waste Management Department for swiftly responding to a number of complaints about dumped rubbish in the Perth Road area that I had raised following residents' complaints - e.g. near Springfield and near the former Valentine's site.

Blackness area, Surgeries, Burst tyres, Polepark Playpark ....

A useful meeting with Blackness Area residents last night covering numerous issues including the road surface in Abbotsford Place (I'm arranging a site visit for the Residents' Association to discuss with Planning & Transportation staff), recycling bins, road lining in Blackness Avenue and refuse presentation issues. I've followed up various issues with Council staff today.

Today saw my last surgeries at Mitchell Street Centre, Harris Academy and Blackness Primary School until after the school holidays.

Between Mitchell Street and Harris, I had the joy of a puncture! I am awfully grateful to the community councillor who attended my surgery at Harris and gave me a lift to Blackness Primary! One RAC visit later and all is well again!

During the school holidays, I do not have weekly surgeries but can be contacted at home at any time on 459378.

The Police have contacted me about the state of the playpark in Polepark Road (rubbish strewn - mainly plastic bags, plastic bottles and cans) - I have raised this with the Leisure & Communities and Waste Management Departments.

Lastly there are recent updates worth a look at :

Friends of Magdalen Green : http://magdalengreen.blogspot.com/

and

Western Cemetery Association : http://westerncemetery.blogspot.com/

Latest updates

Spent all of yesterday at the Tay Rope Works Public Inquiry as the City Council's witness in defending the decision to refuse planning approval. We will know the outcome in a few weeks but I would like to place on record my thanks to the Council's solicitor and to the local residents and Community Council representatives who contributed.

On Monday evening at Council committees, I was very pleased to see a report be approved which will give tenants, especially elderly and disabled residents, the possibility of obtaining a shower where (normally because they live upstairs or their house cannot be ramped) the occupational therapist has been unable to recommend installation. This is an issue that has affected a number of constituents and I am pleased the Council has grasped the nettle. I am anxious, too, that similar arrangements are discussed with the local Housing Associations.

I have raised the issue of the lack of a lollipop person in Hawkhill (due to the postholder's long-term absence through illness) and am pleased to learn from the Education Department that efforts are being made to try to have a solution in time for the start of the new term at Blackness Primary in August.

I've also raised the issue of youth facilities in the West End. The Leisure & Communities Department has told me that the Youth Team has been working with the Harris-based Pupil Support Workers and others from the Youth Work Providers Group to develop a programme for the first four weeks of the school holidays. This will focus on activities in The Shore, Dudhope Park and Ancrum. This group will continue to meet to develop further programme ideas.

I'm also told that staff are keen to encourage young people to use Dudhope Park and the MUGGA facility that now exists there. There's now access to the Pavilion and the department is looking to develop opportunities from there.

Other facilities in the area that are routinely used by young people from the West End include the weekly Youth Information drop-in at Harris Academy, The Shore and Hot Chocolate at the Steeple Church. In addition, a number of young people from that area are involved with Duke of Edinburgh through the Open Award Centre currently based at Menzieshill.

There are also two Children's Clubs (5-8s and 9-11s) operating on a Thursday in Blackness Library. I've raised with the department the possibility of other activities and would welcome views from residents (and thanks to those residents who have already contacted me about this following the article I had in the recent FOCUS newsletter).

Seabraes again - but some good news on graffiti

The Evening Telegraph has featured the graffiti vandalism at Seabraes in tonight's edition (click on headline above to view this).

Some good news, however, on the graffiti problem. Network Rail has called me to say that, following my request, they are to remove around 50 items of graffiti at the rail line in the West End (particularly near to the Riverside Drive/Riverside Avenue roundabout area); the work is being carried out tomorrow.

They have also confirmed they will be spraying the rather out of control hogweed near the rail line around 30th June.

Ninewells Avenue

A number of residents have contacted me about the change to the traffic restrictions here. I have now received the following feedback from the City Council :

"The double yellow lines were imposed on Ninewells Avenue in 2002 when the main emergency access to the hospital was taken from Ninewells Drive. At this time parking was solid on both sides of the road for its entire length. The main problem was at the approach to Ninewells Drive.

The emergency access is now taken from Tom Macdonald Avenue and consequently the need for the same level of restrictions is not so critical.

While promoting the recently introduced restrictions in Invergowrie Drive it was recognised that as with all restrictions there would be a knock-on effect into surrounding residential streets. We have been particularly concerned about Hillside Terrace and Hillside Drive which both have pedestrian links through to the hospital and nursing college. This concern was heightened with the knowledge that the Wimberley Housing complex was to be redeveloped. Up to 60 vehicles were parking here on a daily basis.

Taking these factors into account it was decided to relax some of the restrictions in Ninewells Avenue. There are no houses fronting the Avenue nor do any have vehicular access from the Avenue. The carriageway is 10 metres wide and in my opinion can cope with parking on both sides with two-way traffic.

The restrictions have only been removed on that length between Ninewells Drive and Glamis Road. That length between Ninewells Drive and Perth Road was not considered because of the bend in the road limiting advance visibility.

I should emphasise that the consequence of not removing these lines would probably have meant that the parking would have moved directly into the residential streets causing even more upset to the residents."

Graffiti Menace again ...

I have received further complaints about the graffiti mess at Seabraes (see photos below).

Many residents have commented positively about the viewing platforms that were opened in the fairly recent past. It is a real pity that they have been subject to this sort of mindless vandalism and I think it is important that, not only do the Police take a proactive approach in tackling this, but that SET and the City Council quickly arrange removal of any graffiti. Otherwise it becomes a permanent eyesore and local residents have called me complaining about the mess.

I firstly e-mailed SET about the latest graffiti on 26th May and have yet to receive feedback. To be fair to SET, the organisation has in the meantime given me a positive response about another West End issue – the overgrown grounds at the Technology Park – but I have now asked the Waste Management Department of the City Council to contact SET to see if agreement can be reached to get the mess removed.

With regard to other graffiti problems, I recently asked Waste Management to contact the Whitehall Theatre regarding the graffiti on the north of their building. Waste Management has now advised me that the theatre is taking steps to remove the mess.

FOCUS, Thank you party ...

Janet and I invited everyone who was kind enough to help with the recent election round to ours last night for a "thank you" party. We had a fair bit of hilarity over the games of Jenga (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenga - and the photos!)

Anyway, good time had by all and despite the 2am finish, a few of us were still up to delivering the West End FOCUS (Edition 61 - June 2007) to more West End households today. You can download a copy of this by clicking on the headline above.

Bellfield Nursery School

As I indicated in a previous blog entry, I have spoken with many parents of children at Bellfield Nursery School recently regarding the Education Department's consultation over a proposed merger with Park Place Nursery School. I have urged all parents to make their views known to the Education Department.

I was very concerned that, with the report on the consultation going before the Education Committee on 13th August, the day before the start of the 2007-8 academic year, parents are given reassurances about the continuing educational provision at the start of term. Neither I do not think changes (should the Education Committee agree to any) be implemented during a school year.

After discussion with the Council Leader, he has issued the following news release, which means that, although the consultation period continues, parents are given the reassurance that, for continuing pupils, the Bellfield site is guaranteed to remain open until August 2008.

I promised parents that I would raise with the Director of Education any issues they have raised with me - car parking at Park Place Nursery School, for example, has been raised by many parents. I am continuing to raise all such matters with the Education Department.

Here is the news release issued by the City Council earlier today :

BELLFIELD AND PARK PLACE NURSERY SCHOOLS

After listening closely to concerns being expressed by parents over the proposed merger of Bellfield and Park Place nursery schools, the Administration of Dundee City Council is putting forward an amended plan for the nursery schools.

The Administration will be proposing that the two nursery schools would come together in a merged nursery school to be known as Park Place Nursery School from August 2007. The nursery school would be based across the two current Park Place and Bellfield buildings with one head teacher in charge.

Children entering their second year of nursery education would remain in the current Bellfield building off Blackness Road and would complete their nursery education there. The Bellfield building would then close at the end of June 2008.

Children aged 3 entering nursery school for the first time in August 2007 would be based in the building in Park Place.

The Education Department has also been asked to investigate and implement improved "drop off" arrangements at Park Place.

The proposed consultation meetings will continue but the Administration wished the parents of the children at Bellfield to be aware of the new proposal.

Leader of the Administration Councillor Kevin Keenan said, “This is a sensible solution that would mean that children already at Bellfield would enjoy a continuity of nursery education with the same staff that they have grown up with over their first year.

“I am aware of the concerns that are being expressed by parents and I can understand that they were worried about any disruption to their young children’s education.

“The Administration of Dundee City Council is dedicated to providing the best educational start in life for young children. This new proposal shows our commitment to be a listening Administration that is working in the best interests of the people of Dundee.”

Convener of the Education Committee Councillor Laurie Bidwell said, “We entered into the consultation phase following a vote by all parties at the Education Committee on the 11th of June.

“In a very short time we have listened to and taken on board the views of parents and carers about the effect any change would have on their children.

“We are proposing a solution that will mean that children who have been at Bellfield for a year will remain in the same building with the same staff to finish their nursery education.

“This new proposal represents a new way forward which will, I hope, address the concerns that have been voiced. We are dedicated to a partnership approach with parents over all aspects of education.”

Palaver Scots Song concert in Marryat Hall this Saturday!

With thanks to Sheena Wellington for the following information :

On Saturday 23rd June 2007, there will be a Cappuccino Concert in Dundee's Marryat Hall, organised by the Friends of Wighton. The event starts at 10.30am when coffee and newspapers will be available, with music from 11am till 12 noon.

The performers will be Palaver, three of the most exciting singers in Scotland. Aileen Carr, Barbara Dymock and Chris Miles are all highly regarded solo singers of a wide range of songs. Their collective repertoire is enormous and varied. Still strongly rooted in traditional song, they will also sing anything else that takes their fancy. Their stage presence is powerful, and their enjoyment in singing together is infectious. They will sing a lively programme of Acappela Songs, Traditional and Contemporary.

Admission is £4 which includes coffee & newspapers.

Friends of Wighton: www.friendsofwighton.com

TACTRAN appointment

Spent much of today in Perth (between day-job activities!) at the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership meeting at which I was appointed TACTRAN's Chair for the following four years.

I was delighted to be the unopposed choice for Chair and will work hard to promote sustainable transport initiatives across our region, covering Angus, Perth & Kinross, Stirling and the City of Dundee. I'm also pleased that Cllr Alan Jack (Conservative, Perth & Kinross Council) will be Depute Chair and have no doubt that Alan & I will work well together over the next four years.

Anyway, here's the TACTRAN news release :

TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP APPOINTS NEW CHAIR

The Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN) today appointed Councillor Fraser Macpherson of Dundee City Council as its new Chair.

The Partnership also appointed Councillor Alan Jack of Perth & Kinross Council as Deputy Chair. Both appointments are for four years until the next Council elections in 2011

Following the Council elections in May, TACTRAN’s four constituent Councils Angus, Dundee City, Perth & Kinross and Stirling, have appointed representatives on the Partnership Board, which consists of 10 Councillors, and 5 non-Councillors. The Councillor members are :-

Councillors Iain Gaul and John Whyte (Angus)
Councillors Brian Gordon, Fraser Macpherson and Rod Wallace (Dundee City)
Councillors Ann Gaunt, John Kellas and Alan Jack (Perth & Kinross)
Councillors Andrew Simpson and Jim Thomson (Stirling)

The partnership’s 5 non-Councillor members, appointed by the Transport Minister during 2006 and early 2007, continue on the Partnership Board. They are -

Robert Andrew, Regional Director, Stagecoach Scotland
Margaret Duffy, Chief Operating Officer, Forth Valley Health Board
Professor Malcolm Horner, Chair of Scottish Enterprise Tayside
Gavin Roser, Pantrak Transportation Ltd.
Bill Wright, a Director of Cycling Scotland.


More information on TACTRAN can be found on the Partnership’s website at www.tactran.gov.uk

Riverside Drive cycle route

At last week's West End Community Council meeting, it was pointed out that on the Riverside Drive cycle route, there's a lack of markings on the pathway to differentiate pedestrians from cyclists. I took up the matter with the Director of Planning & Transportation and here's his response :

Riverside Drive cycle route is part of Dundee's 26 mile long Green Circular and is also part of the National Cycle Network which has hundreds of routes running throughout the UK. Many parts of these routes are shared with pedestrians.

The main reasons to why there is no such segregation of pedestrians and cyclists at Riverside Drive are as follows:

Volume of bicycle/pedestrian traffic is just not high enough for segregation.

The average width of the Riverside Drive section is 2.5m with some sections less than 2.5m in width. No known problems have occurred. When you combine this width with the volume of pedestrian/cycle traffic then there is adequate space for give and take between pedestrian/cycle movements.

If a white line were to be incorporated to form segregation then how is this to be enforced? Police resources are already stretched and this would fall into very low priority for them.

The current widths of the cycleway would not permit segregation as design width could not be achieved for the appropriate lanes on the narrower sections.

Links throughout the city joining onto this route have no segregation facilities in place. No such pedestrian/conflict has occurred there.

There has to be some level of respect for both users of the path. The Tay Road Bridge walkway for example is 2.5m wide and edged with a 1.5m high barrier. It is promoted as a shared use, is part of the National Cycling Network and no segregation line is used. This has worked well for many years and pedestrian/cycle traffic is high on this route compared to Riverside Drive.

Our accident records show no reported collisions between pedestrian/cyclists on this section of cycle route or any other part of the route itself.