Riverside Avenue

Welcome for anti-flooding works planned for Riverside Recycling Centre #dundeewestend

We have welcomed news from the City Council that works to tackle the continual flooding issues at the site which has led to numerous closures of the facility.   As residents will know the site finally re-opened yesterday following the most recent flooding issues following Storm Gerrit.

We have continually raised residents’ concerns at the number and length of closures at Riverside Recycling Centre and sought assurances that necessary flood defence works are put in place at the site so that a permanent solution is in place to avoid flooding and closures in the future.

We are therefore pleased to have been advised this week of specific proposals to properly tackle this and we hope that this work will be commenced and completed during the early part of this year so that 2024 does not see the level of repeated closures that 2023 unfortunately saw.

The council’s Service Manager (Waste) has advised the councillors as follows :

“Fraser/Michael

Storm Gerrit deposited a large volume of water within the recycling centre and the continued rainfall in subsequent days had resulted in the site remaining flooded. This exceeded the ability of the on-site pumps to discharge the water into the soakaway area, where the outflow is piped into. This soakaway area also requires time to drain, otherwise it reaches capacity. 

The pumps are continuing to operate to displace the water, with additional resources on site to clear the latest flooding, as per the flood emergency plan through the use of 3rd party gully tankers – to drain water off the site. 

Council engineers are investigating ways to reduce the impact of surface water flooding at the recycling centre. Engineers propose to model the surface water flows in the immediate vicinity of the site, with the aim to reduce the volume of water collecting in the centre. 

Due to its location, at the lowest point in the area, the centre is susceptible to prolonged periods of rainfall. It is hoped by reducing the volume of water reaching the site that it will lessen the amount of time the centre is closed for flood related issues, and this will help mitigate the frequency of closures that the site is currently experiencing. Engineers have started work on this and hope to provide a list of initial measures for consideration by the end of January. If these are accepted then we would look to progress works during 2024.

We would apologise to members of the public for any inconvenience that the recent closure has caused.”

Closures at Riverside are really unhelpful for West End residents as the only other major recycling centre in Dundee at Baldovie is 9.3 miles away, extremely inconvenient for people in the west of the city. What’s more, after Christmas, with Riverside closed, residents had to wait in huge queues at Baldovie.

Had the SNP administration not axed the Marchbanks site against our advice back in 2013, there would at least have been an alternative recycling centre that didn’t involve a drive of over 9 miles to get to.

Therefore the proposed actions to tackle the issues at Riverside are welcome but it is vital that the engineering solution is fully scoped and completed urgently.

Riverside Recycling Centre – a further update #dundeewestend

Residents will be aware that we have continually raised concerns about the repeated flooding issues that have led to numerous closures including the issues following the recent Storm Gerrit that has resulted in the civic amenity site being closed since Christmas.

Fraser’s actions and comments about the situation appeared in last Thursday’s Courier and Evening Telegraph – see www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/4841313/riverside-recycling-centre-dundee-closures-double – and we have gone back to the Waste Services Manager about the Riverside situation.

We have asked for an update on works that are being undertaken to ensure a long-term solution to the continual flooding closures and the timescales of such work. 38 days of access to the site were lost in 2023 due to flooding and it is vital that this does not happen again this year. 

We will, of course, keep residents updated on this issue.

-Riverside Recycling Centre update #dundeewestend

As residents will be aware, following Storm Babet and the continuing heavy rain since, the Riverside Recycling Centre has been closed due to flooding.

We asked the council for an update and received this on Friday from the Assistant Waste Services Manager :

“Despite ongoing efforts to pump hundreds of thousands of litres of flood water out of the site by both ground pumps and gully tankers, the Yellow weather warning and torrential rain has set us back a number of days with the water levels having increased again overnight.

Unfortunately we are not in a position to be able to give any indication of a likely re-opening date at this stage as the site must be fully cleared of standing water and a clean-up operation completed, and we are actively monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

Employee and public safety is our paramount focus, and we need to ensure the site is fully safe to re-open.

We will continue to provide website updates to the public as matters progress.” 

Nature Restoration Fund – woodland planting at Balgay and Riverside Nature Park #dundeewestend

As part of its drive to implement the Dundee Climate Action Plan and Biodiversity Action Plan, the council has been awarded significant funding from the Nature Restoration Fund to develop its woodland resource. The proposals will increase the resilience of the city to withstand the effects climate change, act as a carbon store and provide spaces for biodiversity and local people.

In addition to the direct grant from the Scottish Government, the council has been awarded a further £182 000 from the Nature Restoration Fund. The funding proposal, which was agreed last night by the council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, is to create 12 hectares of new native woodland across 3 sites in the city.

These sites include areas at Riverside Nature Park and Balgay Hill. These new areas of planting will enable Dundee City Council to expand existing woodland areas, improving climate resilience, creating new habitat for wildlife and a future resource for local people.

Officers have communicated the grant success with the local ‘Friends of’ groups, who are supportive, and local community officers are aware of the proposals.

It will also write to the residents of properties which border the area of Balgay. This letter will include a map of the areas to be planted, explain the council’s intentions to increase the woodland resource in the city and the benefits that this will bring, and advises that there will be opportunities for local people to get involved in the planting.

The letter explains the planting process and that temporary protective fencing will be erected. It also highlights that any potential impact on residents have been considered, with planting being situated away from houses, using smaller shrub species at the edges of planting and maintaining informal access paths where possible. No letters will be sent in relation to Riverside Nature Park proposals as there are obviously no immediately adjacent residential properties.

Getting things done – Riverside recycling centre #dundeewestend

Following the recent latest flooding closures at Riverside recycling centre, including again yesterday, we sought assurances that steps were being taken to tackle the issue.

The Waste Service Manager at the City Council has now advised :

“We have been in discussion with council colleagues and we will look to consider further mitigations, for significant flooding being experienced during extreme flood events. This will include: 

+ The existing drainage runs

+ The flood alleviation pumps

+ The Flood Emergency Plan

We will look to undertake this work as quickly as possible.”

Progress with Riverside/Northshore House, Luna Place #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that Fraser repeatedly raised the really deteriorating state of Riverside/Northshore House through graffiti and vandalism over many years. It had been vacant since call centre firm Sitel left the city more than a decade ago and sits on a very prominent site in the Technology Park looking onto Riverside Avenue at the entrance to the city.

Following Fraser raising this with planning enforcement at the City Council, the building’s Northern Irish owners started work transforming it into modern office facilities last year.

We are very pleased at progress since with the restored Riverside/Northshore House now complete and local company Westport Properties is now marketing rental space at the site.

The photos are ‘before’ and ‘after’ the transformation (taken in 2018 and four years later respectively), which I am sure residents will agree is a very positive outcome.

Getting things done – Riverside Avenue #dundeewestend

A resident recently asked me :

“Is there any possibility of putting in light controlled crossing facilities at the end of Perth Road and Riverside Avenue near the Technology Park entrance?

It is really difficult trying to walk to the middle of the road in peak hour then across.

You have many people leaving the Technology Park and crossing this busy road to get to Invergowrie.

In the low sun recently, it was concerning trying to cross.”

I raised it with the City Council’s Traffic and Road Safety Team Leader who has sent me this helpful response :

“I am going to get someone to do a survey here to see what level of pedestrian demand there is across the road.

To be quite frank I am not convinced that there is a high number so we will probably concentrate on the peak periods as a starting point and take it from there.

I have also got to be mindful that this is very near the boundary with Perth and Kinross Council and any consideration of a proposed new crossing would need to get some level of approval from them.”

I will, of course, keep residents informed when I am given further updates.

Temporary Traffic Order – Riverside Avenue

++ UPDATE ON 22nd OCTOBER – I AM ADVISED THAT THIS TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ORDER HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND WORKS WILL HAPPEN AT A LATER DATE ++

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 SSEN cable diversion works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Riverside Avenue (between Apollo Way and A90 Kingsway), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 25 October 2021 for 2 nights (7.30pm to 6.30am).

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available Apollo Way / Explorer Road / South Road / Myrekirk Road / A90 Kingsway.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Getting things done – Riverside recycling centre #dundeewestend

Residents will be aware that, at the re-opening of the Riverside recycling centre last year, after the first lockdown, service provision was reduced and did not include paper/cardboard recycling.   This was due to social distancing and queuing necessity at the time.

I have been pressing for full recycling services to recommence and have now had this helpful update from the City Council’s Waste Services Manager :

“Following the announcement last week we are reviewing the implications and what control measures are now required in line with industry and government guidance.  

We are also speaking with colleagues in neighbouring authorities.  

We are certainly hoping in the coming few weeks that we can re-instate all services to both recycling centres.”

I have asked to be kept updated and will advise residents when I hear further about this.

Getting things done – Riverside Avenue/Drive – an update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that I recently highlighted that the foliage on the roundabout at Riverside Avenue/Drive near the Riverside Inn was so overgrown, a pedestrian trying to cross could not see on-coming traffic.

I asked the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership to attend to this. This has now been carried out – and it looks a lot better.

Getting things done – Riverside Avenue/Drive #dundeewestend

A resident recently highlighted to me that the foliage on the roundabout at Riverside Avenue/Drive near the Riverside Inn  is so overgrown, a pedestrian trying to cross cannot see on-coming traffic.

I have therefore asked the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership to attend to this ASAP and have been promised this will take place this weekend.

Getting things done – Clovis Duveau Drive and Riverside Avenue #dundeewestend

I am grateful to the residents who over the past fortnight highlighted to me the graffiti in the pedestrian tunnel near to Clovis Duveau Drive and Riverside Avenue.

I contacted the City Council’s Rapid Response Team to get this removed and the team lived up to its title as the graffiti was thereafter very promptly removed.

Getting things done – Riverside Avenue #dundeewestend

I have received a number of residents’ concern about the width of the foot/cycle path on part of Riverside Avenue, particularly between the roundabout with Riverside drive and the entrance to Riverside Nature Park at Wright Avenue.

This comment from a resident captures the concern :

“The footpath along Riverside Avenue from the roundabout going to Wright Avenue is far too narrow for pedestrians, prams, children AND bicycles. Noticed a lady having to step onto the road while trying to move around prams and a fast moving lorry was lucky to have missed her.”

I raised this recently with the City Council’s Team Leader, Parking & Sustainable Transport who has responded as follows :

“This section of footway carries the NCN77 (National Cycle Network) and officers are aware that width is less than desirable. As part of the Spaces for People programme this winter, there has been a clearance of overgrown shrubs in this area – creating more usable space. I have asked colleagues to check whether the shrub clearance is complete – and determine whether more work to scrape back the earth/leaves is needed.

Work to widen the path or re-route this section of the NCN will be considered and may be taken forward as a future project. We would hope to be able to match our own capital allocation for active travel infrastructure against external funding sources to take projects like this forward.”

Flooding on Riverside Avenue – an update #dundeewestend

Residents recently highlighted to me that there’s been a load of water pouring across Riverside Avenue on and off from some form of blue pipe – about 50m east of the Wright Avenue junction.    This was causing a large puddle at times and making cycling past there really difficult.

I contacted the City Council about this and have been updated as follows :

“Dundee City Council and Network Rail are currently working together to prevent flooding of the railway as a result of a collapsed culverted watercourse in close proximity to the track. 

The water is currently being temporarily pumped to the adjacent grassed verge areas to take advantage of existing infiltration available, however after heavy rainfall overland flow may find its way onto the carriageway and this is being closely monitored by the City Engineers. 

Please note this is only a temporary measure to allow Network Rail and their appointed contractor to undertake necessary drainage works beneath the track. As soon as Network Rail have completed their track works the temporary pumps will be moved back to the wooded area.  

Dundee City Council and Network Rail are currently finalising a drainage design and we hope to have the permanent drainage works in place soon.” 

I was then further updated as follows :

“I can confirm that an engineer from my team met with the contractor … to further review the current water pumping arrangements along Riverside.  

The contractor has been instructed to relocate the pump from the existing grass verged area, back to a suitable vegetated area between the carriageway and the rail track about 50m west of the works.   

The pumping works will then continue for a period of time to allow Network Rail to complete their under-track crossing works and for the City Council to complete the permanent drainage reinstatement.”

Improvements to the Green Circular route in the West End #dundeewestend

I am pleased to advise that the City Council has confirmed to me that it is looking at improvements to where the Green Circular route crosses the Perth Road.     

Currently at this location cyclists and pedestrians use the existing carriageway junction cross as there is no footpath provision at this point.    The proposed works will include a new footpath creating a safer crossing as the images indicate :

There are also a couple of locations along Riverside Avenue where vegetation will be cutback to effectively widen the useable footpath/cycleway.

Getting things done – Perth Road to Riverside Avenue #dundeewestend

 

 
There’s a path from Perth Road just west of the Ninewells Garage down to Riverside Avenue.
 
It looks OK at the top end but as residents walk down it, it is very overgrown and a resident said at one point it is actually difficult to negotiate your way down it.
 
This path was orginally in private ownership but was upgraded by the council around the time Riverside Nature Park was opened to provide access from Perth Road, so I am hoping there is a maintenance agreement in place so I have asked our local environment manager if the foliage can be cut back.

Update about recycling centres

 
From the City Council :
 
Dundee City Council is to expand its recycling service to residents by extending operating hours and accepting more waste materials.
 
From Monday 22nd June, residents will have to access Baldovie Household Waste Recycling Centre from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on the weekends. The Riverside recycling centre will also expand hours to 9am to 5pm daily.
 
The facilities will begin accepting clothing & textiles, batteries, fluorescent tubes, oil, TV’s & monitors, soil and turf in addition to the previous materials, such as general waste, garden waste, wood, metals, rubble, fridges & freezers, and gas cylinders & bottles.
 
Additional vehicles will be granted access to the centres from Monday if they have the relevant permit. This will include vans, pick-ups, 8 to 11 seated mini-buses and vehicles with a single-axle trailer being accepted on site.
 
The revised service comes as the Council continues its recovery phase from the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The Household Waste Recycling Centres will maintain its strict guidelines and physical distancing at all times.
 
A number of rules must be followed in order to maintain a safe and controlled environment.
These include :
 
• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or self-isolating should NOT visit any HWRC site;
• The number of cars on site will be strictly limited;
• No commercial vans or twin-axle trailers will be allowed;
• Individuals should only visit when necessary, avoid queues and consider revisiting when quieter;
• No business waste will be accepted;
• We will be unable to provide assistance on site so only load items you can unload yourself;
• No walk-in disposals of waste will be allowed;
• The two-metre physical distancing rule must be respected at all times.
 
Further guidance on the Household Waste Recycling Centres is available on the Dundee City Council website here.    


Residents are advised to check the website and social media channels before traveling, as rules are subject to change.

Temporary Traffic Order – Re-opening of Recycling Centres

In order to allow for the re-opening of civic amenity centres at Riverside and Baldovie this coming Monday, there will be some traffic/roads arrangements put in place – the temporary traffic order is as follows :
 
Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating the re-opening of recycling centres.  The Order is expected to be in force for one month from 1 June 2020.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.
 
The effect of the Order is to temporarily impose (1) a 30 mph speed limit on A85 Riverside Avenue from a point 500 metres or thereby west of its junction with Wright Avenue to a point 500 metres or thereby east of its junction with Wright Avenue, together with imposing a no waiting restriction on Wright Avenue itself from the junction with Riverside Avenue for its entire length; and (2) a no waiting restriction on both sides of Forties Road from the junction with Drumgeith Road to the south side of the junction with Piper Street and on both sides of Piper Street for its entire length.
 
If you have any queries, please contact the Network Management Team, City Development Department on 433275. 

Amazon vans concern tackled #dundeewestend

I have recently had complaints about the extent of white vans parked at various locations north of the Amazon site on Riverside Avenue – for example on Perth Road near to the Invercarse Hotel.
 
This is not a new problem in that I had complaints last year from Riverside Drive near Vernonholme and in Newhall Gardens.   At the time, the then Amazon Delivery Station Manager resolved matters.
 
I took this most recent series of concerns to the new Delivery Station Manager who responded very promptly and positively as follows :
 
“Thanks for letting me know about the issues our neighbours are having. I have already briefed the delivery companies with regards to not leaving vans out on the street. I drove through Perth Road and some of the adjacent roads … (around 03:00) to see the extend of vans being left- and have found 8-10 vans which look like they could belong to the one of our providers. 
 
I have sent an email to will brief  all delivery service companies again this morning to get these vans picked up by the hire company.
 
As for blocking the bus lanes and Perth Road in the morning, I can only assume that this is due to the drivers arriving early for work and not having space in the yard to park. We are working on securing perminant additional parking to ensure we have somewhere for drivers who arrive early to go. 
 
Again, I will brief the delivery service partners on ensuring they don’t block the road or public transport areas.
 
Please let me know if this continues. I will make sure we are monitoring it from our side as well.
 
Thanks again for raising your constituency members concerns. I’ll ensure we get this resolved.”

Action taken to tackle smell problem from Riverside composting site #dundeewestend

As reported recently in the Courier, over the summer, I again raised numerous residents’ complaints about the smell problem caused by the composting operation at the Riverside Civic Amenity site adjacent to Riverside Nature Park.
 
The problem appears to be particularly noticeable during shredding as part of the composting operation and the wind changes direction.   
 
Staff attempt to ensure the operation happens only when the wind is to the south, away from the residential housing along the western part of Perth Road and in adjacent streets like Riverside Place, Millbay Terrace and Gardens, Clovis Duveau Drive, Millhall Crescent, River Crescent and Newhall Gardens.    
 
However, the complaints about the smell issue have been numerous in the latter part of the summer in particular.
 
Last Friday, I had a very productive meeting with a member of environment management of the City Council to discuss the issues and attempt to ensure the situation is much improved going forward.    
 
I am pleased to note that the council is now finalising an Odour Management Plan for Riverside that I went through with environment management at the meeting.     This is helpful as I am adamant that residents should not have to endure this smell issue and it is welcome that the council is taking proper steps to tackle this problem.

Action taken to cut smell problem from Riverside composting site

In the past few years, I have received numerous complaints from residents who live to the immediate north of the Riverside recycling centre and composting operation about the extent of the bad smell coming from the operation from time to time.
 
I have raised these concerns on numerous occasions with the City Council’s environment staff and undertook a site visit at their request to see the composting operation.   The council promised an environmental audit  to hopefully tackle the issue to minimise any further smell issues and I have received the following update from the City Council in the past few days :

Just an update to let you know that we had our PAS 100 audit of the 14 week process a few weeks ago and we shall shortly receive our new accreditation. 

Site staff have been making PAS 100 compliant 14 week compost for some weeks now and all material through the site will be made to this standard. We aren’t able to dispatch this until we receive our certification. The 26 week process will be rendered obsolete.

We have generally found we now only require to turn windrows once during sanitisation and once during stabilisation.  Previously we would have turned windrows twice/three times during both sanitisation and stabilisation and once during maturation. This has reduced the need for turning from 6/7 turns down to 1/2.

Furthermore we have also been trialling shredding more frequently to avoid waste sitting longer on site than required. Again this has proven successful. 
We continue to have our annual bio-aerosol survey carried out and look at our control measures that we have in place. We received our latest report last month.

Finally we received our results of SEPA’s compliance scheme for each of our licensed waste management sites relating to environmental performance for 2016. As our regulator this information is made publicly available on SEPA’s website.  I am pleased to report that all waste management sites including Riverside once again have been rated excellent (SEPA assess the licence holder as fully compliant with the licence conditions).

I hope this re-enforces our efforts to minimise any environmental issues from the site.

I am hoping that this marks a real improvement in the situation going forward although I would ask residents to contact me should they have any issues regarding any smell nuisance from the site in the coming months.

Riverside composting operation – an action plan

As residents are aware, I recently undertook a visit to the composting operation at the Riverside Civic Amenity site, following complaints from residents to the north of the site last year about bad odours emanating from the area.    
 
I have now been given a useful update on the actions the City Council is taking to hopefully ensure the issue is not repeated this year – as follows:
 
“… following on from our site visit we have had an on site visit from a technical consultant from the accreditation body regarding our composting process.   Following that meeting we are proposing the following actions to our standard operating procedures:
 
1 – Reducing the composting process from 26 weeks to either 14 or 16 weeks;
2 – Reducing windrow turning from 5-7 turns down to 3-5 turns. (less agitation of material);
3 – Increasing frequency of shredding to reduce the amount of time green waste sits at the green waste reception area (less time to decompose and begin composting); and
4 – Only screening 0-20ml compost, 0-10ml compost will no longer be produced (less screening)
 
All of the above are subject to our windrows passing the validation tests at either 14 or 16 weeks for:
 
– Pathogens;
– Potentially toxic elements;
– Stability/maturity;
– Physical contaminants and stones;
– Plant response; and
– Weed seeds and propagulesas.
 
We shall be taking samples in the next few weeks once existing windrows have matured to the 14 and 16 week age.    These will be tested by an approved lab. If we can meet the minimum thresholds in the tests we will re-validate the whole process with the accreditation body at either 14 or 16 weeks.   We are quite confident this will be achievable.   This should hopefully assist in minimising any odours migrating off site.”

Riverside composting operation – site visit

Last summer and autumn, on behalf of local residents, I again raised the problem of bad odours emanating from the composting operation at the Riverside Civic Amenity site and impacting on households to the immediate north of Riverside Avenue, mainly around the western end of Perth Road and adjacent streets.
 
At the time, the Environment Director agreed that the council’s corporate Health and Safety team review the existing arrangements and working practices.
 
Yesterday, I undertook a site visit to the composting operation to see what steps are being taken to tackle the smell issue – the Corporate Health and Safety team review is not yet complete (and I will be advised in due course of all the recommendations and actions) but meantime, the department is looking at ways of speeding up the windrows-turning process which would assist addressing the smell problem, which is welcome.
 
Here’s a couple of photos from my site visit today :
Garden waste awaiting the composting process
Windrows, as part of the composting process

Path – Perth Road to Riverside Avenue

North end of the path
Residents have raised with me the fact that the pathway running down from Perth Road to Riverside Avenue (runs behind the west side of River Crescent and the east side of Riverside Place) is overgrown.    The path is well-used – a main route on foot from Perth Road to Riverside Nature Park. 
 
I contacted the Environment Department of Dundee City Council regarding this and have been advised as follows:
 
” … the Network Team has recently upgraded this path.   During this time we were unable to gain access.   Now that this section is complete, we are hoping (if weather allows us) to get in there to start bringing this area back to standard.
 
(With regard to) the long term solution … I have a few thoughts and this will be carried out between January -March.   Again this will depend on the weather.”

New Pedestrian Crossing welcomed – Riverside Avenue

Following the reduction of the speed limit on Riverside Drive and Riverside Avenue some time ago, the possibility of having pedestrian crossings on these busy roads became possible and the City Council has provided three new crossings on Riverside Drive.
 
I have long argued that one on Riverside Avenue to cover access to Riverside Nature Park would be a boon so it is great to see work on delivering this now taking place – see below :

Getting things done – Riverside Avenue

Four years ago, I highlighted complaints from constituents about the state of the ground on Dundee’s Technology Park at the entrance to the city, having received many concerns about the untidy state of the ground running along Riverside Avenue, just east of the Swallow Roundabout.   
 
As I said at the time, it is important that it is tidied as it is a prominent entrance to Dundee.   At the time, with assistance from City Council officers, the area was tidied.
 
Unfortunately, it was recently looking unsightly again – see photos from last week below :
The area above is not within the ownership of either the City Council or Scottish Enterprise (the latter own some other parts of the Techology Park grounds).   The City Council’s Director of City Development advised me at the end of last week :
 
“I am seeking to establish who the owner/s of the area of land in question is and will seek to pursue the proper maintenance of this area with them.”
 
However, meantime, I am extremely grateful to the council’s Environment Department who undertook a one-off cut of the area to ensure it looks better meantime.