As residents will recall, we have long campaigned for resurfacing of the really poor conditioned roadway in Forest Park Place (between Forest Park Road and Edward Street/Larch Street) and are delighted to report that the resurfacing work has now commenced.
Work has also commenced on improving the worst-conditioned part of Ryehill Lane (nearest St Peter Street) – see photos below.
These are welcome but there’s many more roads across the West End that we have raised requesting resurfacing. The resurfacing programme for the new 2024/25 financial year will be published in the coming weeks and we will update residents further as soon as we can on the detail of that.
The City Council has advised of two temporary traffic orders as follows :
1 – Ryehill Lane
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 resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Ryehill Lane (from its junction with St Peter Street for approx. 30 metres in a easterly direction), Dundee.
This notice comes into effect on Monday 22 January 2024 for 5 working days.
Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.
Resident access will be maintained where possible.
Alternative routes for vehicles are available via St Peter Street / Perth Road.
2 – Forest Park Place
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 resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Forest Park Place (between Forest Park Road and Edward Street / Larch Street), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Monday 22 January 2024 for 5 working days.
Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.
Access to businesses and fire station will be maintained where possible.
Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Forest Park Road / Brook Street / Urquhart Street / Blackness Road.
For further information about either temporary traffic order, contact 433082.
Numerous residents have highlighted the poor state of the seating area at the corner of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road.
This is owned by JCDecaux the billboard advertising company and I contacted the about this.
I have since received a positive response :
‘I have asked the regional team to get the land tidied and cleared of weeds and rubbish.’
I had hoped that a substantive improvement could have been achieved here through the district shopping areas aspect of the ‘Spaces for People’ projects funding but this came to nought – a real disappointment.
I will continue to pursue a permanent improvement to what could be a lovely seating area but meantime am grateful to JCDecaux for giving a commitment to tidy it up.
Residents have highlighted to me that Perth Road/Ryehill Lane corner site and seating area is again looking very unkempt.
This was in the ownership of JC Decaux who owned the original advertising hoardings at the rear of the site. My understanding is that the company was some time ago wishing to sell the site but I have written to a contact at JC Decaux to ascertain current ownership to get the area tidied.
I had hoped that a substantive improvement of the site could have been achieved through the Spaces for People funding in relation to district shopping centres but unfortunately this was not achieved. It is important, however, that the area is improved as it looks very neglected at present.
I recently received a complaint that the Perth Road Recycling unit at the bottom of Ryehill Lane is badly needing a clean up.
I contacted the City Council and Neighbourhood Services advises :
“We have been out to view the containers and agree that it could do with a good clean. I have arranged for it to be power washed as soon as possible. We will continue to monitor the site over the next few months and take appropriate action.”
Yesterday, along with two members of the Bonnie Dundee team, I had a very useful site visit with the new maintenance contractor for JCDecaux, who own the seating area at the corner of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road, in front of the company’s advertising hoardings.
The area has become overgrown, untidy and there’s also some litter – see below. We were pleased to get assurances that, henceforth, the area will be maintained fortnightly, which is good news.
I have mentioned in recent months the efforts being made to establish a Perth Road Traders’ Association. Local businesses have have rightly mentioned the need to improve the physical environment in the shopping area – the seating area at Sinderins (I have asked Community Payback to have the seats repainted and they have kindly agreed) and the seating at the advertising site at the bottom of Ryehill Lane are good examples.
And, with regard to the advertising site at the bottom of Ryehill Lane, I asked the owners JC Decaux to permit access for a community clean up, and the company kindly agreed. So full marks to the Western Cemetery Association for tidying the site yesterday – and my thanks to Ann Prescott for the photos below:
Following complaints from residents about pink chips lying across the pavement of Perth Road at the corner with Ryehill Lane, my thanks to JC Decaux, the advertising company who own the corner site.
They have, at my request, replaced the wooden edging to their site – see right.
A busy week thus far, so quite a few things to update on :
* I had a very useful and productive meeting today with the Head of Transportation and the Sustainable Transport Team Leader at the City Council to discuss local bus services, including the report going to the City Development Committee on Monday on the outcome of tendering for local bus services. It looks promising that there will be improvements to the current 69 bus service in terms of timetable – good news for those parts of the West End covered by the service. It is also hoped to see improvements to the Friendly Bus shopping service serving sheltered housing.
I also discussed with the Head of Transportation parking issues around West Port, the speed limit on Riverside Drive and traffic speed in residential areas.
* This afternoon, I attended the City Council’s Job Creation Working Group, at which employment initiatives in the city were discussed. This group provides a good opportunity for council group leaders, council chief officers and Chamber of Commerce representatives to discuss the employment situation in Dundee and related matters. I asked questions on a number of matters, including progress with the refurbishment of the Dundee rail station.
* Over the past few days, I have had constituents express concern about a proposal to have a taxi rank at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Nethergate. A number of the concerns have been resolved by confirmation that the rank will operate only between 11pm and 6am, but, on behalf of residents, I have sought assurances from the City Council’s Director of City Development to ensure arrangements with Waste Management are in place for any litter to be removed before the Cathedral opens in the morning and that any possible alteration to the taxi rank timings in the future would require full consultation before any implementation.
* JC Decaux has agreed to tidy up its advertising area at the corner Perth Road and Ryehill Lane, following my contacting the company on behalf of residents.
* The West End Community Council has updated the design of its new website at www.dundeewecc.co.uk – its well worth a visit and has a crisp, professional look.
* Late this afternoon, along with colleagues from Friends of Magdalen Green and the West End Communities Officer, we met with a parks representative from the council’s Leisure and Communities Department on the green to discuss where to site BBQ tables, following our recent consultation with residents.
The outcome of the consultation showed residents strongly in favour of BBQ tables (these will reduce damage to the grass from disposable BBQs) but residents did not want the new tables near housing or where they would not be used by residents. After discussion, we agreed to a site to the west of the bandstand, sheltered by trees. See photo below. We also agreed to more litter bins (and bigger ones!) with Friends of Magdalen Green helping with funding of them.
* Tonight, I attended a walkabout in parts of the north of the West End Ward, along with representatives from the Community Spirit Action Group, the communities officer for the West End, our Community Police Officer and one of my ward colleagues. We looked at various issues affecting the area that we will these take forward with appropriate council departments and others – examples below :
Following residents’ complaints about the overgrown state of the seating area at the corner of Perth Road and Ryehill Lane, I have been been in touch with the owners (JCDecaux) who have promised to get their contractor to tidy the area and improve the seating.
Last week, I reported that residents have mentioned that the seating area at the Perth Road/Ryehill Lane junction needed tidied and the weeds removed.
The Regional Operations Manager for the owners of the site (J C Decaux UK) promised me action – and he has been as good as his word – with the seating area now looking substantially better – see below.
RYEHILL LANE/PERTH ROAD JUNCTION : Residents have mentioned that the seating area here needs tidied and weeds removed. The Regional Operations Manager for the owners of the site (J C Decaux UK Ltd) has advised me “I will have this attended to this week and will ensure it is kept in good condition.”
HUNTER STREET : A resident contacted me to say that the bollard on a traffic island has been flattened by a vehicle. The Council’s City Development Department advises that,
“the street lighting section have recorded this damaged bollard in their defects database and it will be repaired within the next week or so.”
GLAMIS PLACE : Following a resident complaining to me that the drainage gully here was blocked, I wrote to the City Engineer asking for this to be attended to – and he has replied – “I am advised that there is only one gully in Glamis Place. Records have been checked and the gully machine has not attended this location in the past few months. The gully has been checked on site and found to be at least partly choked with silt. As such arrangements have been made for the gully machine to attend and clear the debris.”
Residents have reported to me that grating at the junction of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road is missing.
Having reported this to the City Development Department, I have been updated today as follows :
” … the area inspector has confirmed that an order has been raised for the replacement of some grating at the junction of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road.”
In the past, I have raised residents’ complaints about the maintenance of this area (click on headline to view a previous item about this from around a year ago). Its owners, JC Decaux, who own the advertising hoardings to the rear of the site have, at my request, undertaken tidy-ups of the site in the past.
The area is looking shabby and overgrown again and the seating needs completely replaced. I’ve been back in touch with JC Decaux and I have been promised that new seating will be in situ by Tuesday of next week.
The company has also arranged weedkilling of the chipped area but have still to do the area where the old flower bed was and put down fresh top soil. However that if all goes according to plan, that area should be completed by Wednesday of next week.
Over the past couple of days, I have received a number of pavement defects complaints.
These include a drainage channel grid missing at the entrance to Pinegrove on Perth Road and further east along Perth Road at Ryehill Lane, a similar grid has fallen and stuck inside the drainage channel.
Residents have mentioned to me the fact that the seating area (in front of the advertising hoardings) is looking untidy again and that the seating is in poor shape.
Having contacted the owners (J C Decaux) I have been advised that they will ensure it is tidied and they will see what they can do to improve the seating.
The seating area at the corner of Ryehill Lane and Perth Road has been the subject of previous discussions between myself and its owners (J C Decaux, the advertising hoardings people, who own the billboards behind it).
In 2005, following my request, J C Decaux had the area tidied, which was welcome.
However, a number of the elderly residents in the Perth Road area have pointed out to me that the seating here is in very poor shape (as the lower photo, right, shows).
Therefore, earlier today, I was in touch with the company again, and they have promised to look into the matter. Their repairs are handled centrally from a unit in Ayrshire, so it may take a little time, but pleased the company has reacted positively to the suggestion.
A few days since I have been able to pause for breath and update the blog – so here goes!
Firstly, many of you will have read in the local press on Saturday and heard me on local radio yesterday about the deep concern of a number of tenants regarding a local landlord who has served eviction notices on them, despite their being long-standing and good tenants. I am of the view that the tenants have been treated very badly and the comments by the landlord in Saturday’s Courier accusing me of “electioneering” for having the cheek to speak out on behalf of constituents, were highly inappropriate.
I am pleased to advise that I have spoken with the landlord’s solicitor today who has apologised on his client’s behalf for the comments in the press. He has proposed a meeting with myself and tenant representatives and I will be speaking with the tenants about this and hope that we will soon have a proper solution to this that allows the tenants to remain in their homes.
On another local matter, pleased to get the following information from the Council’s street lighting department about the faulty lighting in the car park near the Muirlands sheltered housing (there has been an issue as to responsibility here – i.e. is it privately maintained by the Housing Association or part of the adopted street lighting?) :-
“I have made contact with Servite Housing and have arrange a meeting on site … to try and resolve this situation. In the short term I have repaired the lights.”
Residents are naturally delighted the lighting is back on.
Janet & I were delighted to attend Wave 102’s Local Hero Awards last Friday night (see photo!) I had the real pleasure of presenting the “Contribution to Charity” award to Pat Stevenson, who has done so much for Advocating Together (Dundee) – a superb local organisation helping people with learning disabilities – and based in my ward in Ryehill Lane.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable night – and a great credit to Wave 102 – let’s hope the Local Hero Awards will be an annual feature in the Dundee calendar.
Cllrs Fraser Macpherson and Michael Crichton 