West Park

Scottish parliamentary elections – West Park conference centre voters #dundeewestend

I have been in correspondence with the City Council’s electoral registration team regarding polling arrangements in the West End for the Scottish parliamentary elections in May – particularly challenging given the COVID-19 health emergency.

The only polling place change in the West End this year is that the West Park Conference Centre is not available and electors who normally vote there vote this year in the Ballroom at the Invercarse Hotel. This affects a large number of voters in the western part of the West End Ward as it is one of the largest polling districts in Dundee.

The Scottish Government has determined that each polling station within a polling place will be restricted to 800 electors to help social distancing – each polling station within every venue will be well spaced apart.

However, my strong advice to everyone is to vote by post this year. If you require more information about this the council has helpful advice on postal vote registration and other aspects of the election here.

Change to West End Surgeries

My weekly ward surgeries will commence again at the start of the new school term later this month (first surgery at Blackness Primary School – Thursday 15th August) but, with the closure of the Harris Academy building in Perth Road for the next three years during the new school building project, my Harris Academy surgery each Monday during school term time will move to the main foyer Mansion House at the West Park Centre, just across the road.    
 
There’s no change to the surgery days or times and my other two surgeries (Mitchell Street Centre and Blackness Primary School) are completely unchanged.
 
I am very grateful to the West Park Centre for allowing me to use the centre for my surgery covering the west of the West End Ward over the next three years until Harris Academy’s return to Perth Road.   The centre will also become the polling station for the area over the Harris decant period.
 
New surgery details are now available on the council website and a copy of my new surgery poster is below:

City Council Annual Staff Awards

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the Dundee City Council Annual Staff Awards 2013, the inaugural year of such awards.   The awards ceremony took place in the West Park Centre.
 
Having a staff awards initiative has proved itself to be extremely worthwhile.  All of the participants last night – not just the winners – are excellent examples of providing high-quality and innovative services and highlighted the commitment and professionalism of the City Council’s staff.   
 
It was a thoroughly inspiring evening and I have no doubt that the success of the 2013 Awards will ensure the initiative is repeated in future years.

New West End polling station

As Harris Academy is due to decant to the Rockwell site between August of this year and August 2016, I asked the City Council about arrangements for the polling station for polling district WAL – most of the former Riverside Ward – a very large part of the west of the West End Ward, with over 4000 electors.
 
All these residents vote at Harris Academy and finding an alternative local polling place is important.   I am pleased to say that, subject to council committee approval, during the 2013-16 Harris decant period, voters will be able to cast their votes at the West Park Centre, just over the road from Harris Academy.
 
This is a very sensible outcome and I am pleased that residents will continue to have an accessible local polling station.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference in Dundee – a day in pictures #sldconf

This morning, I had the great pleasure in making a welcome address to hundreds of Scottish Liberal Democrats attending our Spring Conference, taking place in Dundee’s West End, at the West Park Centre.
 
Here’s some photographs from a very productive and enjoyable day:
Welcome to Dundee!


Making the opening address to delegates this morning.
Conference Hall.
Nick Clegg MP, Liam McArthur MSP and I had a very informative visit to Dundee College.   Here’s Nick speaking with HNC students.
I had the pleasure of taking part in a Q&A session with 55 modern studies pupils from Dundee schools (and Madras College at St Andrews) along with Jim Hume MSP and Mike Crockart MP.    Here’s Jim, along with Perth & Kinross Councillor Willie Wilson and myself, with St Paul’s Academy pupils on the conference podium.
Vince Cable MP addresses conference.
Nick Clegg addresses conference.

LibDem Conference coming to Dundee!

As reported in today’s Courier, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have chosen Dundee as the venue for their three day Spring Conference in 2013.

I am delighted to learn that my party has decided to again have its party conference in Dundee and all the more pleased that the West Park Centre – right in the middle of the West End Ward – has been chosen at the conference venue, with local hotels such as the Invercarse Hotel and the many high quality guest houses in the area benefitting for the 500-600 people who visit Conference every Spring.

Not only is it great to see Dundee again being chosen by a major political party as its Conference centre, it also represents a substantial boost to the local economy.   Delegates will spend money locally and that’s really good for the local area.

Major figures in the Liberal Democrats including members of the coalition government and the Holyrood and Westminster parliamentary parties will attend the conference, taking place from 15th – 17th March 2013.

I’ll be making a point of ensuring that our parliamentarians and other delegates see the great strides forward our city is taking – the success of our universities, the Waterfront and V&A at Dundee developments and so much more.   It is great to see our city continually attracting major events so I’ll be looking forward to welcoming  my party colleagues to Dundee and its West End next March.