http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com LibDem councillor for Dundee's West End. Mirror site for www.dundeewestend.com. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:41:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/95a4c3e2abf33069e0befbbc7d0bd07b?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/roseangle-car-park-resurfacing/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/roseangle-car-park-resurfacing/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:41:27 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12715 ]]> After many months of campaigning on behalf of local residents for proper resurfacing of the badly potholed Roseangle car park, I was pleased to advise last month that the City Council had agreed to fully resurface it and have it properly relined.

Slightly ahead of schedule, the council’s contractor, Tayside Contracts, will commence resurfacing works on Monday morning (27th – weather permitting), with the car park closed from teatime on Sunday for 3-7 days – the time taken will really depend on weather conditions.

I have advised all nearby residents of the temporary car park closure and the City Council has also publicised this as has the Courier and Evening Telegraph.    

Bellefield Avenue – SSE work postponed to avoid parking loss

I was very concerned to learn yesterday that, by unfortunate coincidence, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) intended starting electrical work in Bellefield Avenue on Monday that would see a loss of parking in the street for up to three weeks – see right.   

The combined loss of parking between the car park and Bellefield Avenue would have caused residents real difficulty, so I requested that SSE postpone their works until the car park work is completed.   To their great credit, SSE promptly agreed to this – see their response below:

“Councillor Macpherson 

Arrangements are underway to cancel works that were scheduled to commence on Monday 27 February 2012. 

We will discuss with your Network Management department to identify a suitable time to reschedule. 

The works are to upgrade electricity supplies into properties in Bellefield Avenue. This type of work involves excavations to connect a new cable into the property and disconnect the old one.”

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/roseangle-car-park-resurfacing/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/riverside-nature-park-benefits-from-rotarians-generosity/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/riverside-nature-park-benefits-from-rotarians-generosity/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:16:38 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12711 ]]>

Yesterday, along with council colleagues Cllrs Richard McCready and Bob Duncan, I had the pleasure in taking part in a tree planting ceremony at Riverside Nature Park, with representatives from Dundee and Abertay Rotary Clubs who have kindly donated trees for the park.

Both Rotary Clubs do great charitable work and the new tree-lined path near to the park’s east entrance will greatly enhance the park.

Riverside Nature Park is going from strength to strength, with good visitor numbers and a Friends’ group getting established.

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/riverside-nature-park-benefits-from-rotarians-generosity/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/getting-things-done-morven-terrace/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/getting-things-done-morven-terrace/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:49:50 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12706 ]]>

At the recent sheltered housing tenants’ meeting I held with the residents at Ancrum Place and Morven Terrace, the residents raised their concerns that the “SLOW” markings on the roadway in Morven Terrace, coming in from Tullideph Road were badly worn.

I contacted the City Council’s Head of Transportation regarding this, pointing out that the SLOW markings are important in an area where there are many elderly pedestrians, and he agreed that the markings should be repainted.

I am pleased that this has been done very promptly – see above right.

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/getting-things-done-morven-terrace/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/west-end-local-community-planning-partnership-2/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/west-end-local-community-planning-partnership-2/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:09:27 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12703 ]]> After my weekly surgery at Blackness Primary School this evening, I attended tonight’s West End Local Community Planning Partnership meeting at the Tartan Coffee House in Perth Road.

There was a presentation on the draft local housing strategy consultation for Dundee and I made the point that, in terms of improving privately rented housing in the city (and a lot of it is in the West End), resources must be put into improvements to privately rented housing including controlled entry systems, environmental improvements and proper factoring arrangements.

There was also an excellent presentation by Fiamma Dobson of the Bus Stop Drop In Project at the Gate Church in Perth Road that is providing support – including drop-in facilities – to Dundee folk with addiction problems – see video below :

Bus Stop Ministry from Gate Church on Vimeo.

We also discussed derelict housing in the West End and my proposal to re-establish a Derelict Land Working Group in the city to address this important issue.

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/west-end-local-community-planning-partnership-2/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/university-of-dundee-volunteering-fair/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/university-of-dundee-volunteering-fair/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:57:54 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12695 ]]> Yesterday, Dundee Liberal Democrats took part in the 2012 University of Dundee Volunteering Fair - it was a great event and here’s a couple of photos from the day:

With some of the Dundee LibDem Team

Official Volunteering Fair opening

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/university-of-dundee-volunteering-fair/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/flooding-at-old-hawkhill/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/flooding-at-old-hawkhill/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:42:46 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12693 ]]>

Residents have contacted me regarding water flooding down Old Hawhill during the past few days, within the University Campus - see right.

I am pleased to advise that the University Secretary assured me yesterday that the problem has been resolved by their contractor.

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/flooding-at-old-hawkhill/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/welcome-decision-on-nursery-school-winter-maintenance/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/welcome-decision-on-nursery-school-winter-maintenance/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:31:42 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12688 ]]>

As reported in last night’s Evening Telegraph, I have welcomed a decision by the City Council and Tayside Contracts to give greater priority to footpath gritting beside a busy nursery school close to the West End Ward.

Law Nursery School in Campbell Street is near to the West End Ward, and as a result, children who live particularly in the north of the West End Ward make use of this excellent nursery school.

However, constituents of mine whose children attend the nursery complained that the pavement right outside the nursery in Campbell Street was not a priority route for winter maintenance, although other nearby streets such as Gardner Street are.     I therefore highlighted to the City Engineer the need to ensure that this pavement was given priority in future given the number of very young children using it to enter the nursery and the hilly nature of Campbell Street.

The City Engineer has replied to me as follows :

“I have reviewed this with Tayside Contracts and we agree that that the section of footway outside Law Nursery (ie Campbell Street from Gardner Street to Lawside Road) should be included on the footway priority list for this area and will arrange for this to be added shortly.”

I view this as a sensible decision that will benefit the nursery school pupils and their parents.   Although we have thankfully, thus far, seen a relatively mild winter, in future having this stretch of pavement next to the nursery getting priority winter maintenance will assist in bad conditions.

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/welcome-decision-on-nursery-school-winter-maintenance/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/cutting-speed-on-riverside-drive-and-riverside-avenue-an-update/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/cutting-speed-on-riverside-drive-and-riverside-avenue-an-update/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:12:55 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12675 ]]>

Last November, I welcomed the recommendation by the City Council to cut the speed limit on Riverside Avenue and Riverside Drive, something I have long campaigned for to improve road and pedestrian safety.

The council’s Director of City Development has recently updated me on the consultation process as follows :

“It is estimated that the Traffic Regulation Process (TRO) process for the roads identified to change in the speed limit review will start off in about 2 months as this has been added to the list of outstanding Traffic Regulation Orders that have to be progressed.  

As far as consultation is concerned it is likely that this will occur about 3-4 months after the commencement of the process.

Please note that the Riverside Avenue section will require the cooperation of Perth and Kinross Council as the road is shared to the west of Invergowrie Burn.”

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/cutting-speed-on-riverside-drive-and-riverside-avenue-an-update/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/12683/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/12683/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:55:38 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12683 ]]> I was on Radio Tay news yesterday and quoted in the Courier about the lack of proper public toilet provision at Dundee House, the City Council’s new headquarters.

At the HQ that cost Dundee council taxpayers some £36 million, there is only a disabled toilet facility but no general toilet provision.   It would have been a whole lot better if the Dundee public had been given some consideration.    

Although I have been told by the council’s Chief Executive that elderly people and young children will be allowed access to the disabled toilet, I have had a complaint from an elderly constituent who lives in sheltered housing that, on visiting Dundee House, he was told there is no toilet provision.

I do think the City Council can do better than this – after all, the Dundee public visiting Dundee House paid for the building!

Click ‘play’ below to listen to the news report on Radio Tay:

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/12683/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/monday-activities-6/ http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/monday-activities-6/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:54:21 +0000 Cllr Fraser Macpherson http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/?p=12678 ]]>

Following my weekly ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and at Harris Academy, I attended tonight’s meeting of the City Council’s Development Management Committee at which a planning application for office accommodation at the digital media park in Greenmarket – aimed at the digital media/creative industries sector – was considered.

The application was rightly strongly backed – by 21 votes to 2 – but I did seek – and obtained – assurances about visual appearance and the quality of design.    

Supporting our digital media sector is vital if we are to secure economic growth for our city and it is good to see the future of the digital media park at Greenmarket and Seabraes being secured. 

]]> http://frasermacpherson.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/monday-activities-6/feed/ 0 Cllr Fraser Macpherson