Tullideph area – railings

I have been in touch with the City Council’s Housing Department regarding the state of the garden railings in the Tullideph area, following tenants in the area contacting me to ask when the railings will next be painted/repaired through the External Cyclical Maintenance (ECM) programme as it is now 9 years since they were last done.

I paste below the response I have received and have asked to be kept updated on the matter as I wish to see the work undertaken as soon as possible :

“Unfortunately this development is not included in the current year’s External Cyclical Maintenance programme as we are still working on developments were the length of time since the last ECM programme was undertaken exceeds that of Tullideph tenements (eg Logie Flatted Development). However our records indicate that Tullideph Tenements last benefitted from ECM work in February 2000 and therefore will need to be included in the programme within the near future.

 

The ECM programme is currently being reviewed to try and achieve improved value for money and more efficient allocation of labour between developments across the city. This is expected to have a slight effect on the traditional date order used for the identification of work. Despite this I would anticipate Tullideph Tenements being included in the programme for 2010/11.

This year’s programme has also been affected by recent financial constraints as a result of spend predicitions for Repairs and Maintenance budgets. This is likely to impact on the amount of railing repairs carried out as work focuses on more essential maintenance such as gutter and door repairs. At the moment the impact of this is being monitored and every effort will be made to avoid major slippage in the overall ECM programme.”

Mars Hill

Paul Burgin is writes a popular blog “Mars Hill”, is press officer for the North East Herts Labour Party and once worked for Geraint Davies, when he was MP for Croydon Central.  

He recently asked me to contribute to his regular “Twenty Questions to a Fellow Blogger” feature.  

You can read my responses by going to  http://tinyurl.com/paulburgin

Opposing centralised policing

I’m pleased that the Scottish Liberal Democrats are opposing the SNP Government’s proposal to convene a national police board and their ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to Scottish policing. Help us to keep our police forces local.

Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, spoke out against the SNP plans, “The national body proposed by the SNP Government is to be chaired by the Government. While we await full details of how it is intended to operate, it is clear that the Government have in mind that there should be a single national view on policing and that the local police boards will either become redundant or be abolished.”

In challenging the First Minister about the plans, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Tavish Scott MSP said, “This is a slippery slope to one police force. For 150 years people in this democracy have worried about the government gaining political operational control over policing. The First Minister refuses to see that a National Police Board, appointed without debate in this Parliament – and with no basis in law – moves us down that dangerous road.”

“We need a police service that is responsive to local needs not subject to central diktat and centrally imposed targets.”

You can sign the LibDem petition on this important matter by going to http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/.

Michael Jackson “Gone too soon” Tribute 1958-2009 KING OF POP

Michael Jackson

See :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X6ry3BYInk

Jacques Peretti’s programme on C4 tonight about Michael Jackson’s death was poignant.

Ask Nick Clegg tomorrow!

Further to the video clip from Nick Clegg that I uploaded last Friday, just a reminder that if you’ve got a question for Liberal Democrat leader, then now’s your chance. Tomorrow, Monday July 13th at 1pm, he’ll be joining the Reuters UK team to take your questions live.

No subject is off limits. You’ll be able to see the live videostream on the link below and you can ask questions ahead of the event or respond during it by using Twitter (#askclegg) the 12 Seconds video service (nickclegg) .

Visit: http://www.tinyurl.com/asknickclegg

Calls for Riverside Drive speed limit review

As reported in today’s “Courier” and in the “Press and Journal”, following a 62-year-old woman being taken to hospital in Dundee on Thursday after suffering neck and chest injuries in a head-on collision between two cars on Riverside Drive, I have again raised continuing concerns about the appropriateness of the 50 mph speed limit on Riverside Drive, east of the Riverside Inn. I also spoke yesterday on Wave 102 news about the matter.

I recently secured the City Council’s agreement for a speed safety survey on Riverside Drive, in the area immediately east of the airport. This followed a number of constituents expressing concern about car speed on the busy thoroughfare and concerns about the safety of crossing to the playing fields on the south side of the street.

Obviously it is too early to comment on the specifics of yesterday’s collision but there have been on-going concerns about the appropriateness of the 50 mph limit east of the junction with Riverside Avenue and the City Council’s road safety officer has agreed to a road speed safety survey to be undertaken.

The matter has been discussed at the West End Local Community Planning Partnership at which Tayside Police is also represented.

Following the incident on Thursday, I have written to the council’s City Development Department asking for a progress update on the timescale for the proposed speed/safety survey.

Ask Nick Clegg

Nick Clegg MP

Nick is taking part in the Reuters ‘Great Debate’ this coming Monday :

Go to :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2OZQUAmx6k

Attempt to reduce councillor salaries to 2008/9 levels – an update

Further to my attempt to freeze all Dundee City Councillor salaries to last year’s levels, made at the recent Policy & Resources Committee (see http://tinyurl.com/cllrsalary to view more about this), as reported in today’s “Courier”, I have since discussed the matter with the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and he has spoken with a senior Scottish Government civil servant on the issue. I have now written to her seeking legal clarification as to whether or not a local authority can freeze or restrict councillor salaries below the level set in the guidance issued by Scottish Government.

I have obtained a copy of the Scottish Government guidance note on the matter for 2009. It indicates that councils cannot vary the remuneration level, but the clarification I have sought is about the legal position of this statement. Specifically, the guidance is only that – “guidance” – and the true test of the legal position will be in the interpretation of the regulations (amended in 2008) arising out of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.

I am continuing to pursue the matter as I believe it would be a ridiculous situation if a local authority cannot set lower salary levels for councillors to save public money & use this money to help service provision. If it turns out that the City Council is prevented from restricting salaries, I will be pursuing the matter with parliamentary colleagues to see how this can be overturned.

Meeting with Travel Dundee

As I alluded to in last night’s blog update, I had a meeting yesterday with the Managing Director of National Express Dundee (Travel Dundee). It was extremely useful, with the bus company appreciating the points I made concerning bus services in the West End and expressing a willingness to maintain a dialogue over ways in which services might be improved there in the future.

I had requested to meet with Lawrence Davie, Managing Director of the bus company, given complaints from many of his constituents about some aspects of the impending bus changes to be introduced by Travel Dundee on 16th August. Although there are positive aspects to the changes – for example the timing of the 2S St John’s High School bus was to be improved to fit better with the start of the school day – I have received many concerns from residents about a reduction in the 9X service and also regarding the reduction in the 22 evening service the bus company is proposing.

The reduction in the 9X service whereby the current 30 minute service across the West End leg being reduced to hourly has rightly been viewed with concern and disappointment by constituents in the parts of the West End affected. Although the bus company is introducing the new 8X service with the spare capacity resulting from a poorer 9X service, as this will go along Riverside Drive to the Technology Park and Ninewells Hospital, it will really only benefit passengers in the east of the city, with no real benefit for West End residents.

If you add the reduction of the 9X service to the recent Stagecoach changes, there’s a real gap in services compared to those available in the past, and the bus company yesterday did give me an assurance that the 9X situation was being kept under review to see what might be possible by way of improving services in this part of the West End, hopefully by the Spring of next year.

The bus company also indicated that it was considering improvements to the Number 2 service, hopefully towards the end of 2009. This would be of real benefit to constituents in the areas around Perth Road east of Sinderins, Hawkhill, Scott Street, Pentland and City Road, so I would greatly welcome any improvement to that particular service.

I will be maintaining a regular dialogue with the bus company and with Stagecoach Strathtay as I am anxious to see improvements in bus provision in the West End. I am also keen that constituents use the services as the bus companies have made clear that increased demand and usage of services made improvements to services more likely.

Busy Day …

Today’s activities included :

• A meeting with National Express Dundee’s Managing Director (more about that tomorrow, as the hour is late)
• Attended a briefing for councillors about looked after children in Dundee This was a very worthwhile event at which the film ‘Opal Fruits – A Year in Care’ was shown – go to http://tinyurl.com/opalfruit to read more about the film.
• Attended the Community Spirit group’s monthly meeting this evening. Community Spirit is the very active community group serving the Pentland, Ancrum and Cleghorn/Benvie Road areas. A useful briefing was given on pest control problems (particularly about seagulls). I updated the group on a recent traffic speed survey on City Road and changes to the bin collections in part of the area. These are:

 

A number of properties in the Pitfour Street area are currently served by the small bin collection system. In the forthcoming weeks, the City Council intends introducing wheeled bins to undernoted properties (letters are going to residents about this next week):

Pitfour Street – 2 – 20 (even)
City Road – No 31
Rosebery Street – 14 – 32 (even)
Benvie Road – 28 – 36 (even)

Following this, the Council intends introducing communal Eurobins to service the undernoted properties:

Pitfour Street – 1 – 23 (odd), 22 – 60 (even)
Benvie Rd – No 26
Rosebery St – 21 – 31 (odd)
Cleghorn St – 25 – 29 (odd)

The Eurobins will be installed on a trial basis initially and will situated in the channel of the road.

Been in London …

I’ve been in London Monday & Tuesday with the day job – here’s a few photos :

Above :   London was very warm – but with heavy rain at times!

Above :  My Institute’s Annual Reception was at the London Transport Museum – a great night had by all!

Above :  Michael Jackson Tributes outside the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue – the tributes were very moving.

 

I got back to Scotland on a flight from Luton, getting me in to Edinburgh at 5.30pm tonight.    I made it to the Logie Residents’ Association AGM at 7pm at the Lime Street Sheltered Lounge, with 5 minutes to spare.    A good, well-attended meeting.   I updated the meeting on the digital TV switchover and TV reception issues in the West End.

Buses in the West End

I have expressed concern about changes to Dundee bus services operated by Stagecoach Strathtay that came into force today and also regarding forthcoming changes to other bus services operated by National Express Dundee (Travel Dundee).

I have been in correspondence with Stagecoach Strathtay regarding today’s service changes, particularly the withdrawal of the 74 service, which I feel is detrimental to many West End residents.

The 74 service was a highly useful link for many constituents, particular those in the Tullideph/Pentland, City Road, Scott Street, Milnbank Road, Brook Street corridor, providing a link for residents to Ninewells Hospital, the City Centre and Broughty Ferry, and its withdrawal will be a real loss to residents in the area. I have had several other residents express concern at the removal of the 13 service – it is replaced only in part by the 73 and 77 services.

On the removal of Service 74, I raised with the bus company the comments of residents that the service had begun to grow in popularity and with appropriate publicity had real potential for the future.

 

I do think there is potential in Scott Street and surrounding area – it has seen housing growth in recent years and population increase.

Stagecoach Strathtay’s Operations Manager has responded stating, “It has always been our policy …to listen to our customer concerns regarding the service changes. We will review these changes and make any amendments either based on customer feedback – if we feel we can make these work commercially – or to change something that clearly isn’t working.”

I am pleased that the bus company was willing to review its changes but think the loss of the 74 service will leave an unfortunate gap in service for a significant part of the West End.

On the Travel Dundee proposed changes that are due to be implemented on 16th August, I appreciate that some of the changes National Express Dundee have announced appeared positive – for example the timing of the 2S St John’s High School bus has been an issue I have raised with the bus company and am pleased that the bus company is prepared to re-time it to make it fit better with the start of the school day.

However, I have raised with the bus company concerns about the further reduction of the 9X service – the 30 minute part of the service is being reduced to hourly – and the 22 service is being reduced in the evenings from 20 to 30 minutes.

The Managing Director of Travel Dundee has indicated a willingness to meet with me to discuss the upcoming service changes and this meeting is taking place this coming Wednesday. I am anxious to make the case on behalf of my constituents about the 9X and 22 evening services in particular.

Friends of Balgay – Summer Meeting

I had the pleasure of attending the Friends of Balgay summer meeting yesterday at which Jim Crumley, undoubtedly Scotland’s foremost creative nature writer, undertook a illustrative talk around Balgay Hill, on the subject of ‘Balgay trees and wildlife’.

It was a glorious afternoon and Jim is both informative and entertaining – here’s a photo (right) from the afternoon.

Meeting with Royal Mail

As reported in today’s “Courier” (see http://tinyurl.com/dundeepost), yesterday I met with two senior representatives of Royal Mail, including their Dundee West Sorting Office Manager, to discuss the deluge of complaints I have received over the past two months regarding the quality of mail deliveries across the West End of the City and the wider Dundee West area. The talks were positive and I hope that residents will see improvements to mail deliveries.

I continue to welcome feedback from constituents as I am keeping a close eye on this matter, given the extent of concerns in recent weeks.

This meeting gave me the opportunity to raise the many concerns I have received from residents about detrimental aspects of mail deliveries in the past few months and to specifically go over the problem areas with Royal Mail. The complaints have ranged over a number of aspects of Royal Mail service – late deliveries, lack of prompt deliveries, particular problems with packets and parcels, longer delivery rounds resulting in some mail not being delivered on time and difficulties in getting through to the sorting office on the phone.

I do have to say that the Royal Mail staff did recognise that there have been difficulties but assured me that they are working to ensure improvements. They have assured me that where there are problems with amalgamated delivery rounds and complaints continuing to come in, they will be willing to revise them and we set up direct lines of contact should I continue to receive complaints or concerns from constituents.

With regard to the difficulties of contacting the Sorting Office by phone, I was assured that steps were being taken to ensure that staff were available to answer calls and when this was not possible, an answering machine would be available where residents can leave the details of their enquiry. I hope this will resolve the complaint of people just getting the dialling tone when trying to get through to the Sorting Office.

During the meeting, I went through a list of particular issues in specific streets that have been raised by West End constituents to enable Royal Mail to look into these. Royal Mail is anxious that customers report complaints via their customer service local rate number 08457 740 740 as all complaints are logged and passed on to local staff for attention.

Railway station – plans withheld

I am amazed at the SNP City Council administration’s unwillingness to share with the people of Dundee the detailed proposals to upgrade Dundee rail station.

“The Courier” tried to obtain the detailed plans through Freedom of Information legislation but has been refused access – the newspaper is rightly appealing against this ruling.

As I indicated to the Courier, I personally don’t see what the problem is with the Council releasing the full details – the public has the right to see what is planned for the station.

The question must be why the Council seems to be stalling in bringing reports forward to committee. There is an ongoing delay and I have written to the Council’s Legal Manager and the Director of City Development expressing my concerns.

The Courier’s report can be read by going to http://tinyurl.com/dundeestation.

Wednesday’s City Council Meetings

Last night’s City Council meetings lasted around two and a half hours and there was a substantial amount of important business discussed, including :

 

* The HMIE inspection report on child protection services in Dundee and the Council’s proposed improvement plan was debated, aimed at swiftly improving services to protect children and young people in the city. The HMIE report is of great concern and, having met with the inspectors earlier yesterday along with other council group leaders and spokespersons, it is clear that the City Council must act promptly and comprehensively to address all issues. At the Policy & Resources Committee, I asked questions of council officers about the sharing of good practice from other local authorities and about securing funding. I also asked the Council Leader to confirm earlier agreement to an all-party meeting with the Minister for Children and Early Years to discuss the funding concerns and received a reluctant and fairly non-commital response. Scottish Government is under-funding children’s services – that is clear and obvious and the matter must be discussed with Ministers.

 

I was supportive of the improvement plan but also spoke in favour of a sensible amendment from the Labour Group that would have improved transparency and provided greater detail on the outcomes expected from the 34 point plan. My comments are reported in today’s ‘Courier’ – see http://tinyurl.com/childprotectiondundee. It is unfortunate that the SNP administration voted down the amendment; transparency and maximum information is vital.

 

* My attempt to cut all Dundee councillor salaries failed at the City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee but may be revisited after a review of the legal position regarding the setting of such salaries. Tonight’s “Evening Telegraph” covers the issue – click on the headline above to view.

My motion to committee last night would have cut back 2009/10 councillor salaries to 2008/9 levels, but council officers ruled such a moved out of order, believing that the Council could not alter the basic salary of a councillor and the of the Council Leader and Lord Provost.

The principle behind my attempt to freeze salaries for all councillors at last year’s levels was simple – that the City Council faces significant financial challenges and I and my colleague Cllr Helen Dick feel that councillors should be taking a lead by freezing the amount spent on councillor salaries at 2008/9 levels and forgoing any rise for the new financial year. This would have led to a budget underspend of over £16 000, which would be returned to General Fund Balances to assist with expenditure on services.

Council officials said at committee last night that it was not within the power of the council to alter certain salaries. I have since spoken with two senior council officers regarding this ruling. It is my understanding that whilst the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC) has set salaries in its guidance, the document from SLARC is only that – guidance – and I remain unconvinced that it is not within the power of local authorities to set their own salary levels. At a time of very significant economic difficulties, this was exactly the sort of time when councils should be cutting back on councillor salary levels.

 

I have been given an assurance by officers that contact will be made with Scottish Government to secure clarity of the legal position on the setting of councillor salaries. It would indeed be a ridiculous position if local authorities could not choose to lower all its councillor salary levels.

 

* I attempted to have the City Council’s response to the Scottish parliamentary boundary review to oppose the renaming of Dundee West and Dundee East to “Dundee City West” and “Dundee City East” – a pointless complication – unfortunately a pointless complication supported by the Tories and SNP – I lost the vote 17-9. The winner was bureaucracy.

 

* I sought assurances for community councils with regard to the new scheme for community councils – helpful responses from the council officers.

 

* Air quality – my question regarding my concerns about progress on this matter in Dundee were answered by e-mail this morning, although I have sent some follow up questions about NO2 assessments in Dundee.

 

* Allotments – I welcomed a consultation document on allotments in Dundee but raised with the Director of Leisure & Communities the issue of security fencing – an issue I have discussed with many allotment holders.

 

* Planning Local Review Body – I end this update on a positive note. I moved an amendment to the officers’ report on the new planning appeals system to ensure that local ward councillors did not determine appeals in their own wards, to ensure neutrality and fairness in the process. I am pleased that the Council Leader seconded my amendment and this was unanimously approved. This will assist the new Planning Local Review Body to determine appeals that are seen as fair and acceptable to the wider community.

West End Surgeries

With the school year ending on Thursday afternoon of this week, my weekly surgeries are now ended until the commencement of the new school term. This starts on Wednesday 19th August and therefore my surgeries recommence on Thursday 20th at Blackness Primary School at 6.15pm prompt.

Meantime, I am available via my e-surgery at any time – esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk – or call me at home – 01382 459378 – many thanks!

Congratulations to St Joseph’s Primary School

After a long day including a meeting in Dalkeith (day job), followed by surgeries and the City Council’s Development Quality Committee tonight, I have been going through my mail and, having received a copy of the St Joseph’s Primary School Follow-Through Inspection Report from the Director of Education, it is very heartening indeed to read such a positive report.

All at the school deserve congratulations for such an excellent report and I have sent mine to Marion, the Head Teacher. Well done to all at St Joseph’s!

Mail deliveries in the West End

I have arranged to meet Royal Mail representatives later this week to discuss the many complaints I have receieved from constituents about mail deliveries in recent weeks – particularly about the extensive delay in items constituents know have been posted to them actually being delivered.

I have received numerous complaints from constituents from different parts of the West End and am aware that the complaints are also coming from other parts of the city too. There have also been a lot of concerns about real difficulty getting through to the Dundee West Sorting Office by phone.

I therefore approached the Dundee West Sorting Office Manager who has agreed to a face-to-face meeting to discuss the complaints on Friday of this week.

I am hoping to be given assurances that Royal Mail is tackling the delivery problems and prepared to give clear timescales as to when my constituents who have experienced mail delivery problems can expect to see matters improve.

Crieff

Janet & I have had a great weekend away – it wasn’t very far away – Crieff Hydro – and the weather wasn’t up to expectations – but it was good to chill out and the company was excellent.

 

Many thanks to Helen & Murray for looking after Bunty (our puppy; we’ve not been away from her before but she has had a great time – tired puppy …  zzzzzzz!)

Of course, the drawback of being away is the large list of phone and e-mails messages to follow up on return!

 

Anyway, here’s a couple on photos taken on my phone from our room at the Hydro …

Michael Jackson : Rock With You

Michael Jackson

See  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inH9DSFsWSY

In all the sadness of the death of Michael Jackson, there’s been loads and loads about the best of his hits.   The consensus is that the “Thriller” album was ultimate Jackson, but for me, “Off the Wall” in 1979 was Michael Jackson at his best, and best of all – ‘Rock With You’

Scottish Liberal Democrats on Twitter!

 For those of you into Twitter, as today is #followfriday I urge you to follow the brand new @scotlibdems

TV issues – surgeries well attended yesterday

The meetings with Digital UK that I chaired at some of the sheltered housing complexes in the West End yesterday, to allow constituents to raise complaints and concerns about TV reception – and on the issue of the digital switchover – proved extremely successful with over 120 residents attending. Actually 123 residents and a lovely, well-behaved dog! See pictures below.

I am indebted to Alan Cowie, the former Grampian TV presenter – who spoke at the meetings. Alan is assisting Digital UK’s effort to liaise with people to ensure that their TV and digital questions are addressed and answered. He is excellent at covering the issues and engaging with the audience. Many elderly people in particular had questions about how they ensure they continue to receive television reception after the switchover and it was appropriate to hold these meetings at sheltered housing lounges in the area.

Digital UK are the experts regarding the digital switch-over and what I found particularly useful for the explanation of the Digital Help Scheme which aims to help those aged 75 and over and persons with disabilities get digital equipment and installation at little or no cost, a scheme being led by the BBC. It seems like a very good scheme for elderly and disabled people and it is important that residents are given full information about it in advance of the switch-off of the old analogue television signals in summer 2010.

As a result of the meetings today, I have taken up some individuals’ TV reception complaints and am – as always – pleased to assist any other West End residents with them.

Above : Alan speaking to Pennycook Court residentsAbove : Morven Terrace Sheltered Housing meetingAbove : The meeting at Blackness CourtAbove : The doggie audience!

Significant concerns over child protection report

The HMIE report on child protection services in Dundee, published yesterday, made very concerning reading. As reported in last night’s ‘Evening Telegraph’ and today’s ‘Courier’, I made the following comments:

  

Dundee City Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, today said that he was very concerned by the conclusions of the HMIE report on child protection services in Dundee.

Cllr Macpherson said, “The report’s conclusions are of significant concern, highlighting ‘major weaknesses in the identification of children who needed protection.’ Eight indicators showing that child protection services are weak and one unsatisfactory indicator is without any shadow of a doubt requires immediate improvement.

“A cross-party meeting of councillors to meet with the inspectors has already been agreed. The inspectors’ report is to be considered by a Council Committee on 1st July. It is vital that immediate action is taken to improve services and an action plan agreed to allow this to be achieved as soon as possible.

“The Council Leader has already been asked by opposition councillors to arrange a meeting of City Council Group Leaders with Adam Ingram, the Children and Early Years Minister. I agree with the Minister that the findings of the inspection show child protection services in Dundee are ‘simply not good enough’ but we urgently need to hear from Mr Ingram how Scottish Government is to help in real and practical terms.

“Scottish Government has a role to play here, particularly in providing additional resources. Service improvements will undoubtedly require increased resources over and above the additional £1.3 million the City Council has earmarked for 2009/10 and we need assurances from government that it will fund any additional services and resources needed to ensure that the action plan the City Council will hopefully swiftly approve can be fully implemented.”

Road works in the West End next week

The City Council has advised me of the following road closures next week, from Monday 29th June for a maximum of 5 working days:

• Cleghorn Street (between Benvie Road and Lochee Road) – due to Scottish Water maintenance works
• Seafield Road (from Number 54 to the Roseangle junction) – due to electricity cable laying works

I am advised that pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

 

Further details can be provided by the City Council – phone 433168.

New Commons Speaker Tory MP John Bercow

See : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgglVLFBsxQ

Rather pleased at the result, if only to see the glum looks amongst Tory MPs!   Don’t quite understand why Bercow was ever selected as a Tory candidate, but there you go …

I’d have voted for Ann Widdecombe – don’t normally agree with a word she says, but she is forthright and honest and genuinely connects with the public.

Anyway, the good news – Michael Martin has gone!

Meetings about television issues

Following a deluge of complaints about TV reception from constituents and many questions about the digital TV switchover, taking place in the summer of next year – as reported in tonight’s “Evening Telegraph” – I have organised six meetings on Wednesday of this week at some of the sheltered housing complexes in the West End.

The meetings will allow local residents to raise complaints and concerns about TV reception and on the issue of the digital switchover with John MacNeil, Digital UK’s Assistant National Manager for Scotland. Many elderly people in particular have questions about how they ensure to continue to receive television reception after the switchover and it seems highly appropriate to hold these meetings at sheltered housing lounges.

I am grateful to Digital UK for taking part in the local meetings this week. Their expertise will help residents with any TV reception and digital switchover issues they wish to raise. Digital UK are the experts regarding the digital switch-over and will be there to provide advice to any resident with questions about the impending changes and help that is available.

There have been many TV reception issues raised with me recently and I felt it would be helpful to allow residents in the West End to speak with the experts directly.

The meetings take place this Wednesday (24th June) at the following locations:

10.15am Morven Terrace Sheltered Lounge
11.00am Pennycook Court Sheltered Lounge
11.45am Blackness Court Sheltered Lounge
12.30pm Paton’s Lane Sheltered Lounge
1.15pm Tullideph Sheltered Lounge
2.00pm Corso Street Sheltered Lounge

River Crescent Residents’ Association AGM

I had the pleasure of addressing the Annual General Meeting of the River Crescent Residents’ Association this afternoon at the Botanic Garden. A great turnout from residents – particularly impressive given the glorious weather!

In my address to the Association, I covered a number of updates, including :

• Airport Noise Issues
• Speed limits
• Potholes tackled
• The bridge condition on Riverside Drive
• WestFest 2010 – the proposed West End Festival
• Digital TV
• Postal delivery concerns
• Proposed Riverside Nature Park

Concern about Tay AM

Radio Tay AM

See :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1opQkHH-hg

Last year I met with Bauer Radio/Radio Tay following concerns about the Tay FM evening output (see http://tinyurl.com/radiotay).   There has recently been more concern about the decision by Bauer to amalgamate much of the AM programming of its Scottish stations (as Bauer put it “in light of the continuing economic climate, we are looking to reshape some of our local teams”) but the loss of much local programming is very disappointing.

Radio Tay has become part and parcel of our community since 1980. I still remember listening to Tay on its opening morning – while getting ready for school!    The YouTube clip above brings back happy memories.

I therefore feel real sadness at the loss of presenters like Ward McGaughrin, Terry Cumming, Jenny Farrish and Murray McGregor. I’m pleased that Dave Price has been snapped up by Wave 102.

I concur with the comments by Jamie McIvor of the BBC who writes :

“Only time will tell if the changes to Bauer’s medium wave stations will be successful.

But their transformation into a Scottish network in all but name marks the end of a chapter in the history of Scottish radio.”

SNP failure on schools building programme

Tonight’s “Evening Telegraph” covered my concerns about the Scottish Government’s delays over the school building programme.   I reproduce below two news releases this week from the Scottish Liberal Democrats on this subject:

 

SCOTT ATTACKS DELAYS TO SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott attacked Alex Salmond over massive delays to the school building programme at this week’s FMQs. After two years of delay, the First Minister was still unable to say which schools are in line to receive funding for vital upgrades.

 “The Government has wasted two years failing to get the Scottish Futures Trust to work – two years of blind alleys, garden paths and dead ends.

 “The announcement yesterday could have been made two years ago. Instead we had paralysis from the SNP.

 “After two years of delay the First Minister should have been able to answer the basic questions about which schools are in the programme.

 “In eight weeks time, 180 children will start their first day at secondary school at Inverurie Academy .  But the First Minister, their MSP, was unable to say whether any of those children will have a new school built for them in Inverurie before they sit their Highers.”

 LIB DEMS EXPOSE MIND-BOGGLING DELAYS TO SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME

 
Commenting after the Education Secretary was forced to admit following questioning by Liberal Democrat MSPs that the SNP will delay the school buildings programme for almost a decade, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith MSP said:

 “We have dragged the Education Secretary’s cat out of the bag.  The SNP is forcing most councils to delay building new schools for up to a decade.

 “The money starts to dribble down to councils next year and the final payments won’t arrive until 2018.

 “The SNP is rushing to get some token bricks built by polling day.  There would have been less of a rush if there had not been the two year Hyslop-gap and paralysis in planning.

“Most of the pupils studying in crumbling buildings will have left school and could have children of their own before these new schools are built.  Thanks to the SNP’s mind-boggling delay, an entire generation of schoolchildren have been let down.”