Abbotsford Place
Getting things done – Abbotsford and Corso area
Regarding (the) Corso Street (development), we are planning on carrying out EWI at this location around 2019/20.
This is of course subject to the usual caveats of available funding through HEEPs* and our own capital finance.
Slippy leaves tackled
Residents’ meetings
Walkabout – Blackness/Corso/Abbotsford area
Yesterday, along with a representative from the Housing Department and a representative from the Environment Department, I took part in a walkabout around the Blackness/Corso/Abbotsford area.
The six-monthly walkabouts take place in a number of areas (Pentland and Logie are other examples) and are a useful way to look at local issues and problems and ensure these are taken up and resolved.
Here’s a couple of photos of matters discussed yesterday, which also including bins/cleansing issues and overgrown trees in the area.
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New improved street lighting being installed in the area |
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Pavement trip hazard at Peddie Street/ Abbotsford Place junction reported for repair |
Busy Monday …
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Jo, Alan and Ann from West End Community Council undertake the prize draw! |
Tuesday meetings
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Pavement repair required – corner of Peddie Street and Abbotsford Place – now reported for repair |
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Litter removal required – communal area – Peddie Street |
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Tree branches across pavement – Abbotsford Place – reported for trimming |
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Drain cover Blackness Road – reported for repair |
Abbotsford/Corso areas – residents’ meeting
Blackness area walkabout
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Eurobins in Peddie Street – I have raised the emptying schedule with the Environment Department |
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Tree bed in Blackness Avenue – now a muddy trip hazard since the removal of the tree – I have taken this up with the City Council |
Blackness area walkabout
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Abbotsford Street |
Last couple of days …
Blackness Walkabout
Getting things done … Abbotsford Place
Getting this done … lining works across the West End
Action on slippy leaves …

Corso and Abbotsford area meeting
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Me – outside the Corso Street Sheltered Lounge |
Walkabout – Blackness area
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A foggy Abbotsford Street |
Abbotsford Place
Blackness walkabout
This morning, I participated in the third of recent ‘walkabouts’ in West End estates – this time around the Blackness area – in particular Corso Street, Abbotsford Street, Peddie Street and Abbotsford Place.
There were various issues raised including graffiti, a broken gate, a steep drop in a back garden area, and wheelie bins left permanently on the street in Peddie Street (where there is a solution in sight).
I was pleased to be advised that the grit issue I raised with the City Council after yesterday’s meeting of Blackness Area Residents’ Association is being attended to.
Abbotsford Place roofing works
As part of the Corso Street 2nd Development roof repair programme, re-roofing works will take place from 18th April onwards, covering 14, 16, 18, 20, 19 and 21 Abbotsford Place.
The Housing Department has produced a useful leaflet to update residents about the planned work, along with contact details should residents have any questions.
Second estate walkabout of the week …
This morning, along with two of my ward colleagues, City Council officers and members of Blackness Area Residents’ Association, we had a “walkabout” around Corso Street, Abbotsford Place and Street, Peddie Street and parts of Blackness Road and Blackness Avenue to look at any repairs required and issues needing tackled in the area.
Another useful and productive walkabout – and on a beautiful autumn morning too.
And Tuesday …
Abbotsford Place & Corso Street – dropped kerbing
There seems to be a lack of any dropped kerbing in the street and I was wondering if this could be looked into.
Aa resident in Corso Street nearby has made a similar complaint – getting from Corso Street along to Annfield Street (across Peddie Street). For an area with sheltered housing the area seems to lack dropped kerbing.”
“This area is being included in this year’s list of works for Dropped Kerb provision. … tackling dropped kerbs on an area basis is more cost effective and this west end area will be ordered this financial year.”
Tuesday news …
“I am writing to inform you that unfortunately a paper bin within the Neighbourhood Recycling Point on Brook Street Dundee was burnt out at the weekend, now for the second time.
As you may remember was the case with the second act of arson to the NRP on Bankmill Road earlier this, that it is our standard policy to replace the burnt out unit for a second time. Any further incidents, however, will result in the removal of the paper bin from the NRP unit as these are very costly to replace, and could prove to be an ongoing fire hazard.
We have a replacement unit in stock and we will be looking to reinstate the paper bin as soon as our operations are able. We will continue to monitor this site closely in the forthcoming period and hopefully there will be no repeat of the previous vandalism.”
I am advised by the City Council that the replacement cost is £520 and as I point out in tonight’s Evening Telegraph, residents rightly deplore this sort of mindless vandalism that could end up resulting in the loss of a well-used and popular paper recycling facility. This afternoon, our local Police Inspector said he’d progress my request for use of mobile CCTV in the vicinity to deter further vandalism.

Also this afternoon, along with a representative from Blackness Area Residents’ Association (BARA), a fellow councillor and council officers, we undertook a walkabout in the BARA area (a rather wet walkabout as it was raining!) to look at local issues and problems. The walkabout covered Peddie Street (pictured above), Abbotsford Place, Abbotsford Street, Corso Street and parts of Blackness Road and Blackness Avenue.
This evening at West End Community Council, there was an interesting talk on the conservation of resources, given by Doug McLaren of the Tayside Foundation for the Conservation of Resources.
Water problems – update
I appreciate the obvious inconvenience caused to customers and during such incidents we advise customers to run their kitchen tap for a couple of minutes until the water runs clear.”
Abbotsford Place and surrounding area
Two Friday updates

“Good Afternoon Cllr Macpherson,
I am pleased to inform you that we have now been able to arrange for the above SCP to be manned with effect from lunch time on Tue 27 Oct. The individual concerned will be issued with his equipment/clothing on Tuesday morning and will receive the relevant training before taking up his post. I should point out that the new SCP has had previous experience as an SCP, which explains how we can have him in place within such a short space of time.”
Update 2 : As I indicated earlier today, I had raised residents’ concerns about slippy leaves on pavements at Abbotsford Place and Blackness Avenue. By lunchtime, I had received the following feedback from the Waste Management Department :
“Hi Fraser
The supervisor reports the job is now completed.”
I bumped into one of the Abbotsford Place residents who had complained about the issue in Tesco Metro in the City Centre this afternoon as she was well impressed with the quality of clean-up and the speed of response. The Waste Management Department is extremely responsive, so very many thanks!
Thursday
Back to Dundee in time for a site visit to Barnhill to see the new “rapid rhino” road pothole repairs system in action and very impressed with the finished result, creating a permanent repair rather than the traditional pothole repair which often fails, resulting in repeated patching over a period of time.
The other positive outcome is the financial savings that accrue from their being fewer overall repairs necessary over time. The City Council will spend some £1.7m revenue on cyclical road repairs in 2008/9, with a further £1.4m capital on road reconstruction (the latter a welcome improvement and one of the positive outcomes from the recent budget process). Although these are not inconsiderable sums, they should be seen in the context of several hundred miles of local roads within the City, and, through good initiatives like “rapid rhino” and the recent Roads Partnering agreement with Tayside Contracts, we can ensure funding is used to its best effect delivering the maximum improvements possible within budgets.
Held my usual three surgeries today – The Base at Mitchell Street Centre (5pm); Room 407 at Harris Academy (5.30pm) and the staffroom at Blackness Primary School (6.15pm). I hold these every Thursday, except during school holidays.
I’m a Board Member of Dundee Contemporary Arts – and as many residents are aware, DCA does a very useful weekly e-mail update of cinema e-listings. It has recently set up a facebook site where you can read all about their events, receive invitations to them and post comments, events and images of your own. You can join up at
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7245911548Lastly, every credit goes to Mr Arshad of the newsagents on the corner of Abbotsford Place and Peddie Street who tackled thieves in the shop earlier today, foiling the robbery, despite being cut during the attempted robbery. You can read more (from tonight’s Evening Telegraph) by clicking on the headline above.