Ancrum Road

Crossings at Ancrum Road and Logie Street #dundeewestend

The pedestrian crossing at Ancrum Road outside Ancrum Road has unfortunately been out of action for a short period following – firstly – a vehicle driving into one of the poles and demolishing it – secondly – the urban traffic control team working really fast to replace that pole the following day, then – thirdly and amazingly – another vehicle demolishing the other pole in an unrelated accident the following day.

As the crossing was over 20 years old, the decision was taken to replace the crossing with a new state-of-the-art one and we asked the urban traffic control team’s assistant engineer on Friday about progress with installation and were advised as follows :

“The new crossing was commissioned on Tuesday afternoon and was signed over to us this morning.

My colleague attended site with the signal company and carried out the acceptance tests, everything was working as expected.”

We both had a visit yesterday and were pleased to see the new crossing now operational – see photo of Fraser at the crossing – below.

As parents and carers of the pupils at Ancrum Road Primary School are aware, the school crossing patroller (SCP) at the Logie Street junction with Ancrum Road has been missing due to a personnel matter, which we understand should soon be resolved.

We are very concerned – as are parents and carers – about the lack of the SCP at such a busy crossing and have been in regular contact with Tayside Contracts (who run the SCP service) about this. We were also advised on Friday by the Facilities Business Manager as follows :

“Thanks for your further email regarding SCP cover at Ancrum PS. I have spoken with members of the area facilities management team this morning who have confirmed that we have a couple of new recruits who are pending PVG Scheme Membership.

As soon as scheme membership is confirmed and start date agreed the plan is to review resource allocation to facilitate full cover at Ancrum PS at the very earliest opportunity.

I am sorry that I cannot be more specific at this point, but you will appreciate that a few things need to fall into place before there can be a firm commitment for cover.”

Getting things done – Ancrum Road and Ancrum Drive #dundeewestend

We recently had concerns from residents about the continual flooding at the Ancrum Drive/Ancrum Road junction.     This is right across the road from Ancrum Road Primary School and therefore pedestrian including pupil use is significant.

We reported this to the Roads Maintenance Partnership to request the road drains are cleared and also asked environment management to remove fallen leaves at this location.

Getting things done – Ancrum Road and Tullideph Road #dundeewestend

A resident recently raised with us road safety at the Ancrum Road/Tullideph Road junction pointing out :

“The speed of traffic turning from Ancrum Road into Tullideph Road is often inappropriately high and I suspect an element of this is that they’re using Tullideph Road as a rat run to avoid the wait at the Logie Street Lights.

Vehicles very regularly cut the corner at speed when entering the road and over the years I’ve had to take avoiding action as cars enter Tullideph on the wrong side of the road, it’s particularly dangerous if I want to turn right.

The speed of this traffic hinders pedestrians trying to cross the road.

Would it be possible to have a traffic island added at the junction to give pedestrians somewhere protected when crossing the road, and this would also force cars to take a sharper turn into a narrower space which hopefully might slow them down a little? The red dot marks the location for the island on the image.”

We raised this with the council roads team and had this helpful response :

“This is one of our road safety sites we have previously done remedial works on.

The accident problem was drivers failing to slow and give way when they turned left from Tullideph Road into Ancrum Road. What we did was build-out the nearside kerb line to make it less of a sweeping manoeuvre.

So, these road safety improvements makes it harder in fact impossible to install an island. The turning arcs, especially bigger vehicles such as refuse/HGVs etc. vehicles are affected. Basically, they can’t make the right hand turn out onto Ancrum Rd and left into Tullideph coming up the hill from Logie St. At a push we may be able to provide a painted hatched road marking island with red inset similar to the one installed Johnston Ave at Clepington Road – see https://goo.gl/maps/YxQUxm1zqjdydpx79

Another option might be to provide a right turn lane on Ancrum Road for this manoeuvre, it has been noted at times a queue of cars can be waiting to turn here.

Although this will depend on the road space we have, we already have a bus stop and disabled bays opposite Tullideph Rd so this may constrict available road space to form such a lane.

We would need to have look at this. Probably something we will need to look at into next financial year as we have lots going on right now already. This would also need to compete with other priority schemes so I can’t guarantee anything right now. For now, I’ll add on the list for possible consideration for next year.

Currently, there are no reported injury accidents at this junction on the period 01 Jan 2017 – 24 Sep 2022. This is a good thing and indicates our previous improvements are working.”

Getting things done – Ancrum Road and Lochee Road #dundeewestend

A number of residents recently contacted me about blocked road drains in parts of Ancrum Road and Lochee Road.    As one resident advised :

“I was driving up Lochee Road and Ancrum Road earlier this afternoon and the road gullies were all choked and the roads and footpaths were all severely flooded.”

I raised this with the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership and have received the following helpful reply :

“The roads inspector has raised an order for five gullies to be cleared as soon as resources are available.”   

Getting things done – Ancrum Road #dundeewestend

A resident recently contacted me as follows :

‘I was wondering if it’s possible to get the drains cleared the around Ancrum Road school.   There was a river running past the crossing lights and lots of standing water at school pick up … Is it also possible to ask for the area to be gritted in winter?’

I contacted the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership about this and have received this helpful feedback :

“An order has been raised for the gully machine to attend the gullies opposite Ancrum Road School. Ancrum Road footways are included in a priority gritting route therefore if winter maintenance operations are in process these footways will be treated.”

Temporary Traffic Order – Ancrum 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 carriageway resurfacing works.  The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 3 July 2017.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.
 
The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Ancrum Road from its junction with Glamis Road to its junction with Logie Street.
 
Pedestrian access and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible.
 
An alternative route will be available via Logie Street, High Street, A923 Coupar Angus Road, South Road, Arran Drive, Charleston Drive, Elmwood Road, Glamis Road and reverse.
 
Any queries should be directed to the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS or phone 433168.

Toilets in Ancrum Road demolished – at last!

Back in August of last year, I reported that residents had asked me when the now disused (and rather horrible) toilets in Ancrum Road next to the Lochee Park children’s play area, would be demolished and the council advised that demolition would take place in October (that’s October 2015!)
 
I have continually reminded council officers over many months about the delays in this happening – and they were finally demolished last week – only a full year late!    See photo (right) :
 
I am now anxious to see the area properly restored and added to Lochee Park as part of the parkland. 
 
It should be stressed that there is still public toilet provision very close by – at the Lochee Park Pavilion.

Toilets – Ancrum Road

Residents have asked me when the now disused (and rather horrible) toilets in Ancrum Road next to the Lochee Park children’s play area, will be demolished.
 
The City Council has now advised me :
 
“The engineers have been instructed on the demolition. It is intended to take this to the September Committee with demolition taking place in October.”
 
It should be stressed that there will still be public toilet provision very close by – at the Lochee Park Pavilion.

Gettings things done … Ancrum Road/Logie Street

A resident recently asked me :
 
“… any idea when the cycle lane/advanced stop box will return to the Ancrum Road/Logie Street lights?”
 
I asked the City Council and received the following positive response :
 
“Unfortunately these road markings were not replaced when the Logie Street carriageway was resurfaced.
The Roads Maintenance Partnership has been advised of this and will make arrangements for these outstanding road markings to be replaced.”

 

Additional bus service to assist part of the West End


A new peak time bus service, jointly funded by the City Council and Angus Council, and to be operated by National Express Dundee, will start next Monday (27th May) providing direct links between Piperdam, Liff, Ninewells Hospital and the City Centre.
The good news for the West End is that parts of the West End including Guthrie Street, Brook Street, Milnbank Road, City Road, Tullideph Road and Ancrum Road will be covered by the new route.    This is particularly welcome for those residents who used to rely on the former Stagecoach 74 service that was withdrawn back in 2009.
The timetable can be downloaded here.

City Road/Logie Street – road works

Please see Public Notice below from the City Council regarding work commencing this morning.
 
The council’s Road Maintenance Partnership has advised me that, “City Road/Logie Street junction is to be closed to allow the junction to be resurfaced.  This will require City Road to be closed from its junction with Tullideph Road.”     
 
In addition to the better road surface, the good news is that this will finally allow for the repainting of the yellow box markings at the junction to be undertaken – something I have been requesting on behalf of residents for some time.
 
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 carriageway patching works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in:
 
1.   City Road (from Tullideph Place to Logie Street), Dundee.
 
2.   Ancrum Road (eastbound from Tullideph Road to Logie Street), Dundee
 
This notice comes into effect on Monday 25 February 2013 for 5 working days.
 
Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.
 
Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Logie Street/Tullideph Road.
 
For further information contact 433168.
 
Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Tullideph Road/Ancrum Road junction – road safety action

At the request of residents, I recently raised issues with the City Council about road safety at the Tullideph Road/Ancrum Road junction.   As one resident put it:

“I drive to work every morning and turn right at the end of Tullideph Road into Ancrum Road (heading towards the traffic lights).

It is difficult to see traffic coming down Ancrum Road from my left as there are usually 2 or 3 cars parked just around the corner of the junction.    Often you have to pull out ‘blind’ and hope that nothing is coming towards you.”

The City Council’s Head of Transportation has updated me as follows:

“The junction of Tullideph Road and Ancrum Road was identified as a site on a number of vehicle accidents and kerb lines were adjusted two years ago.
The build out has now encouraged drivers to park nearer the junction.  The solution is to lay double yellow lines and prohibit parking around the junction.  This proposal has been added to the list of future traffic orders.”

I am pleased that action to improve safety here is being taken although it is important that any alterations that are considered are subject to consultation with local residents.

Ancrum Road – repairs

Following complaints from constituents regarding the condition of the road surface of Ancrum Road at its east end, the City Council has advised me that the area inspector did :
 
” …. report a sunken utility track on the south side of Ancrum Road between Logie Street and Tullideph Road.    This has been reported to Network Management to follow up with the developer who applied for the road opening permit there.”
 
I hope that repairs to the road will be undertaken soon.