“Keep Clear” markings at Pentland

I was pleased to note that, at my request and following the recent road resurfacing on Colinton Place and Pentland Crescent, the “Keep Clear” signs on the bend in the road have been re-painted.    See below: Immediately after the surfacing work, the bin collection could not take place in Colinton Place due to cars [...]

Busy Friday …

Yesterday, following my raising concerns that the latest City Council new recycling kerbside collection pilot excluded the West End Ward (and two of the other seven wards in Dundee), I met with the City Council’s Environment Director and the Head of Environmental Protection regarding the matter. We had a useful discussion and I did obtain assurances [...]

Issues at Pentland

Yesterday, along with council officers, local residents and two of my ward colleagues, I attended a walkabout round the Pentland area.   We undertake these walkabouts round Pentland (also Logie and the Corso/Abbotsford/Blackness area) twice a year to look at any local issues that need attention. Yesterday there were a number of issues highlighted including [...]

Getting things done … Steps from Pentland Avenue to Scott Street

Residents have complained to me about damage to the steps (see right) leading down from Pentland Avenue to Scott Street. I contacted the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership who have now advised me that: “An order has been raised by the Road Maintenance Partnership inspector for the repair of a hole at the top of the [...]

Pentland Avenue wall damage

Yesterday, I inspected damage to the walling along Pentland Avenue (see right). It looks like vandalism but may be accidental.   I am pleased that the Housing Department has reacted very promptly, already removing the fallen bricks and surveying the site yesterday to get repairs underway.

Getting things done in Pentland …

I have previously mentioned the need to trim foliage across the footway in Pentland Avenue that made the footway difficult to negotiate – see below : I am pleased to say that, after numerous reminders, the City Council has now got the trees trimmed (and at another location in the estate) – the picture below was taken [...]

Pentland walkabout

Pentland, viewed from City Road Yesterday, along with council officers and a ward colleague, I took part in a “walkabout” around the Pentland area to look at issues in the estate. The substantive issue discussed was about improving grass maintenance in the area, and we also looked at a number of other issues including parking [...]

Pentland road resurfacing

Having taken up a number of concerns from residents about the state of the road surfaces on the roads in Pentland, I was pleased to be advised recently by the City Engineer of a proposed surfacing programme planned for early next year : “It is proposed to apply a proprietary thin surfacing treatment to Pentland [...]

Overgrown foliage problem

I have recently had complaints from residents that the pathway on Pentland Avenue that runs in front of the houses (above the main Pentland Avenue pavement) has badly overgrown foliage beside it. Over the wet weather last weekend, it was difficult to pass without getting covered in rainwater (see right).   The Housing Department own this [...]

City Road/Pentland Avenue – fencing repairs

Following complaints from residents that the fencing round the grass area at the junction of Pentland Avenue and City Road was damaged – and missing in parts – I contacted the City Council regarding this and also raised it at the last “Pentland walkabout.” I am pleased to report that the fencing is now properly [...]

Superb Sunday!

Another beautiful morning in the West End whilst campaigning for Alison Burns - this photo was taken in Pentland earlier today :

Monday

This morning, along with one of my ward councillor colleagues, I attended a walkabout around the Pentland area with officers from various council departments to look at issues that require action in the area.     A number of issues were noted – eg damaged fencing, bin collections and recycling. Another issue raised was the [...]

Pentland Avenue flooding

Prior to the recent very challenging weather (as can be seen by the photo taken on the day!) I met with a constituent and a representative of the City Council’s Housing Department to discuss the continual flooding across parts of the pathway of Pentland Avenue. The Housing Department has agreed to engage an architect to [...]

Real Time Bus Information – Pentland Avenue

As residents are aware, I have been highlighting the need to see the real time bus timetable information at bus shelters where it is currently out of action repaired and the service back working as soon as possible. I recently had a request as to progress getting the information on the shelters in Pentland Avenue [...]

Embankment at Pentland Crescent

A long-standing complaint from Pentland area residents has been the unkempt embankment at the back of Pentland Crescent – very overgrown – and the matter was raised at last week’s Community Spirit meeting. I’ve been in touch with Dundee Contract Services about this and have now received the following positive feedback from their Acting Land [...]

LCPP meeting – outcomes

Yesterday, I mentioned that the West End Local Community Planning Partnership meeting was taking place last night. It was a very productive meeting, and in addition to an interesting presentation on Dundee Waterfront, there was agreement on a joint initiative between Tayside Police, Tayside Fire and Rescue and the City Council’s Housing Department to promote [...]

Household contents insurance

Following a concerning incident where an elderly constituent in the Pentland area found her house damaged by water from an uninsured tenant in the flat above and all the difficulties it caused the elderly lady, I wrote to the City Council’s Director of Housing asking how the council can better promote household contents insurance for [...]

11/12 bus service – meeting with National Express Dundee agreed

I welcome today’s commitment from National Express Dundee that it is willing to review recent controversial bus service changes in the city. In recent weeks, along with residents, fellow councillors and the Community Spirit Action Group, I have highlighted the deficiencies in the revised 11/12 service in the Ancrum, Pentland and Tullideph areas. Following my [...]

Pentland Crescent potholes – repairs promised

I have recently had complaints from residents in Pentland Crescent about potholes on the road and I raised this matter with the City Development Department of Dundee City Council. The road surface is in poor shape and particularly potholed at its junction with Saggar Street – see photo (above). The City Council has updated me [...]

11/12 bus service petition – photocall

Last week, I highlighted the campaign by Community Spirit, local residents’ group for Ancrum, Pentland, Tullideph and the Cleghorn area, to seek improvements to the 11/12 bus service. I have since spoken with many local residents who rightly believe that a bus service that doesn’t run after 3pm on weekdays and has no service at [...]

Beautiful day in the West End – view from Pentland

Latest on West End buses …

As I have previously updated, residents in the Pentland, Ancrum and Tullideph areas are strongly against the National Express Dundee bus service changes in the area as these are highly detrimental to the local community. The residents’ group for the area – Community Spirit Action Group – has raised a petition that is being distributed [...]

Bus service concerns

As reported in today’s Courier, I have raised constituents’ concerns about the changes to bus services covering parts of the West End Ward from tomorrow. These affect the 9/10/11/12 “Outer Circle” service and I have received numerous representations from residents in the Ancrum, Tullideph and Pentland areas, who feel that the removal of that service [...]

Wednesday …

Today, a couple of site visits – the first with residents of Thomson Street together with Scottish Water and City Council representatives to investigate a bad smell from drains on the roadway – the second with the Police, City Council representatives and fellow councillors to look at vehicle access problems in the Pentland Crescent/Avenue/Saggar Street [...]

Busy Wednesday

As well as packed ‘day job’ activities today, I : * Attended a briefing from National Express Dundee on their changes to bus services in the city from 27th June. There is (after my – and West End Community Council’s input) an improvement to the 9X service (rebranded as the Service 5A) – with a [...]

Fencing repairs promised – Pentland Avenue

Following complaints from residents about vandalism to fencing at the west end of Pentland Avenue, I have had the following feedback from the City Council’s Housing Department: “Dear Councillor Macpherson The metal railings at this location are to be inspected for the necessary repair as they are on the Housing Department account.”

Thursday news …

* This afternoon, after a useful meeting about improving liaison between the numerous West End community groups, I attended the latest meeting of the Best Value Review group on Child Protection Services in Dundee. * This evening, after a busy surgery at Blackness Primary School, I attended the March meeting of the Community Spirit group [...]

Latest West End News

  A few updates : “Just the Job” – a course aimed at local people looking for work but English is their second language started this morning at the Mitchell Street Centre. It aims to help participants improve their application filling, CVs and interview skills and will run every Tuesday morning until 9th March. Further [...]

Hogmanay update

More winter maintenance issues raised by residents over the past day, including the situation in the Pentland area (where the refuse collection could not be made yesterday) and the need for additional grit bins in Thomson Street and Tait’s Lane. As always, I have raised all issues with the City Council. Above :  The wintery [...]

Tonight … and parking again …

A very informative meeting of the “Community Spirit” group for the north of the ward (Ancrum, Pentland, Cleghorn, etc) tonight with an excellent presentation from a representative of the Waste Management Department and a good discussion thereafter on cleansing, graffiti and recycling issues – to name just three. Am meeting the parking consultants tomorrow morning [...]