ROAD REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD FOR SUNDAY 12 MAY 2024
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 12 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
Annfield Street (Annfield Road to Blackness Street) – closed from Friday 10 May for up to 5 days for Scottish Water work.
REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 13 MAY 2024
Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) – closed until December 2024 for construction works.
Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) – temporary traffic lights until December 2024 for construction works.
Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) – closed until December 2024 for construction works.
Seafield Road, Dundee – closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development until November 2025.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Glamis Drive (Hillside Road to Glamis Road) – closed from Monday 3 June for 5 days for Drainage Improvement works.
Scottish and Southern Energy Network Elmwood Cable Renewal Scheme – rolling road closures from Monday 17 June for 29 weeks to include :
Ancrum Road (Glamis Road to Tullideph Road);
Tullideph Road (Ancrum Road to City Road);
City Road (Tullideph Road to Milnbank Gardens); and
Milnbank Gardens.
Riverside Avenue/Dykes of Gray Road (at Swallow roundabout) – closed Monday to Friday overnight (7.30pm to 6.30am) from Monday 1 July for 11 months.
We have had a number of residents raising concerns about some of the right turns at the above junction, particularly vehicles from Perth Road turning into Hawkhill across the flow of traffic.
We therefore have raised this with the council’s roads safety team leader asking if the operation of the junction can be checked out and additional measures such as a review of the lights sequence or better lining be considered.
With regard to the roundabouts along Riverside Drive, works were agreed at the council’s Climate, Environment and Biodiversity Committee as follows :
“Hard and soft landscaping improvements at Riverside East Roundabout, Riverside Inn Roundabout and Tesco Roundabout.
This will entail refreshing planting areas with regional specific plants that are stress / drought tolerant.
The project aims to improve visibility / sightlines along this important ambassador route into the city centre.”
Riverside East Roundabout is by the Tesco servicing entrance, and Tesco Roundabout is the roundabout next to the Tesco petrol station. Riverside East roundabout was improved first, with traffic management in place this weekend 23rd to 26th March, followed by Riverside Inn Roundabout (see photo) with traffic management in place 30th March to 2nd April.
Tesco roundabout will be improved shortly thereafter. Riverside East and Riverside Inn roundabouts both benefit from new planting schemes with sculptural boulders. Tesco roundabout will receive remedial pruning works.
The damaged bollards in Mid Wynd were recently replaced.
However, there have been unfortunate instances of some riders of motorbikes ignoring the ‘no through road’ at great speed and causing alarm to pedestrians.
Along with local residents, we asked the City Council if the spacing between the bollards could be narrowed to prevent this and the Senior Engineer in the council’s Traffic and Road Safety Team responded helpfully as follows :
“(The bollards) have been installed to our regulation/design criteria of 1.2m, an absolute minimum. This allows for pushchairs and various widths of mobility scooters to pass through as they are all not one size.
I have however agreed to look into either installing an additional two bollards or a section of Visirail in an attempt to slow down any passage of motorcycles who they say are nipping through.
There is a traffic order in place prohibiting motorcycles, but Police Scotland need to enforce this, not the council.
However, in order to enforce this there needs to be adequate/appropriate signage which there was none that I could see. I will arrange for the appropriate signage works to be included for this location.”
From the Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee : The ideas and collections of D’Arcy Thompson, the University’s first Professor of Biology, have profoundly influenced many artists and writers who re-interpret natural history, projecting it through the lens of evolution, fantasy, consumption, fear or desire.
This unique exhibition features site-specific prints and video work in the Tower Foyer Gallery with additional interventions in the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum.
“Seeing Through” proposes tours of Thompson’s collection visualised as if through the lenses of futurist author J G Ballard and pop-artist Richard Hamilton. We visit the collection through dizzying perspectival renderings of merged organic/machine hybrids, eco-catastrophes and space travel, as alluded to by Hamilton and Ballard. Levy’s speculative exhibition explores our synergistic relationship with technology, including our aspirations and its threats. Our notions of evolution are, themselves, evolving.
Dr Ellen K Levy is a multimedia artist and writer based in the US. Her works explore complex systems and some of the unintended consequences of technology. Levy highlights these issues through exhibitions, educational and curatorial programmes and publications. She has exhibited widely in the US and abroad.
With Charissa Terranova, she is co-editor of D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson’s Generative Influences in Art, Design: From Forces to Forms (2021, Bloomsbury Press) and she co-edits the Science and the Arts since 1750 book series for Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
The exhibition in the Tower Foyer Gallery until 29th June. Additional elements in the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum may be seen on our monthly Saturday openings on 11th May and 8th June – and on Friday afternoons from 7th June.
ROAD REPORT FOR WEST END WARD – SATURDAY 4 AND SUNDAY 5 MAY 2024
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 5 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
South Tay Street/West Port/Old Hawkhill – closed on Sunday 5 May from 1.30pm to 11:00pm for Dundee Dance Event.
REPORT FOR WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 6 MAY 2024
Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) – closed until 27 May 2024 for road safety concerns.
Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) – temporary traffic lights until June 2024 for construction works.
Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) – closed until December 2024 for construction works.
Seafield Road, Dundee – closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development until November 2025.
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 12 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Glamis Drive (Hillside Road to Glamis Road) – closed from Monday 3 June for 5 days for Drainage Improvement works.
Riverside Avenue/Dykes of Gray Road (at Swallow roundabout) – closed Monday to Friday overnight (7.30pm to 6.30am) from Monday 1 July for 11 months.
There’s another Rascals Rummage pre-loved kids’ items market at Logie & St John’s (Cross) Church Hall tomorrow – Saturday 4th May – from 12 noon to 2pm.
All are welcome to join the fun, community spirit, and fantastic finds where you can dive into a treasure trove of pre-loved toys, clothes, and more!
We recently received concerns about some of the play equipment at the Lochee Park playpark – for example, the yellow see saw was not working properly very squeaky.
We raised this with our local environment manager who responded helpfully as follows :
“Our playgrounds team have called into the playpark to inspect and they have carried out a repair to the yellow seesaw and this play equipment is now fully functionable.
With regard to the roundabout, we have discovered an issue with the roundabout bearings and these require replacement. Replacement parts have been ordered and once they arrive the needed repair will be carried out.”
REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 29 APRIL 2024
Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) – closed until 27 May 2024 for road safety concerns.
Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) – temporary traffic lights until June 2024 for construction works.
Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) – closed until December 2024 for construction works.
Seafield Road, Dundee – closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development until November 2025.
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 5 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
South Tay Street/West Port/Old Hawkhill – closed on Sunday 5 May from 1.30pm to 11:00pm for Dundee Dance Event.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 12 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
Glamis Drive (Hillside Road to Glamis Road) – closed from Monday 3 June for 5 days for Drainage Improvement works.
We recently received complaints about the deteriorated state of the road surface – including potholes – in Hillside Road in the section from Glamis Drive to junction with Hillside Terrace – see photo.
We raised this with the Roads Maintenance Partnership and received the following helpful feedback :
“(The roads inspector) has raised an order for repairs to be done, timescale approximately thirty days and also for a patch longer term when resources are available.”
The Dundee MyBins app is a one-stop-shop for all residents’ waste and recycling needs, making it easier for residents to waste less and recycle more of their household waste.
Please note that the bin calendar feature within the app is only available for properties that need to present a wheelie bin at the kerbside for collection. Other household property types that are serviced differently – for example, they use a communal Eurobin – will still be able to access and use all other features of the app.
We recently slammed graffiti vandalism of a newly upgraded seating area at Sinderins which was not long completed.
Graffiti was sprayed on a new ‘chess board’ outdoor games table at the “Sinderins triangle” and on other street furniture which had been recently upgraded by Dundee City Council with new seating and planters as part of a number of environmental improvements in the Perth Road shopping centre, which also included an upgrade at the Miller’s Wynd Car Park and new planter and seating at Pennycook Lane in front of the Ryehill Police Station.
Residents have commented very favourably on the improvements at the Sinderins seating area that removed old poor-conditioned seating and planters from the 1980s and upgraded the area.
It is not long completed so very disappointing to see such mindless graffiti vandalism take place. We sought a clean-up by the council’s environment team and, although the graffiti will be removed, it is infuriating to see this sort of vandalism and there is of course a cost to the public purse having it removed.
The area is covered by CCTV and we hope that will deter vandalism in the future.
Our local environment manager has updated us as follows :
“Our graffiti removal team is going to visit the area as soon as possible and attempt to remove the graffiti from the newly installed public furniture/chess board.”
We are pleased to advise that the graffiti was removed by the City Council yesterday.
REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 APRIL 2024
Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) – closed until 27 May 2024 for road safety concerns.
Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) – temporary traffic lights until June 2024 for construction works.
Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) – closed until December 2024 for construction works.
Seafield Road, Dundee – closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development until November 2025.
Cleghorn Street (Rosebery Street to City Road) – closed for one week for Scottish Water work.
Lochee Road (Parking layby opposite Polepark Junction) – closed from Monday 22 April for 5 days for subsidence investigation works.
James Black Place (turning head) – closed from 9.00am on Sunday 28 April to 6.00am on Monday 29 April for Scottish Water work.
James Black Place (west of turning head) – temporary traffic control from 9.00am on Sunday 28 April to 6.00am on Monday 29 April for Scottish Water work.
Logie Street (City Road to Ancrum Road) – closed westbound from 9.00am on Sunday 28 April to 6.00am on Monday 29 April for Scottish Water work.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 5 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
South Tay Street/West Port/Old Hawkhill – closed on Sunday 5 May from 1.30pm to 11:00pm for Dundee Dance Event.
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 12 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
Glamis Drive (Hillside Road to Glamis Road) – closed from Monday 3 June for 5 days for Drainage Improvement works.
THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1)
THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Scottish Water manhole repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in James Black Place (from fourth bus stance around the turning area), Dundee.
This notice comes into effect on Sunday 28 April 2024 at 9am until Monday 29 April 2024 at 6am.
Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Taxi access will be maintained.
The City Council has highlighted that in order to vote at the UK parliamentary elections in future, you will need to show ID at the polling station. This ID requirement does not apply at other elections in Scotland.
If you don’t have valid ID from the list of approved ID, you can apply for a Voter Identification Certificate free of charge. This can be done online or by making an appointment at the council’s Customer Services department.
Many thanks to the residents who recently highlighted to us that a drainage cover in Perth Road opposite Sainsbury’s had become loose from its fixing, creating a trip-hazard – see photo.
We reported this to the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership to ensure this was repaired, which was done earlier this week.
The next free talk and demonstration at the Roseangle Gallery will be from Jonathan Mitchell, the renowned landscape painter.
It takes place this Friday evening – 19th April – from 7pm to 9pm.
Jonathan will be demonstrating his incredible skill with a demo piece of work so whatever you paint yourself you’ll learn from his techniques or as he said himself “… an opportunity to bear witness to Mitchell’s Magic brush in action”.
Non members very welcome for a very entertaining evening.
REPORT FOR WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 15 APRIL 2024
Cleghorn Street (Rosebery Street to City Road) – closed from Friday 12 April for one week for Scottish Water work.
Blinshall Street (Douglas Street to 50 metres south) – closed until 27 May 2024 for road safety concerns.
Douglas Street (Blinshall Street to Brown Street) – temporary traffic lights until June 2024 for construction works.
Brown Street (south of Douglas Street) – closed until May 2024 for construction works.
Seafield Road, Dundee – closed from its westmost end (in cul-de-sac) extending for a distance of no more than 20 metres in an easterly direction to facilitate a site access for a new housing development until November 2025.
West Marketgait (Nethergate to West Port roundabout) – off‑peak (9.30am to 3.30pm) northbound nearside lane closure from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April for Commsworld Limited work.
Blackness Road (at Glenagnes Road) – temporary traffic lights from 9.00am on Wednesday 17 to 6.00m on Thursday 18 April for Scottish Water work.
Forthcoming Roadworks
Lochee Road (Parking layby opposite Polepark Junction) – closed from Monday 22 April for 5 days for subsidence investigation works.
James Black Place (turning head) – closed from 9.00am on Sunday 28 April to 6.00am on Monday 29 April for Scottish Water work.
James Black Place (west of turning head) – temporary traffic control from 9.00am on Sunday 28 April to 6.00am on Monday 29 April for Scottish Water work.
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed on Sunday 5 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
Greenmarket (Greenmarket to train station) – closed Sunday 12 May for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.
There’s an upcoming event in Blackness Library that will be a round table discussion about Leisure and Culture Dundee’s new Culture Strategy for Dundee.
It takes place in Blackness Library next Thursday – 18th April – from 10am to 11.30am. It is an opportunity for community leaders, organisers of events and participants locally to discuss what is important in the local area.
As reported in yesterday’s “Evening Telegraph”, we have called on Dundee City Council to make urgent progress on promised replacement housing in Blackness Road, following the demolition of 27 Victorian flats three years ago given the state of their external stairwells.
The original housing at 219-245 Blackness Road was demolished in spring 2021 and at the time the council promised to deliver a £4.5 million project to build 24 modern apartments.
Three years on, despite planning consent, building has yet to commence and we have said the council must urgently make good on its promise to build the replacement housing.
Michael said :
“I have now been a member of the council for almost two years and I have been extremely disappointed with the lack of progress in building the promised replacement Blackness Road flats.
“This appears to be down to the Scottish Government’s cuts to the housing capital budget and I am anxious that the funding gap is filled urgently and the new housing now built as soon as possible.”
The council’s Interim Head of Housing and Construction has advised us :
“We have received a commitment to £215,856 of extra funding as a result of our request (to Scottish Government).
However, as this is £2,029,943 less than we had applied for I am now working with colleagues in City Development to carry out an options appraisal on possible ways forward for this site, with a view to reporting back to the appropriate committee as soon as possible.”
Fraser added, “The decision to demolish the original housing and build modern housing in its place was a difficult and controversial one and it was reluctantly taken because of the significant cost of replacing the external stairwells. Some of the original flats were in good condition but the ground floor bedsits were not.
“We have been chasing up progress on the replacement modern flats for some time and are alarmed at the lack of progress which appears to be down to the SNP Scottish Government cutting housing capital budgets. This needs to be urgently rectified.“A promise is a promise and the community was given a commitment to 26 new apartments on this site in Blackness Road – these must be delivered ASAP.”
The Scottish Government’s housing capital budget was slashed by some 26% by Depute First Minister and Finance Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison in the government’s latest budget – the Blackness flats project is just one example of the impact on new affordable house building of this decision.
The council’s Interim Head of Housing and Construction further advised us :
“Although I am not able to provide you with a definitive position re this development at this point, please be assured that we are working away on options to deliver these properties. Given the unit costs for this development we are looking at the options for obtaining improved value for money and /or attracting alternative sources of funding.
I will of course update you as soon as I am in a position to inform you of the outcome of our options appraisal.”
Michael concluded, “Fraser and I are adamant that Dundee City Council must make progress on this new build housing project as soon as possible. The site has been sitting empty for three years at a time there are well over 7000 people in the city on the housing waiting list.
“The culprit here is the huge cut to the Scottish Government’s capital budget and it is vitally important that the funding gap for this housing build project in Blackness Road is bridged as a matter of urgency and the new flats built and offered to some of the many people on Dundee’s housing waiting list.”
Cllrs Fraser Macpherson and Michael Crichton 