Tait’s Lane
Temporary Traffic Order : Tait’s Lane
Tait’s Lane – an update

Getting things done – Tait’s Lane
- The pathway from Tait’s Lane to Peddie Street is in need of tidying – some weeds require removal and the foliage requires trimming (see photo right) – I have reported this to both Home Scotland and the City Council who have shared responsibility here.
- There is overgrown foliage at the Tait’s Lane car park – the Environment Department of the City Council has confirmed it will tackle this.
Latest updates …
* This morning, along with councillor colleagues, I had a very useful meeting with the Waste Management Department and the Environmental Health & Trading Standards Department about the problems of refuse presentation at various locations. This gave the opportunity to raise issues in specific streets in the West End where residents have complained about poor refuse presentation or wheelie bins being left out on the street permanently. The officers present gave very useful updates on their various initiatives to help tackle this problem, that is a source of many complaints from constituents.
* Further to Tavish Scott’s visit to Dundee yesterday, you can read the article about this in today’s
Press and Journal by going to http://tinyurl.com/tavishpandj.* I recently asked for additional grit bins for the north end of Thomson Street and the top end of Tait’s Lane. I am pleased to advise that the City Engineer updated me this morning as follows :
Hogmanay update

Virgin Media services in Tait’s Lane

Surgeries, Tait’s Lane and Benvie Road/Fyffe Street …

Post Offices – a decision likely on Wednesday
As residents are well aware, there has been much local concern over Post Office Limited’s proposals to close four Dundee Post Offices. Many constituents in the West End have expressed their opposition to closing the Lochee Road and Nethergate Post Offices, both of which provide an invaluable service to local communities and, along with other city councillors, I have made clear my strong objections to the closure proposals.
The Royal Mail Scottish Press Office in Edinburgh confirmed to me today that an announcement is due on Wednesday regarding the four Dundee Post Offices and have further promised to e-mail me their announcement immediately it is made. I have reiterated the point that Post Office Limited should be listening to local communities and taking into full account the detailed evidence presented to them to make the case for keeping the Post Offices open.
The Royal Mail Scottish Press Office in Edinburgh confirmed to me today that an announcement is due on Wednesday regarding the four Dundee Post Offices and have further promised to e-mail me their announcement immediately it is made. I have reiterated the point that Post Office Limited should be listening to local communities and taking into full account the detailed evidence presented to them to make the case for keeping the Post Offices open.
I am to be speaking on GMTV on Wednesday morning to make the case for our local Post Offices and pleased to have the opportunity to do this.
On an unrelated matter, I was very concerned to learn about an incident in the lane that runs between Tait’s Lane and Peddie Street which took place late on Saturday evening, and in which a local women had her handbag snatched at knife point.
You can read the full story in tonight’s “Evening Telegraph” (click on the headline above to read this). As I said to the Tele, “Obviously, I’m concerned to learn about the incident and for the woman, who must have had a frightening experience. I should also say, however, that incidents of knife crime in the city are thankfully very limited.
“I urge anyone with information to contact Tayside Police on 0845 600 5705.”
Health and Safety Executive
I was advised that the HSE’s Principal Specialist Electrical Inspector has been tasked with looking into all the circumstances of this dreadful incident.
I understand he has already requested a preliminary report from Scottish and Southern Energy and this has been submitted to HSE. Arising out of this, Scottish and Southern Energy has been asked to undertake a further site visit to provide more information, and this is taking place today. Thereafter, the HSE specialist may choose to undertake a further site visit himself.
The Health and Safety Executive has assured me that its principal role is, having fully investigated all the circumstances, to publish actions to take to prevent a further occurrence of such an incident in the future.
Meeting with Scottish Hydro Electric
The company also indicated that it would advise me and my constituents of the outcomes of their own investigations and of “learning points” (as they put it) that are to be actioned. They also said that they would act on any recommendations from an independent HSE investigation and they would wish to meet with my constituents to discuss.
A decision by the Health & Safety Executive as to their intention to invesigate should now be imminent and I am contacting HSE for an update on this.
More on Tait’s Lane and graffiti update
Update on Tait’s Lane
One of the major concerns residents are raising is the possible dangers to children and any other pedestrians and the Scottish Hydro Electric representative claimed that, because voltage dissipates differently in animals compared to human beings, he ‘was confident the surge would not have killed a human being’.
It is vitally important that the full facts are determined as there has been great concern in the local area about what happened. For that reason I have reported my concerns to the Health and Safety Executive, who have tonight given me the Incident Number regarding my drawing this to HSE’s attention.
Tait’s Lane

A resident contacted me on Friday evening, following the incident and she was extremely upset to have witnessed the electrocution of a dog, which was owned by one of her neighbours. The dog had been out for a walk with its owners and whilst passing a lamp-post took what appeared to be a dreadful fit, which it later emerged was as a result of being electrocuted. The dog’s death has caused deep upset in the neighbourhood and I have been in touch with Scottish & Southern Energy to find out how this dreadful incident happened. Clearly, we need reassurances about electrical safety. As one resident pointed out, the lane has a steady stream of pedestrians every day.
I was concerned to note that although barriers had been put round the site, in the excavation round the lamppost there was exposed wiring. Scottish and Southern Energy has assured me that this wiring had been safely isolated and does not present any danger to the public. I was further promised that an engineer will contact me on Monday morning with a full report of the circumstances that occurred on Friday. I have also contacted the street lighting department of the City Council about the matter.
Public path Peddie Street to Tait’s Lane
Week Round Up!
An exceptionally busy week both with my day job (as I am running a large conference next week) and with City Council and West End matters, so here’s a brief summary!
* Tait’s Lane : Had complaints about the general tidiness of the lane and the pathway that runs from the lane to Peddie Street and I have had favourable responses from the Waste Management Department and from Dundee Contract Services. The latter are going to tackle the overgrown weeds and I have also asked Economic Development if they can do something about the sadly neglected seating at the grass area in the lane.
* Last Sunday, I mentioned the request I had passed on to the Animal Control Team from residents for a dog bin at the end of the tunnel under Riverside Avenue near to the Invergowrie boundary (see http://frasermacpherson.blogspot.com/2007/08/dog-bin.html). I am pleased to report that I have been advised that a new bin was installed yesterday.
* A very useful meeting at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday with Nicol Stephen MSP, Tavish Scott MSP and my fellow LibDem council group leaders from Scottish local authorities about issues facing councils.
* Along with the other party group leaders in Dundee, we met with the President of COSLA on Tuesday about the future direction of COSLA and challenges facing local government.
* A West End constituent recently contacted me about his difficulties getting an NHS dentist and, as this is a parliamentary matter rather than a local authority one, I passed him on MSP details. He’s let me know the feedback he has received which he felt it might be useful to pass on to others via the blog – “… where an NHS Board considers that the existing NHS general dental service provision is insufficient to meet the demands of the local population, and no independent general dental practitioner is available to fill the gap, the Board can appoint salaried dentists. NHS Tayside already employs a number of salaried dentists, and are looking to approve further such posts. Any constituent wishing to enquire about an appointment with a salaried general dental practitioner should contact NHS Tayside at Ashludie Hospital, Monifieth, Dundee, DD2 4HQ (Telephone number 01382 527861).”
* Yesterday, along with the Public Health Minister, I was delighted to attend the launch of “Get Active Getting There” project at Gowriehill Primary School. Gowriehill is one of eight primary schools and two secondary schools (including Harris Academy) in the west of Dundee participating. It’s a great project to encourage school pupils – and indeed the community as a whole – to make use of the local paths network to walk and cycle.
A pilot project in Edinburgh in 2005 resulted in a 50% increase in walkers and cyclists using local routes and the City Council is pleased to be working with SUSTRANS and NHS Tayside on this new excellent project in the City. You can read more by clicking on the headline above.
* Some time ago, the Blackness Area Residents’ Association asked for better markings at the bus stop on the east side of Blackness Avenue (half way down) to ensure the bus can get clear access to the side of the road to allow passengers to get off the bus safely. Many elderly folk get off the bus here and it’s important that they can alight at the pavement properly. I am pleased to say that I have just had the following positive feedback from the City Council’s Planning & Transportation Department indicating what is to be provided here (hopefully within the next three weeks) :
“A ‘BUS STOP’ box marking 29m long with thick yellow Clearway marking. This will ensure that the bus can park with the door at the boarding point allowing safe boarding and alighting for all. We are about to undertake this exercise across all 900 bus stops as part of the Dundee barrier free city commitment.”
Christmas Joy and all that …


Anyway, Christmas was great – I have had loads of fun downloading lots of my CDs onto an MP3 player and my younger son and I have just spent a fruitless afternoon trying to set up a wireless internet connection in the house. Getting there now though!
Here’s a rather less festive picture from the back area of a West End tenement. I raised the condition of this with the City Council just prior to Christmas and am pleased to advise that the Environmental Warden has advised me that the major landlord here has promised action.
Other updates :
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Rob, our ace pyrotechnician from the West End Christmas Week, advises that you can now see video clips of the fireworks at http://www.myspace.com/westendpyro
Click on VIDEO under the logo and you can access all clips from there. -
BT has now advised me that they will attempt to fit a door to the phone box in Milnbank Road during January although they do warn that given the angle of the phone box, it may prove difficult to fit one.
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The Tait’s Lane light and small area of road resurfacing I referred to earlier was done just before Christmas.
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My LibDem colleague from Perth & Kinross Council Cllr Peter Barrett undertook a sponsored fast on Christmas Eve to raise funds for Christian Aid, so helped sponsor Peter. As Peter reports – “The fast was Ok – the last three hours were a bit hard and the worst moment was when I took the Christmas ham out the oven and lifted it onto the plate and a we bit got snagged on the roasting dish. I never knew I had such willpower.”
And lastly, Hogmanay – thanks to Sheena Wellington for the following information!
Bright young bands top Hogmanay bill!
Two of the best young bands on the traditional scene are providing Hogmanay music in Dundee!
The Cameron Kellow Group will play for the dancing at the Family Ceilidh in Meadowside St Paul’s Church Hall on Sunday evening, 7.30 to 10.30pm. Accordionist and drummer Cameron is a student of the brilliant Allan Small who regards him as one of the brightest prospects in Scottish Country Dance music. Cameron’s outstanding talent was recognised when he was invited to join Highland Council’s Ceilidh Trail last summer, a rare honour for a non Highland musician.
A spicy young group with a funky edge, Skelpaig’s reputation for musical skills, excitement and innovation has garnered them invitations to play at venues from Skye to Brittany. Between them Kat Liley, David Adam and David Sutherland play fiddle, viola, border pipes, small pipes, highland pipes, whistles and guitar – but not all at the same time! Skelpaig will do a couple of sets at the Family Ceilidh before piper David Adam leads the Lantern Parade (weather permitting!) down to the North Carr Lightship where Skelpaig will be main act at the Maritime Volunteer Service’s Foghorn Fiesta.
Singer Sheena Wellington, a City Centre & Harbour Community Council member, will compere the Family Ceilidh and Ceilidh tickets, price £6.50 (£4 concessions) inclusive of supper, are available from the Cornerstone Cafe, Nethergate, Dundee. Phone bookings can be made between10am-noon and 2pm – 4pm on 01382 202121.
The Church Service, 10.30pm at Meadowside St Paul’s, the Lantern Parade, starting 11pm from the Church and the Foghorn Fiesta. 11.30pm – 12.15am are free. Wrap up warmly!!
Tait’s Lane Update
Dumfries, Tait’s Lane, Thomson Street, Gas Main Works …

Phase 1 Nethergate: Full closure between Union Street and Whitehall Street
East-bound closure between West Marketgait and Union Street
South-bound closure of whole length of Union Street Diversion route – West Marketgait/South Marketgait/Yeamans Shore/Whitehall Crescent/Whitehall Street.
Dates 08/01/2008 – 04/02/2007
Phase 2 Union Street: Full closure whole length Diversion Route Whitehall Crescent/Whitehall Street/High Street Dates 05/02/2007 – 30/03/2007
Information boards will be set out two weeks prior to the start of Phase 1 (approx. 27 December 2006)
Access to Union Street/Signing
SGN/Turriff will liaise with affected traders regards deliveries and access prior to work starting and agree suitable arrangements and to avoid any illegal through traffic for Phase 2.
Bus-Stop Changes
Phase 1 Nethergate: 2no. Bus-stop in High Street will relocate to Whitehall Crescent Phase 2 Union Street: All bus stops will be taken out and the public directed to bus stops in Nethergate.
Magdalen Green, Monthly West End Community Council Update, Tait’s Lane
