Getting things done – Roseangle #dundeewestend

We have raised issues about repeated flooding at the south end of Roseangle, often flooding across the road, onto the pavement and flooding basements in the adjacent flats.    

Issues we have highlighted that are within the locus of both Scottish Water and the City Council include drain capacity and cleaning on the street drains and road edges.    Given the downhill incline in Roseangle, unfortunately significant quantities of rainwater builds up at the south end of the street in heavy rain.

As we also get flooding issues at other locations in the West End as well, we thought it useful to post this update from the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership Manager :

“I can confirm that road gullies across Dundee and Broughty Ferry are periodically inspected and the Road Maintenance Partnership continue to undertake their cyclical gully maintenance programme in the area. 

The Road Maintenance Partnership in conjunction with the City Engineers are currently reviewing areas of potential flooding hotspots in the city in order to prioritise and potentially increase the number of gully cleans in high risk areas.   Subsequently the number of gully cleans in low-risk areas would be reduced.

If any specific problems with the adopted road drainage system are identified by property owners, they can report this to Dundee City Council via the “Report a road or pavement defect” link available at www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/city-development/roads-maintenance or by contacting the Dundee City Council Customer Services team on 434000. 

Please note that very intense storm events, similar to those experienced recently in Dundee and Broughty Ferry put the drainage systems, including the sewer network and road drains, under significant pressure and result in them being overwhelmed.  

This can have the unfortunate consequence of flooding that is beyond the control of Scottish Water and Dundee City Council. The complex nature of flooding across Scotland, with many agencies responsible for different aspects of the sewerage and drainage systems in our communities, means that a partnership approach is vital for reducing the risk of flooding. 

Scottish Water and Dundee City Council continue to work together to understand areas most affected and consider measures that can be introduced to reduce the surface water flood risk during these intense rainfall events.”

Dundee Community Music Festival

With thanks to Ed Muirhead of Face the Music here’s information from him about the community music festival next Saturday 8th October – featuring a variety of local musicians, choirs and bands.

It is running from 3pm to 9pm in the University of Dundee Chaplaincy Centre – and promises to be a great celebration with music of all kinds.

There’s sets from Tayside Makaton Choir and The Noteables choir – who will also both collaborate with a unique performance. There’s bagpipes, a folk duo and a performance from a school trad music group.

Plus, there’s songwriters circles showcasing popular artists taking turns singing their songs. And to round off the night, established Dundee band The Cundeez and new young band illiterate will each perform an acoustic set too.

If you can help spread the word, that would be great. To make it as inclusive and accessible as possible, entry by donation – with all proceeds going towards performers and enabling more community music in Dundee.

Further details are available at https://facemusic.co.uk/gigs/ – and on Facebook at :

www.facebook.com/FaceMusicUK

Getting things done – Rosefield Place and Bankmill Road #dundeewestend

Over a long period we have raised issues around the mess in Rosefield Place and the path to Bankmill Road – mainly around keeping the communal bins in Rosefield Place tidier – some of these are council but some private/commercial – and the graffiti along the path.

We have had assurances about the bins (see photo) – although this needs very regular attention given on-going fly-tipping here and on the graffiti on the wall along the path to Bankmill Road, we have been given the following assurance from our local environment manager :

“I have been in touch with colleagues and we should see some action here in / around 15 days or so to paint over the graffitied wall.”

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 3 OCTOBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed until 26 December 2022 at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to 3 weeks for Scottish Water emergency works.

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside Place) – closed for up to one week for carriageway resurfacing works.

Park Street and Ash Lane – lane closure/road closure from Monday 3 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Union Street) – closed from Monday 10 October for 9 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Friday 14 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) – closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Guthrie Street (Brown Street to West Marketgait) – closed from Monday 31 October for 3 weeks for Scottish and Southern Energy Network work.

Getting things done – Perth Road #dundeewestend

Residents have contacted us about the poor state of the BT phone box in Perth Road at the Miller’s Wynd car park. Fraser is pictured at the box which is in a poor state of cleanliness.

We contacted BT about this who advised :

“I will arrange for the kiosk to be cleaned within the next 5 working days.”

We also asked if the company would consider changing the phone box to a ‘red heritage style’ traditional phone box as many residents have said this would be more in keeping with the conservation area.

However, the BT response was not positive on that aspect as the company says it will never replace phone boxes like this one with the red boxes – a disappointing response.

Getting things done – Glenagnes Road #dundeewestend

Fencing along part of the east side of Glenagnes Road down from the West End schools campus has been log deteriorated and the land behind it is very overgrown and unsightly.

Residents asked us to try to find out who is in ownership and, with thanks to the council’s Private Sector Services Unit, ownership has been traced and the agent asked to have the fence replaced and the land tidied.

Dundee University Swing Dance Society #dundeewestend

The Dundee University Swing Dance Society recently contacted us, advising us :

“We teach and dance timeless vintage dances like lindy hop, charleston and solo jazz.

We are hoping to reach out to the people in the local community and last time we were dancing at the Magdalen Green jazz band concert, a few ladies have reached out to us for more information.”

We have assisted the society to get publicity about its classes onto local community noticeboards in the West End.

The society’s taster class is tomorrow – Thursday 29th September – at 7pm at DUSA on floor 5.

This event is open to everyone – both students and non-students. You don’t need a partner and you don’t need any special equipment.

Just bring yourself, clothes/shoes you can move in and some water as swing can get pretty warm.

All welcome and more details at www.facebook.com/events/1119493702013955

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed until 26 December 2022 at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to 3 weeks for Scottish Water emergency works.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Tuesday 20 September for 2 weeks.

Blackness Road (at Jedburgh Road) – temporary traffic lights for one week for Scottish Water work.

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside Place) – closed from Monday 26 September or Tuesday 27 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works. (We are seeking clarification on the start date).

Forthcoming Roadworks

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Friday 14 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) – closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Tackling unwanted phone calls

We were interested to learn recently that more than 1 million nuisance or scam calls have been blocked in East Renfrewshire thanks to the installation of call blockers which stop over 95% of suspect calls.

A total of 1,033 trueCall units have been installed by East Renfrewshire Council since 2012, which aim to protect older and vulnerable residents from nuisance and scam phone calls.

The roll out of trueCall units is expected to have saved vulnerable households approximately £6m with an estimated 2,033 scams prevented.

We have therefore been in touch with Dundee City Council to see if this could be rolled out in Dundee.

As initially offering this service to sheltered housing and vulnerable tenants would be an obvious place to start, we raised this with the Director of Neighbourhood Services who leads the housing service and have been promised that the department will investigate our request to look into the viability of providing this service in Dundee.

Blether Tay-Gither – Storytelling in Dundee

Blether Tay-Gither is the Dundee Storytelling Group.

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

Once again we are meeting in person at Dudhope Castle this coming Tuesday – 27th September.

Time : 7pm to 9pm

Venue: Dudhope Castle, Dudhope Park

Our theme this month if you need one is “Games.”

Join us with a story or just come to listen. There are many types of games that feature in stories, depending on the definition of game; those that are played briefly for fun, celebratory and annual competitions and contests, tricks and pranks, and the games people play.

Join us with a story to tell or just come to listen.

It is not a cafe but we do have access to a kettle and we’ll bring some tea and coffee but if you’d prefer, you are welcome to bring your own.

Hope to see you there.   

Road safety at Blackness Primary School – an update #dundeewestend

Residents and parents of pupils at Blackness Primary School have been in touch following Tuesday’s worrying incident at the Hawkhill side of the school where an out of control vehicle hit the barriers on the pavement, shortly after the end of the school day. Police Scotland has traced the driver, who has been charged.

One lady was unfortunately bruised although the outcome could have been a lot worse. Thank goodness no-one was seriously hurt.

We immediately asked for barrier repairs as the previous barriers were totally mangled. We were assured by the Roads Maintenance Partnership that a temporary arrangement was put in place soon after the incident and permanent reinstatement will happen as soon as possible.

However, both the school parent council – Friends of Blackness – and ourselves feel that, in light of this worrying incident, a full safety audit must be undertaken in relation to pupil safety existing the school and heading north to Hawkhill.

We requested this of the Head of Sustainable Transport and Roads at the City Council. Pupil safety is paramount so a full review of the safety situation here really is required.

The council’s Traffic and Road Safety Team Leader has updated us as follows – “I will have someone have a look at the site to see if there is anything amiss … I will also have a look at this accident record of this location as a check to make sure there is no other underlying issues.”

Getting things done – Roseangle #dundeewestend

Michael is pictured at the Roasengle/Perth Road junction where there are concerns about pedestrian safety crossing.

One resident advised :

“My husband and I have been finding the crossing at Roseangle and Perth Road especially unnerving for pedestrians. Specifically when crossing the top of Roseangle going east/west. The geometry of the road means that cars traveling along Perth Road westwards and making a left turn onto Roseangle don’t need to slow down.I had a car cut me off like this when I was half way through crossing the other day at intimidating speeds.

Changing the shape of the sidewalk or putting posts out part way would make the angle more acute and require cars to slow to make left turns. I think this traffic calming measure would beneficially impact pedestrians in the area, especially with the newly redone Seabraes park nearby.”

We have raised this concern with the council’s Road Safety Team Leader and will keep residents updated on this issue.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works. Start date Monday 27 June for 6 months.

Hillcrest Road – closed at No 23 until 20 September for redevelopment works on existing house. Closures will be intermittent and each should last no more than several days.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to 4 weeks for Scottish Water emergency works.

Cleghorn Street at junction of Rosebery Street – 4 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 5 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road at Forest Park Place – 3 way temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 6 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road between Bankmill Road and Rosefield Street – road closed from Thursday 8 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Easson’s Angle – road closed from Monday 12 September for 6 days for CityFibre work.

Lochee Road – pedestrian lights and road narrowing from Monday 12 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Rosebery Street – 2 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 12 September for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Tuesday 20 September for 2 weeks.

Fyffe Street – temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 20 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Blackness Road (at Marchfield Road) – temporary traffic lights Wednesday 21 September for loop cutting work.

Blackness Road (at Jedburgh Road) – temporary traffic lights Thursday 22 to Wednesday 30 September for Scottish Water work.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside place) – closed from Monday 26 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Lochee Road at Polepark Road – temporary traffic lights from Wednesday 28 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Park Street and Ash Lane – lane closure / road closure from Monday 3 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Monday 10 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Union Street) – closed from Monday 10 October for 9 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) – closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Update on the path from Tait’s Lane to Peddie Street #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that we have raised the poor condition of the pathway from Tait’s Lane to Peddie Street and yesterday we had a very positive site visit with officers from the council’s environment management and a Tait’s Lane resident about improving the lane.

It was agreed that the dumped items in the lane will be removed, graffiti tackled and over the winter months the weeds and overgrowth will be removed.

The resident who met us yesterday had the very positive suggestion of community use of the beds to allow local residents in Peddie Street and Tait’s Lane who are interested to tend a bed each in the lane.   

There will be engagement with neaby residents about this over the winter months too.   Meantime, if any resident has feedback on this proposal, please get in touch – many thanks.

Elliot Road tennis courts – your views appreciated! #dundeewestend

For some time, residents have raised concerns about the deteriorated state of the Elliot Road playing field’s tennis courts.

We had raised this with the City Council and, yesterday, Fraser took part in a very useful meeting including representatives from Dundee City Council, Harris Academy, sports clubs representatives and WECSH, the West End Community Sports Hub.

As an immediate step, Neighbourhood Services at the City Council will undertake some work to get rid of the weeds and roll the surface.

However, the main purpose of the meeting was to have some initial discussions about possible long-term improvements to hopefully create a multi-use games area to provide a multi-sport all weather facility.    This would, should it prove possible, benefit Harris Academy and its curriculum delivery but also have very positive West End community benefit.

We have agreed to take initial steps to look at possible partnership funding and delivery models but meantime Fraser would welcome feedback from residents on this by either Facebook message or by e-mailing him at fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk – many thanks!

Getting things done – Riverside Drive #dundeewestend

Back in October 2021, Fraser had a site visit with a member of West End Community Council and a City Council officer about several issues on Riverside Drive.

We agreed that some cycle parking provision just east of the car park at the Bridgeview Station Restaurant would be a good idea, particularly as there was plenty space for this.

Fraser raised this with the City Development Department at the council and received a positive response.

It has taken a little time to deliver as it was tied into another project delivery schedule but we are pleased to say it has now been installed.

Dundee Art Society event #dundeewestend

This Friday evening – 16th September – from 7pm-9pm – sees the first in a series of free to attend talks by artists and speakers on varied and colourful topics showing the world of art in all its forms.

This will be hosted by Dundee Art Society at the Roseangle Gallery.

This Friday evening the talk and demonstration is by Karen van de Graaf, portrait artist.

Karen is known for her high speed portraits as an official artist at the Fringe Festival, landscapes, cityscapes and animal portraits and finds the experience she gained at the Fringe enhances the life in her paintings. 

Karen’s art conveys energy and her passion for colour. She uses different mediums including charcoal, watercolour, oil, soft pastel and inks. She enjoys making art using both a traditional approach to painting and a more abstract method.

Cost of living drop-in events

The cost of living crisis is making finances difficult to manage for many households.

To help with this, Dundee Citizens’ Advice Bureau is holding group sessions in Central Library to offer advice and information on the support that may be available the first one is this Thursday.

Dates:

Thursday 15th September, 11am – 12 noon
Thursday 22nd September, 11am – 12 noon
Thursday 29th September, 11am – 12 noon
Thursday 6th October, 11am – 12 noon

For more information, phone 431500.    No booking required, all welcome!

Fraser has been in touch with Dundee CAB’s manager who advises “The library approached us to ask if we would be willing hold sessions for their service users.  They are expecting an influx of people using their services.

“So we are going to trial this for these dates and if it is successful, we would be willing to do this across Dundee for service users of other libraries. We could cover fuel poverty and the cost of living crisis.”

This is an excellent initiative by Dundee CAB and we hope that, if successful, other locations such as Blackness Library could be considered for future drop-ins.

Weekly Road Report – West End Ward #dundeewestend

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL – WEEKLY ROAD REPORT

REPORT FOR THE WEST END WARD – WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2022

Miller’s Wynd – closed at its junction with Hawkhill for major construction works. Start date Monday 27 June for 6 months.

Hillcrest Road – closed at No 23 until 20 September for redevelopment works on existing house. Closures will be intermittent and each should last no more than several days.

City Road (Tullideph Place to Logie Street) – closed for up to one week for Scottish Water emergency works.

Cleghorn Street at junction of Rosebery Street – 4 way temporary traffic lights from Monday 5 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road at Forest Park Place – 3 way temporary traffic lights from Tuesday 6 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Milnbank Road between Bankmill Road and Rosefield Street – road closed from Thursday 8 September for 2 days for CityFibre work.

Easson’s Angle – road closed from Monday 12 September for 6 days for CityFibre work.

Lochee Road – pedestrian lights and road narrowing from Monday 12 September for 4 days for CityFibre work.

Hawkhill (at Peddie Street) – temporary traffic lights Monday 12 (9am) to Tuesday 13 September (6am) for Scottish Water work.

Polepark Road – closed from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road (in a southerly direction only) for footway resurfacing works commencing Friday 16th September for 2 weeks.

Forthcoming Roadworks

Fyffe Street – temporary traffic lights from Monday 19 September for 3 days for CityFibre work.

Hillside Road (junction with Hillside place) – closed from Monday 26 September for 3 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Lower Pleasance – road closure from Monday 3 October for 5 days for CityFibre work.

Nethergate (West Marketgait to Union Street) – closed from Monday 10 October for 9 days for carriageway resurfacing works.

Blackness Road (at junction with Balgay Road) – closed from Wednesday 19 October for 3 days to facilitate carriageway resurfacing works.

Temporary Traffic Order – Polepark Road

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 footway resurfacing works. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 16 September 2022. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all southbound vehicular traffic in Polepark Road from its junction with Lochee Road to its junction with Milnbank Road.

An alternative route will be available via Lochee Road, East Marketgait, Hawkhill, Horsewater Wynd, Guthrie Street and Brook Street.

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS – phone 433168

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Temporary Traffic Order – Easson’s Angle and Fleuchar Street

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 City Fibre duct installation works. The Order is expected to be in force for eight days from 12 September 2022. 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) Eassons Angle from Fleuchar Street to Milnbank Road and (2) Fleuchar Street at its junction with Eassons Angle.

An alternative route will be available via Milnbank Road, City Road, Cleghorn Street and Benvie Road.

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS – phone 433082.

Getting things done – Invergowrie Drive #dundeewestend

Fraser is pictured in Invergowrie Drive where a parts of the waiting restrictions have become faded – particularly in the cul-de-sacs.

We contacted the Roads Maintenance Partnership about this and were given the following positive response :

“I have been in touch with Tayside Contracts to have the double yellow lines on Invergowrie Drive – including the cul de sacs – refreshed.”

We are pleased to say this work was undertaken last week.

Temporary Traffic Order – Milnbank Road

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 City Fibre duct installation works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Milnbank Road (from Rosefield Street to Forest Park Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Thursday 8 September 2022 for 3 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Rosefield Street / Blackness Road / Forest Park Road.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council