Getting things done – Abbotsford Place #dundeewestend

I have received concerns from many residents about the poor state of the roadway in parts of Abbotsford Place and raised this with the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership.

I have now received the following helpful update :

“Abbotsford Place is included in the Structural Inlay Programme for 2021-2022.

Structural inlay is reconstruction of the carriageway at those spots identified where deterioration of the road structure extends into the layers below the wearing surface.

So, yes it is a new surface but more depth of the road surface will be removed then be reconstructed to the existing road surface.

This will apply to targeted areas in Abbotsford Place so the whole of Abbotsford Place carriageway will not be renewed/resurfaced.”

Getting things done – Hillcrest Road #dundeewestend

I have recently received concerns about the deteriorating road surface towards the west end of Hillcrest Road.

This part of the road was not resurfaced some time ago when the rest of the street was given an improved surface and I therefore raised ths with the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership.

I have now had a helpful response as follows :

“An inspection has been carried out at Hillcrest Road and there are currently no actionable defects. However an order has been raised to repair non actionable defects when resources are available.

Non actionable defects are minor defects and have no specified timescale for repair. Actionable defects are defects that require intervention i.e. repair within an appropriate timescale dependant on the location and scale of the fault.”

Getting things done – Pennycook Lane #dundeewestend

I have recently had a number of concerns about the state of the road surface in Pennycook Lane, including this resident’s comment :

“I was hoping you could possibly find out if the many potholes that are now on the road leading to the car park would be getting filled in. 

They are worse than last year and bigger.”

I have therefore wrote to the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership requseting repairs and have now received the following helpful reply :

“An order has been raised for repairs to be carried out.”

Getting things done – rail line at Magdalen Green #dundeewestend

Network Rail recently cut back the vegetation on one side of the rail line at Magdalen Green and residents asked me if the company intended doing this welcome work on the other side of the line.

I contacted Network Rail and have had the following helpful response :

“Thank you for contacting us about the vegetation on our land at Magdalen Green, Dundee.

I can confirm that there are plans to cut back the vegetation on other side of the railway.

I cannot give you an exact date for this, but it is in our programme of work to be done.”

Getting things done – Balgay Hill #dundeewestend

Residents have highlighted to me that, following several trees being felled up Balgay Hill in recent months, the safety barriers have been left behind.

I have therefore raised this with the environment management team at the City Council who have advised as follows :

“The fencing was put in place as a safety measure because of the damage to the footpaths by the windblown Corsican Pine trees. As the trees were blown parts of the path had lifted causing a safety issue and the fences were put in place to prevent direct access.

I can only assume the fence had fallen or had been pushed over. 

I am led to believe that heavy plant machinery will be on site this week to rectify the footpath. In the short term I will request that staff reposition the fence.”

Getting things done – Union Place #dundeewestend

I have had numerous concerns from residents in Union Place recently about overflowing rubbish at the Eurobins in Union Place and I therefore requested from the City Council that an additional general waste Eurobin be provided for residents.

I am pleased to have now received positive feedback from environment management as follows :

“We’ve agreed to relocate the south-most set of bins within the car park which will enable an additional bin for general waste to be added, thus creating more capacity and reducing the opportunity for side waste and littering in general.

We are going to monitor the bins in the coming weeks and make any necessary adjustments thereafter.”

Getting things done – Seafield Road and Westfield Lane #dundeewestend

Residents have highlighted that the path that connects the lane from Seafield Road (38 to 48) to the grassy area towards the bottom end of Westfield Lane becomes ‘a bit of a mud pit’ when it rains (as one resident accurately put it).

The lane itself is not a City Council adopted pathway but I have asked environment management who own the grass area if the surface of this short length of path to the grass area could be improved.

Getting things done – Seabraes bins #dundeewestend

A West End resident recently contacted me regarding the bins at Seabraes :

“I had a lovely walk up Perth Road yesterday but was saddened to see the gulls had been out in force at Seabraes.

Any chance the bins can be changed to the ones at City Quay which are more gull proof please?”

I took this up with our local environment manager who has now updated me as follows :

‘Just a quick note to say that we are looking into this. 

 Any replacement bins would have to be in keeping with the rest of the furniture and of a suitable type and construction, so we are looking into what is available.’

Getting things done – Hazel Drive #dundeewestend

A resident recently advised me :

‘I wonder if anything can be done about the lane leading from Hazel  Drive, near Hazel Gardens,  to Perth Road. The area by the drains is totally blocked by leaves and mud. When it rains, the path becomes a mini river.’

I took this up with the Roads Maintenance Partnership and have now been advised that the local roads inspector has since checked the gullies at the top and bottom of this footpath and they are now clear.   

Our local environment manager has been asked to ensure the leaves in the path are removed.

Bus timetables concern – an update #dundeewestend

Last year, I highlighted that residents have pointed out that, although real time bus information is working at bus shelters, paper timetables have been out of date since the bus companies altered bus services temporarily at the start of the COVID-19 the health emergency.

Whilst appreciating there needed to be the return to normal services and stability in timetables before new and correct timetables could be placed at every bus stop, I got assurances that erroneous, out of date information would be removed meantime.

With the Xplore Dundee recent bus services review having taken place at the start of 2021, I asked the Sustainable Transport team at the council for an update and have been advised by a Transport Officer as follows :

“Xplore Dundee is amending its service provision again from 12th April.    Therefore ‘at stop’ timetables will not be erected at this stage until we are sure that the service provision is stable.

I have been in contact with the bus operators and are in the process of providing an at stop notice which will be erected at bus stops directing passengers to websites and phone numbers for any information regarding bus services.   These, I am hopeful will be designed, printed and erected within the next few weeks.”

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend


DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 29 MARCH 2021

West Marketgait (northbound from Nethergate to West Port roundabout), West Port roundabout (south side of outer lane), Hawkhill (westbound from West Port roundabout to Brown Street) – closed for 2 weeks for Bus Priority Improvement Works.

Forthcoming Road Works

Riverside Avenue (at Wright Avenue) – off peak temporary traffic lights on Thursday 8 April for Scottish Water work.

Blether Tay-Gither – Storytelling in Dundee

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

From Sheila Kinninmonth, Blether Tay-Gither’s secretary :

Hope you can join us for our March Blether on Zoom

Tuesday 30th March – 7pm to 9pm

This month’s theme is Rivers.

And, it’s our birthday!

Rivers, the flowing life giving water of the land. Rich with stories and activity.   We are drawn to rivers for the wonders that lay along their banks, for the beauty they hold, and for the history written on their waters.

This month we are exploring rivers through story and you are welcome to come along.   Bring a story and share a cuppa over the internet, or just come to listen and have a blether.

Also, it’s our 14th birthday! Can you believe it!   We have been together continuously as a storytelling club since 2007, and even through a world crisis we have managed to keep going.  Maybe you want to bring a piece of cake and a candle to this month’s storytelling club and help us celebrate?

Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84629089197

Meeting ID: 846 2908 9197


Hope to see you there!

Read more about Blether Tay-Gither here.

Getting things done – Newhall Gardens #dundeewestend

A number of Newhall Gardens residents have contacted me about the need for a dog bin in the large grass strip along the centre of the street.   The nearest such bin at present is in Riverside Drive, south of the entrance to the street, so some distance away.

I took this up with the City Council’s environment team and have now been advised as follows :

“I have visited location and will arrange to have a bin sited on grass area.

We have no bins in stock at present, but will erect at site as soon as new stock arrives.”

Scottish parliamentary elections – West Park conference centre voters #dundeewestend

I have been in correspondence with the City Council’s electoral registration team regarding polling arrangements in the West End for the Scottish parliamentary elections in May – particularly challenging given the COVID-19 health emergency.

The only polling place change in the West End this year is that the West Park Conference Centre is not available and electors who normally vote there vote this year in the Ballroom at the Invercarse Hotel. This affects a large number of voters in the western part of the West End Ward as it is one of the largest polling districts in Dundee.

The Scottish Government has determined that each polling station within a polling place will be restricted to 800 electors to help social distancing – each polling station within every venue will be well spaced apart.

However, my strong advice to everyone is to vote by post this year. If you require more information about this the council has helpful advice on postal vote registration and other aspects of the election here.

Getting things done – Victoria Park #dundeewestend

A local resident recently reported as follows to me :

“We went to visit play park in Victoria Park this afternoon. Wanted to use baby swing.

I obviously had a young child with me and my adult daughter who is a power chair user.

We were unable to access the play park as no designated access path.

Grass very wet, not pram or wheelchair friendly.”

I have taken this issue up with the City Council’s environment management and a senior service manager has agreed to take this matter up.

Getting things done – Pentland Crescent #dundeewestend

Residents at the top end of Pentland Crescent have contacted me on numerous occasions about the regularly overflowing general waste Eurobin.    This serves not just the top end of the street but is also used by some Pentland Avenue residents nearby.

I contacted the City Council’s environment management team about this and am pleased with the following helpful response :

“I have discussed this with the area supervisor and there is adequate waste capacity, but we will put an additional bin in to determine whether this results in any improvement to the situation.”

Getting things done – Milnbank Road/Bankmill Road playpark #dundeewestend

I am grateful to the residents who contacted me recently to advise that the gate to the playpark Bankmill Road/Milnbank Road (Bankmill side) won’t lock and the gate is scraping the ground when opening and closing.

I contacted the City Council’s environment team about this and have now been updated as follows :

“… it looks like we need to put in a few washers to raise gate slightly.   This is on our list and will be carried out shortly.”

Getting things done – Lochee Park #dundeewestend

Last summer, it was good to report the provision of a new picnic table in Lochee Park.

This has been well-used and, at the request of residents, I asked the City Council’s environment management team some time ago if further picnic tables could be provided.

I am pleased to advise I had a positive response to this and recently asked for an update on timescales.

In the past week I received the following feedback :

“Picnic tables are ordered and should be coming next week. We will look to install as soon as we can.”

Temporary Traffic Order – West Marketgait, West Port Roundabout and Hawkhill


From the City Council :

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating bus priority improvements.  The Order is expected to be in force for 3 weeks from 22 March 2021.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months. 

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (1) West Marketgait northbound from its junction with Nethergate to West Port Roundabout, (2) West Port Roundabout on the south side of the outer lane and (3) Hawkhill from West Port Roundabout to Brown Street.

An alternative route will be available southbound via West Marketgait, Dudhope Crescent Roundabout, Lochee Road, Polepark Road, Brook Street, Guthrie Street, Horsewater Wynd and Hawkhill and northbound via Nethergate, Perth Road and Hawkhill.

For further information, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS – phone 433275.

Temporary Traffic Order – Glamis Drive


From the City Council :

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 repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle Glamis Drive (between Hillside Road and Glamis Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Friday 19 March 2021 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Glamis Road / Perth Road / Invergowrie Drive / Glamis Drive.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Proposed Lochee Road/Cleghorn Street road safety improvements #dundeewestend

As residents know, I have long campaigned for road safety improvements at the junction of Cleghorn Street and Lochee Road.

There have been a number of minor accidents at the junction and, following my request to the then Director of City Development some time ago, it was agreed to include the junction for a safety audit and any resulting improvements.

The feedback from residents has been that the right turn out of Cleghorn Street into Lochee Road is a potential safety issue.    It also, at busy times, leads to tailbacks at the junction in Cleghorn Street, in an area of  known and long-standing air quality problems.

I am therefore pleased to advise that, yesterday, the City Council updated me as follows :

“Please find attached a drawing showing road safety improvement proposals for Lochee Road/Cleghorn Street junction. 

We are proposing to install a section of central island on Lochee Road adjacent to Cleghorn Street, thus preventing any right hand turning movements into Cleghorn Street heading inbound to city centre. Also there will be no right-hand movements out of Cleghorn Street onto Lochee Road inbound to city centre. 

These works will hopefully be carried out with the next few months barring any more future lock down restrictions.”

This is a sensible improvement and I have been assured I will be kept informed on timescales and will keep residents updated.