Glamis Road

Getting things done – Glamis Road #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who drew to our attention damage to a illuminated traffic safety reflector on Glamis Road.

We reported this to the Street Lighting Partnership and are grateful for its prompt repair as the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs indicate :

Getting things done – Elliot Road and Glamis Road #dundeewestend

We recently again received concerns about the difficulty at times for drivers accessing or egressing Elliot Road at the junction with Glamis Road due to some vehicles parked very close to the junction.

This has proved particularly challenging for the X7 bus turning the corner into/out of Elliot Road.

We had long raised this on behalf of residents and were pleased that some yellow lining at this junction was approved by the City Development Committee on 5th December 2022.

We recently asked the council’s Head of Sustainable Transport and Roads about progress with the legal/consultation process and he has updated us as follows :

“If no objections are received to the statutory consultation and public notice we target installing the road markings in the autumn.

If objections are received we’ll report these back to committee in the summer to consider whether to proceed with the order.”

Temporary Traffic Order – Glamis Drive, Eton Street and Elliot 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 City Fibre duct installation works. The Order is expected to be in force for 10 days from 11 November 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) Glamis Drive between Glamis Road and Invergowrie Drive and (2) Eton Street and Elliot Road between Blackness Road and Cambridge Street.

Only one section will be closed at any time. Access will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Glamis Drive, Invergowrie Drive, Perth Road, Glamis Road and Glamis Drive and (2) Blackness Road, Oxford Street and Cambridge Street.

For further information, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1LS or phone 433082.

Getting things done – Glamis Road #dundeewestend

The southern section of Glamis Road was “surface dressed” some time ago to prolong the life of the road surface.

To be honest I am not a fan of surface dressing (tar and chippings on top of the existing surface) and proposed at the budget this year an increase in the roads capital programme of £2 million this year, which could have been funded and would have increased the amount of “real” quality resurfacing.    Sadly I did not win the vote at the budget but continue to campaign for greater funding for roads and pavements improvements.

Many residents have contacted me in recent months about the surface dressed surface of Glamis Road, south of the roundabout with Blackness Road and Glamis Drive.    

One resident recently described the surface as “dreadful” and I again raised this with the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership.

The partnership’s Senior Engineer has now sent me the following helpful feedback :

“At the tail end of this month, I will be looking over next years carriageway programme.

I will have a look at the section you have highlighted

If it is indeed “dreadful ” then I am sure it will move up the programme.”

Temporary Traffic Order – Glamis Road Area

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 cable installation works.  The Order is expected to be in force for 4 weeks from 8 September 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) Glamis Drive between Glamis Road and Invergowrie Drive, (2) Hillside Terrace between Hillside Road and Hillside Drive, (3) Hillside Drive between Hillside Terrace and Hillside Road, (4) Hillside Road between Hillside Terrace and number 32 Hillside Road, (5) Dunmore Gardens between Dunmore Drive and number 22 Dunmore Gardens, (6) Glamis Terrace between Glamis Place and Hazel Drive, (7) Oxford Street between Blackness Road and Cambridge Street, (8) Oxford Street between Cambridge Street and Harrow Street, (9) Oxford Street between Harrow Street and Eton Street, (10) Cambridge Street between Oxford Street and Eton Street and (11) Eton Street and Elliot Street between Blackness Road and Cambridge Street.

More than one section may be closed at any time.

Alternative routes will be available via (1) Glamis Drive, Invergowrie Drive, Perth Road, Glamis Road and Glamis Drive, (2) Hillside Drive and Hillside Road, (3) Hillside Terrace and Hillside Road, (4) Hillside Terrace, Hillside Drive and Hillside Road, (5) Dunmore Drive, Perth Road, Glamis Road, Glamis Terrace, Hazel Drive and Dunmore Gardens, (6) Glamis Terrace, Glamis Road, Glamis Drive and Hazel Drive, (7) Blackness Road, Harrow Street and Oxford St, (8) Harrow Street, Blackness Road and Oxford Street (9) Eton Street, Cambridge Street and Oxford St, (10) Oxford Street and Eton Street and (11) Blackness Road, Oxford Street and Cambridge 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 433082. 

Getting things done – Glamis Road #dundeewestend

Many thanks to the residents who highlighted with me that, following the resurfacing of Glamis Road some time ago and the access road at Balgay Cemetery, some of the road linings have not been repainted.

I raised this with the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership and have now received this helpful reply : 

“Dundee Road Maintenance Partnership carried out improvements to the surfacing to the access road at Balgay Cemetery. A lining schedule has been produced but unfortunately due to the inclement weather it has not been possible to apply these markings to the new surface.

As far as our lining duties are concerned, we have made this a priority and will bring this to a conclusion at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Getting things done – Blackness Road, Glamis Road, Glamis Drive #dundeewestend

 

Residents recently contacted about an advertising hoarding on the Blackness Road, Glamis Road, Glamis Drive roundabout.

As one resident put it :

“I was very upset this morning at the sight of a bright pink advertising hoarding facing my garden from the Glamis Rd/Blackness Rd Circle.   This erection went up overnight with no notification that it was going to be erected and no opportunity to discuss the issues.   The circle has recently been improved visually with a tree and plants and it is now totally spoilt by the use of the circle for adverts.”

I am all for the council seeking advertising revenue from roundabout sponsorship at locations like the city centre/shopping and business areas but not where it is immediately adjacent to residential housing and asked the City Council’s Head of Planning and Economic Development is this could be removed.

I am pleased to say he has responded positively as follows :

“I can confirm that the signs on the Blackness Road/Glamis Road roundabout will be removed.  I anticipate that the works will be undertaken over the next two weeks.”

Bus diversions during Glamis Road closure – an update #dundeewestend

Further to my update last Wednesday about bus diversions during the temporary closure of Glamis Road between the rounadbouts with Blackness Road and Dickson Avenue, the City Council has now advised of an amendment to this to accommodate access to Royal Victoria Hospital.
 
Here’s the council’s update :
 
“The Roads Maintenance Partnership has taken the decision to allow bus services X7/8 and 204 to access Royal Victoria Hospital.
 
Diversions for services X7/8 and 204 are now complicated and therefore not described in detail but in simple terms passengers normally boarding at Glamis Road can use Royal Victoria Hospital as a boarding point.
 
Due to the works bus services cannot stop on Glamis Road.
 
I think the vast majority of passengers will use the option of catching buses on Blackness Road or Ninewells Avenue.”
 
New public notice :

Bus diversions during Glamis Road closure #dundeewestend

From the City Council :
 
PUBLIC NOTICE
 
GLAMIS ROAD WILL CLOSE FROM 
NINEWELLS AVENUE – BLACKNESS ROAD
ON MONDAY 19 FEBRUARY FOR 2 WEEKS. 
 
BUS SERVICE DIVERIONS
 
Service 22/73 towards Ninewells: Normal route to Blackness Road then left turn into Glamis Road – Perth Road – Ninewells Avenue – Dickson Avenue and then follow normal route. 
 
Service 22/73 towards City Centre: Normal route to Dickson Avenue then via Ninewells Avenue – Perth Road – Glamis Road – Blackness Road and then follow normal route. 
 
Service 23S towards Harris Academy: Normal route to Dickson Avenue then via Ninewells Avenue – Perth Road –and then follow normal route. 
 
Service 23S towards Dryburgh: Normal route to Perth Road then via Ninewells Avenue Dickson Avenue and then follow normal route. 
 
Service 204 towards Ninewells: Normal route to Glamis Drive then right turn into Glamis Road – Perth Road – Ninewells Avenue – Glamis Road and then follow normal route. Royal Victoria Hospital will not be served by bus services.
 
Service 204 towards City Centre: Normal route to Glamis Road then via Ninewells Avenue – Perth Road, left into Glamis Road – Glamis Drive and then follow normal route. Royal Victoria Hospital will not be served by bus services.
 
Service X7/8 towards Perth: Normal route to Blackness Road then left via Glamis Road – Perth Road – Tom McDonald Avenue to Ninewells Hospital. Royal Victoria Hospital will not be served by bus services. 
 
Service X7/8 towards Aberdeen: Depart Ninewells Hospital via Tom McDonald Avenue – Perth Road – Glamis Road – Blackness Road and follow normal route. Royal Victoria Hospital will not be served by bus services.
 
Should you require further information please call :
Xplore Dundee – 340015 or Stagecoach – 01241 437978

Glamis Road – tree and pavement works – and road closure

Further to the weekly road report information I updated residents about recently in which work in Glamis Road was mentioned, the following information has been issued by the City Council to affected residents about the work in the street and the resultant road closure :
 
“Glamis Road (Ninewells Avenue to Blackness Road) East & West Footways –  Forestry & Remedial Footway Works
 
I wish to notify you that work is programmed to commence at the above location on Thursday 15 February 2018 and will last for approximately 2 and a half weeks. The works involve tree canopy pruning and remedial footway works associated with tree root damage.
 
Tree works will be carried out by Dundee City Council Forestry Section and the footway works will be carried out by Tayside Contracts.
 
Initially, footway works will be undertaken starting Thursday 15 February using temporary traffic lights off peak at localised areas as the work progresses. From Monday 19 February 2018, the works will be carried out by closing the street to all traffic from Ninewells Avenue to Blackness Road. Road traffic will be diverted via Glamis Road south of Blackness Road to Perth Road and Ninewells Avenue and the reverse.  
 
For safety reasons, parking, waiting, loading and unloading will be prohibited on both sides of the street for the duration of the road closure. Due to the recognised volume of non resident vehicles parking on Glamis Road on a daily basis, parking enforcement will be in place for the duration of the road closure and parking enforcement notices will be issued where required. Accommodation will be made for residents’ access and servicing of properties if safe to do so though areas may be temporarily inaccessible during forestry operations. Site personnel will advise however we would ask that vehicular traffic movements be kept to a minimum, where possible. 
 
Please note that pedestrian access will be maintained to both sides of the street for the duration of the works unless it is unsafe to do so due to ongoing works and localised alternative pedestrian walkways will be provided where required,  
 
Bus services will be affected by this closure and I would advise bus passengers to visit www.dundeetravelinfo.com or telephone the bus operator for further details of diversion routes and alternative bus stops.”

Temporary Traffic Order – Glamis 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 pedestrian refuge installation works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Glamis Road (southbound from Blackness Road roundabout to approx. 100metres south), Dundee
 
This notice comes into effect on Monday 17 July 2017 for 5 working days.
 
Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.
 
Alternative routes are available via Blackness Road / Blackness Avenue / Perth Road.
 
For further information contact 433082.
 
Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Blackness Road area – roadworks clarification

Residents will have noted that the temporary traffic lights on Blackness Road at the Glamis Road/Glamis Drive roundabout (see right) have disappeared.     However, this is unfortunately not because the works by Scotland Gas Networks (SGN) are completed.
 
I have been updated by Scotland Gas Networks’ Team Manager as follows :
 
“Unfortunately our work at the Glamis Road roundabout is well behind schedule due to the ground conditions we are encountering.   However, as Scottish Water (SW) is programmed to start in Blackness Road shortly which would conflict with our work, we are lifting the traffic management at the roundabout before they start and will return to complete our work here after SW have finished.  
 
In the meantime we will be continuing on Glamis Road itself as this won’t disrupt traffic, and will also be returning to Perth Road to complete the service works and mains abandonment which we had to abort previously.
 
Scottish Water is starting Blackness Road 20th February for approximately 2 weeks so we’ll be back at the roundabout probably mid March for about 2 weeks.”
 
The Scottish Water work is further east on Blackness Road.   The City Council has further updated me as follows : 
 
“The SW work will start 20 February at Glenagnes Road junction.    The second week they will move south to Rosefield Street for the second week.
Once SW is complete on their section of Blackness Road, SGN will return to Blackness Road Glamis with their original set up to complete works there. 
As SGN intimated, it will utilise the two weeks of 20/27 February, when SW are in Blackness Road, to complete the remaining services connections left behind in Perth Road at Arnhall Drive area.”

Getting things done – Glamis Road

I am pictured below towards the top of the south section of Glamis Road :
At the request of residents, I asked the City Council for a safety traffic island at this location to complement the one north of the roundabout I previously successfully campaigned for and I am pleased to say this second island has been agreed to and will be installed in the spring.      
 
Residents have also requested a similar island at the south end of Glamis Road and I have been advised by the City Development Department this will be considered along with other similar requests during 2017/18.

Glamis Road area – pedestrian safety

Back in 2014, at my request on behalf of constituents, the City Council provided a central refuge island on Glamis Road just north of the roundabout with Blackness Road/Glamis Drive to assist pedestrian safety.
 
Given the width of Glamis Road, I have since had requests for similar safety measures south of the roundabout and also towards the south end of the road, near its junction with Perth Road (see latter – right).
 
I raised this with the City Council and have been advised as follows :
 
“Glamis Road / Perth Road junction and Glamis Road / Blackness Road roundabout has been inspected and there is justification for central refuge traffic islands to be provided at these locations.
However due to the proposed budget cuts I am awaiting confirmation of the budgets for 2016/17 minor works.
With the likely budget cuts this scheme will have to compete with other minor works from the available budgets.
We will have to evaluate all schemes before confirming the works programme.”
 
I will continue to press for these to be provided as soon as funding is available.

Inadequate controls over mobile phone masts concern

Last month, I called on mobile phone network providers to take a more sympathetic approach to residential amenity when upgrading mobile phone masts.      This follows news that one applicant, Wilkinson Helsby, plans to upgrade a mast in Perth Road near to Glamis Road but replace the current mast which is disguised as a telegraph pole (see photo) with an undisguised mast.    
 
I wrote to Wilkinson Helsby asking them to think again about the type of mast to be used and provide one that will not impact adversely on the look of the area.   However, in response, the company has now advised me:
 
“We do not have a replica telegraph pole design which can accommodate the dual user (EE and H3G) 4G upgrade so there is not a “disguised” option available. The Scottish Government has changed its planning regulations and thus unlike England and Wales there is no planning boundaries to this genre of development.   In England and Wales the planning department can consider these as GPDO applications and refuse them but this has been “closed off” by the new Scottish Government regulations.”
 
It is very poor indeed that the Scottish Government’s overly laissez faire approach effectively gives the mobile phone company the ability to put what it likes onsite and replace a phone mast which is well disguised as a telephone pole, tree or similar, with an undisguised pole which is an eyesore.
 
Scottish planning legislation is not stringent enough in this area, thereby allowing mobile phone companies to put undisguised masts in residential areas, which is extremely unfortunate.   
 
I have therefore written to the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights asking that a review of the planning legislation be undertaken.

Call for mobile phone company to improve phone mast

I have called on mobile phone network providers to take a more sympathetic approach to residential amenity when upgrading mobile phone masts.     
 
This follows news that one applicant, Wilkinson Helsby, plans to upgrade a mast in Perth Road near to Glamis Road but replace the current mast which is disguised as a telegraph pole (see photo) with an undisguised mast.    
 
I have written to Wilkinson Helsby asking them to think again about the type of mast to be used and provide one that will not impact adversely on the look of the area.
 
Because of what I consider to be an unfortunate relaxation in planning regulations, many phone mast replacements and upgrades do not require planning permission from the local authority and this is what has happened in the case of the mast on Perth Road near Glamis Road.    This effectively gives the mobile phone company the ability to put what it likes onsite and replace a phone mast which is well disguised as a telephone pole, tree or similar, with an undisguised pole which is an eyesore.
 
In the case of this particular site, I have written to the applicant and asked them to have some regard for the local area and replace like with like so a disguised pole is provided.    I rather fear that the planning legislation is not stringent enough and allows mobile phone companies to put undisguised masts in residential areas, which is very unfortunate.

Area around Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout – south side

In August, I reported that the council had, following my request on behalf of residents, provided a central refuge island and drop kerbs to help folk get across the road in the area around the Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout.    See photo – right.
 
This was provided north of the roundabout and I have since had requests from residents for similar provision on the south part of Glamis Road – south of the roundabout – again a busy stretch of road.    I therefore raised this with Dundee City Council.
 
The City Council’s Network Management Team’s Team Leader has since advised me :
 
“I will arrange for the section south of the roundabout to be inspected for consideration within a future minor works programme.
The Minor Works budget which would provide funds for this type of works is committed for this year’s budget 2014/15 with the projected expenditure as per budget availability.”

Area around Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout : An Update

Back in February, I advised that several residents had contacted me about how difficult they find it to get across the road in the area around the Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout.  
 
Thereafter, the council agreed to my request for improvements, and, after a site visit to ascertain the viability of providing a central refuge island and drop kerbs, it was agreed these should be provided.
 
I am now pleased to report that the work to provide this has now commenced – see below:
 

Getting things done – Glamis Road

I recently highlighted the need to repaint the bus stop road markings in Glamis Road, following the recent road resurfacing. 
 
Additionally, on behalf of residents, I raised the need for resurfacing at the Glamis Road/Blackness Road roundabout.
 
The City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership has now updated me as follows:
 
“Resurfacing works at the roundabout at Glamis Road/Blackness Road are programmed for the first week in November 2014.  Regarding the road markings on the surface dressing side safety lines have been reapplied and remaining markings will be applied (this) week.”

Resurfacing programmes

A number of constituents have queried the quality of the recent road resurfacing in Glamis Road that was “surface dressed” with chippings and have pointed out to me that the finished surface compares unfavourably compared to streets such as Westgrove Avenue, that was resufaced last year using the “thin resurfacing” method.
 
I queried this with the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership who advised:

I refer to your constituents’ queries regarding the resurfacing of Glamis Road and Westgrove Avenue. These two locations were surfaced using different processes.
Glamis Road was surface dressed which is a cost-effective method of re-waterproofing and restoring the skid resistance to the existing carriageway surface and is used where the underlying road profile remains in reasonable condition. It is used on routes with high vehicle numbers as the action of the traffic is required to embed the applied stone chips.
Westgrove Avenue carriageway had a thin surfacing applied which is a proprietary process used on quieter/ residential routes where traffic flow is less and where there may have been some wear of the existing carriageway fabric.

I have made the point that the “surface dressed” chippings method has clear drawbacks and would prefer to see other – superior – methods used where possible.

Glamis Road – road lining and resurfacing

During May, the yellow-coloured bus bays (three of them) in Glamis Road between Dickson Avenue and Blackness Road were repainted by Tayside Contracts, on behalf of the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership.
 
On 1st June, the road was resurfaced with tar and stone chips, covering the newly painted bus bays.
 
Residents have quite rightly complained to me about the wastage of painting the bus bays and them covering them over.
 
As one resident pointed out, “It would appear there must have been a lack of communication or, contrary to belief, the council has money to waste.”
 
I complained to the City Council about this wastage and was advised:
With regard to the enquiry you received I can advise that although the bus bay markings were worn and required repainting, the surface dressing works were known to be programmed to be carried out within the month. 
 
There are some circumstances where it would be appropriate to renew road markings when a road resurfacing is to follow within weeks, ie junction stop lines for which are there for public safety reasons, but mistakes do happen and these bus bays should not have been repainted in advance of the surface dressing works for which I apologise.  

As road maintenance activities are delivered in partnership with Tayside Contracts, this allows us jointly to have the opportunity to consider all future works that are to be carried out by the depot for all clients, to identify conflicts and organise programming of works for mutual benefit and obtain best value.  If the Partnership was not in place I believe there would be more chance of these conflicts occurring.

I believe this to be an isolated incident and am not aware of any other similar issues recently.

Area around Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout – progress on pedestrian safety improvements

Back in February, I reported that a number of constituents have contacted me about how difficult they find it to get across the road in the area around the Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout.     The City Council’s Head of Transportation had responded positively to my request for improvements, stating that a site visit would be undertaken to ascertain the viability of providing a central refuge island and drop kerbs.
 
The good news is that the Team Leader in Network Management has now advised:
“The Engineers have now carried out a site survey for this location and have confirmed the carriageway is greater than 9m wide and therefore a central refuge island can be accommodated.The island design with drop kerb provision will be carried out for this scheme for inclusion within this year minor works and drop kerb programme.”

Area around Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout

A number of constituents have contacted me about how difficult they find it to get across the road in the area around Glamis Road/Drive/Blackness Road roundabout.    As one constituent put it:

“I am an elderly woman who frequently visits friends in Hillside Road off Glamis Drive and am finding it increasing difficult to safely cross the road at the Glamis Drive circle when coming to and from the bus stops in Blackness Road and I’m sure I am not the only one who finds this to be the case. The traffic can come very fast from different directions around the circle.”

She wondered about the viability of traffic islands in the middle of the wide Glamis Road to allow pedestrians to cross the road in two stages with a safe place to break their journey mid-way.
 
I raised this with the City Council’s Head of Transportation who has sent the following helpful update:
 
“I will arrange for an inspection and survey the width of Glamis Road to the north and south of the roundabout with Glamis Drive and Blackness Road. To provide a central refuge island the carriageway should be sufficiently wide enough to provide a 2.0m wide island and provide a 0.5m wide safety zone for construction and future maintenance. In addition 3.25m desirable minimum or 3.0m absolute minimum should be provide in each direction to maintain two way flow. 
 
Therefore the required total width of carriageway required is 9m absolute minimum to avoid a lane closures for construction or future maintenance of the central refuge island. This will not cause any delays or disruption to the network. 
 
If the 9m wide carriageway is available I will consider provision of a central refuge island and drop kerbs for inclusion within the future minor works programme.”

Road Safety – Glamis Road

In recent months, I have had a number of constituents raise the issue of safe pedestrian crossing at Glamis Road at its south end.    As one constituent highlighted recently:
 
‘My wife and I are regular pedestrians along Perth Road from our house to town.  My wife walks to and from her work in town every day.  
 
It has always been a problem, but as we get older, crossing Glamis Road at its junction with Perth Road is getting more dangerous.  It is a very wide junction, and although you can check there are no cars planning to turn into Glamis Road when you start crossing, because of the speed of cars along Perth Road and the time it takes to cross the junction, on numerous occasions we have had near misses with cars whose drivers appear to have little respect for pedestrians and the Highway Code.   I have been able to touch cars as they turn in front of me. 
 
Would it be possible to place a refuge island in the middle of the junction as there is at the Spar circle further up Glamis Road or at the Junction of Perth Road and Riverside Drive just west of the Invercarse Hotel?’
 
I have been in discussion with the City Council regarding this sensible suggestion and the council’s Head of Transportation has updated me as follows:
 
“I will arrange for this location to be inspected for the best location to be considered. 
 
I have had initial advice from the traffic engineers and certain factors have to be taken in to account such as pedestrian movement and count as well as the carriageway width.  Ideally the carriageway should be sufficiently wide enough to construct a 2.0m wide island and provide a 0.5m wide safety zone for construction and maintenance. 
 
For normal traffic including buses and HGV the absolute minimum width of lane is 3.0m with desirable 3.25m. Therefore to maintain two way flow for construction and maintenance to minimise disruption would require the carriageway to measure 9.0m absolute minimum and 9.5m desirable minimum. 
 
If this section of carriageway meets the criteria I will arrange for this location to be considered for inclusion with a future Cycling Walking and Safer Street (CWSS) Projects Programme.”

More on the graffiti vandalism in Blackness Road/Glamis Road area

Today’s Courier highlighted my concerns about the graffiti vandalism that took place in the Blackness Road and Glamis Road area overnight Sunday/Monday, and the action I took informing the police and asking the City Council’s Rapid Response Team to assist with the graffiti removal.
 
I was on Radio Tay News and Wave 102 News today and will be speaking about the situation on STV News this evening.   You can hear the radio interviews by clicking ‘play’ below.
 
I am grateful to all the many residents who have been in touch with me about the vandalism and to the Rapid Response Team who were in the area today cleaning up much of the graffiti.

Concern over large amount of graffiti vandalism

I have today spoken with a large number of residents who are naturally furious at the explosion of graffiti vandalism that happened in the Blackness Road/Glamis Road area overnight.
 
Although there has been, over the years, several phases of bad spates of graffiti appearing, what happened overnight must be one of the worst examples of a large amount of graffiti spread over a wide area that I have come across.
 
The vandalism is across a large number of private garages, doors, walls and other sites as well as bus shelters and utility boxes – see some examples below taken earlier today.
This morning, I was immediately in touch with both the police and the City Council’s Rapid Response Team and council staff will tackle as much of the graffiti that residents have been unable to remove.    This afternoon, I spoke with a number of residents who have already tried removing graffiti from their property.
 
This sort of mindless vandalism is infuriating and I know that the police will put in significant effort to get those responsible identified, as they have successfully done before.   If any resident saw anything suspicious overnight in the area, they are urged to contact the Police Scotland non-emergency number 101.   Many thanks.

Inappropriate advertising criticised

I have criticised a leading company for placing advertisements on their utility boxes, without necessary permission.
Advertisements for BT Broadband from British Telecom Openreach have sprung up in the city, stuck to BT telecom utility boxes.  I have had complaints about these from constituents in Cleghorn Street and Glamis Road – the constituents wondering if the adverts are authorised.   See photo from Cleghorn Street – right.
Advertising of this kind requires advertising consent from the City Council and having asked the council, I was advised that BT Openreach has failed to apply for such consent.   From time to time, I get complaints about fly posted unauthorised advertisements but you expect a company like BT to play by the rules.   As one constituent pointed out, if every utility box and piece of street furniture had adverts stuck across them like this, it would be extremely unsightly.
A constituent complained to BT about one of the adverts and was told by BT:
“I am sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the sign we have placed on our cabinet.
BT have invested heavily in the local area to provide a faster Broadband service. As such we want to make people aware of this so they have the opportunity to benefit from it.
BT have the necessary rights under the relevant advertising legislation to enable us to place the signs on our cabinets.”
I therefore challenged BT to indicates what “necessary rights” BT had to give authority for their adverts .   BT replied:
“Based upon independent Legal Counsel, BT believe that the advertisement has deemed consent under both Class 2B and 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007.”
I have gently pointed out to BT that perhaps they have not noticed the country they are placing their adverts in!   English Regulations have no relevance to Scotland and when I asked them to provide evidence of deemed consent for sites in Scotland, I have been met with silence from BT.
As the Council’s Planning Team has confirmed that the company does indeed need planning consent, I do think BT should remove these advertisements until and if it obtains planning approval.    Personally I agree with my constituents that plastering utility boxes with such adverts is unsightly and should not be encouraged.

I spoke on Wave 102 News about the matter yesterday and you can hear this by clicking ‘play’ below:

Glamis Road – trees concern

Residents contacted me recently concerned at the recent removal of three well-established mature trees on Glamis Road.     
 
It is the case that the roots were having an adverse effect on the pavements, although it was disappointing to see the loss of mature trees in the street.   Last week, Tayside Contracts (on behalf of Dundee City Council) started to restore the pavements here – see right – although not meaning to create a Bansky in the process!
 
I asked the City Council – on behalf of residents – about replacement tree planting and have been advised as follows:
 
“There are no plans to plant replacement trees at this immediate location but there is to be a review of all the tree locations along the whole length of Glamis Road with suitable trees being planted at appropriate locations in the future. 
 
The Forestry Section has advised that this is likely to be done at some stage during next planting season ie. from November 2013 onwards.   There was no scope for including in the tail end of this planting season.”