Potential trip hazard to be attended to

It was brought to my attention that, due to the wearing away of the surrounding tar surface, the base of an old pole sign on the pavement at the corner of Queen Street and Fort Street is now presenting as a potential trip hazard. I contacted the city engineer’s office about it and I have been advised that the roads maintenance partnership will arrange to remove the pole stump and reinstate the area as appropriate. Hopefully the work will be programmed relatively quickly.

Temporary traffic order

I have been advised that traffic is to be prohibited in Fort Street from Brook Street to Queen Street on Monday 2 June for one day to allow loop cutting works to be carried out. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Scottish Conservative lead European candidate elected

The Scottish Conservative lead European parliamentary candidate has been elected to the European Parliament with an increase in the party’s share of the vote. Dr Ian Duncan will replace Struan Stevenson in Brussels after securing 17.22% of the vote, an increase of 0.40%. The Scottish Conservatives polled 231,330 votes, the highest in European elections since 1989 – a quarter of a century.  

As someone who has previously worked in the European Parliament, he believes that EU reform is needed to get the best deal for Scotland and the UK. Ian supports the Prime Minister’s plan to re-negotiate improved terms for Britain in the EU before offering an in-out referendum in 2017. No one under 56 has ever had their say on European membership as the last referendum was in 1975. Recent polling shows that almost six in ten Scots want a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Scottish Conservative MEP Dr Ian Duncan said: “I am delighted the people of Scotland have placed their trust in me and I intend to repay that trust when I get to Brussels. I was only 16-years-old the last time the Scottish Conservatives got a higher number of votes in the European elections. Struan Stevenson is a tough act to follow but I am looking forward to building on his excellent work, particularly in getting a better deal for fishermen.

“This is a very exciting time in the history of our position in Europe and we have an opportunity to secure real change to our relationship with the EU. The people of Scotland clearly want change and I will go to Brussels determined to fight for their interests. From fishermen in the Shetland Islands and farmers in Dumfries, to those working in the financial sector in Edinburgh, my role is to represent everyone. A Europe that works for us not against us is my aim and I will continue to listen to the people of Scotland to ensure that it is their interests, their concerns and their desires that I am championing in Brussels.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said: “This was a good night for the Conservatives in Scotland – our vote went up, bucking the trend for Conservatives across the UK. More people cast their vote for the Scottish Conservatives in this election than at any Euro poll since 1989 – a quarter of a century.

“I’m ambitious for this party and I want today’s result to be a platform on which we can build for the General Election. We have more work to do to reconnect with voters – but our pro-union, low-tax, personal choice message is gaining ground across the country.

“Ian Duncan has already fought for this country in Europe, as the Scottish Parliament’s head man in Brussels. He now goes there as a supremely qualified MEP, ready to make a difference. Ian’s got guts and determination to burn. He’ll fight hard for Scotland’s voice to be heard and I am proud to send Ian as the Scottish Conservative’s representative to the European parliament.”

New Broughty Ferry land train

A land train has been added to Broughty Ferry’s many attractions.  Localmotion land trains launched its service yesterday. The train operates at weekends with some weekdays through the school holidays.

The three carriages, 60 seat land train takes passengers on a circular route from the Phibbies pier along The Esplanade to The Barnhill Rock Garden, with stops at Windmill Garden and The Glass Pavilion. The train leaves the pier at 10 am and approximately every 45 minutes until 5pm. A ticket allows passengers a full circuit of the route and costs £3 for an adult and £2 for a child (children under two go free).

I often wondered why Broughty Ferry didn’t have a land train as most visitor destinations seem to have them, linking places of local interest.

Traffic notice

I have been notified that due to carriageway resurfacing works being carried out the driving of any vehicles in Bannoch Rise, at its northerly junction with Lawers Drive, will be prohibited for 5 working days from Tuesday 27 May. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Age Concern

I was visited at my surgery on Saturday by constituents who were concerned to see that the Age Concern building in Brook Street has been put up for sale. Age Concern provides support, care, information, learning opportunities, leisure activities and support services for older people in and around Dundee. Its Broughty Ferry premises were opened in 1964.

 I spoke to a representative of Age Concern about it yesterday and it seems that the maintenance cost of the building and the number of people using the service in Broughty Ferry make the continued use of the premises unsustainable. However the organisation will remain in Broughty Ferry as it is seeking to relocate to other premises.

Council committee meetings

At tonight’s Environment Committee I welcomed the tennis court upgrade at Dawson Park. I asked about the existing changing facilities and I was told that the condition of the pavilion is being looked at, although any action required is part of the longer term plan.

The City Development Committee considered a report about the planning application submitted to Angus Council for the development of land to the north of Ashludie Hospital for up to 300 houses. The council has already objected to an application for between 350-400 houses at the Grange. The report said the potential development of up to 700 houses adjacent to the boundary of Dundee would undermine the housing strategy of the Dundee Local Development Plan and would likely have an impact on traffic levels and congestion on Arbroath Road at Claypotts junction. The committee agreed to approve the report as Dundee City Council’s objection to the application.

Dawson Park tennis courts upgrade

Last May the council agreed an action plan for the upgrading of tennis courts in Dundee. Dawson Park was identified as a centre for the development of tennis in the east of the city. 

The council has been working with stakeholders, including Scottish Tennis, The Lawn Tennis Association and Sportscotland in developing proposals to improve the facilities at Dawson Park. A new porous surface is to be provided, new floodlighting to the courts, new lining and fence, new socket post strainers and court netting. It is intended to include a system of control and charging for the use of the floodlighting.

The council’s Environment Committee will be asked on Monday to approve a spend of £141,512 on the proposals. The cost will be met from external funding of £64,671 from Sportscotland and £27,878 from The Lawn Tennis Association, with the balance coming from allowances within the council’s capital plan.

There have been a few changes made to Dawson Park in recent years and it is nice to think that this latest upgrade might see a future international tennis champion spending their formative years on a tennis court in West Ferry!

Weeds

A regular seasonal complaint I receive is about the unsightly appearance of weeds in the gutters and on pavements. The council commenced its street spraying of herbicide on the 8th May and the operators are working in Broughty Ferry at present.

Across Dundee this first application is expected to take four weeks to complete. Some locations have persistent and resilient weeds so hopefully we will get a long enough dry spell to allow the weed killer to have an effect!

Gray Street level crossing

I was disappointed to read the statistics from British Transport Police that show Broughty Ferry level crossing has the highest number of recorded offences in Scotland; 214 drivers and pedestrians have been prosecuted in the past five years for deliberately misusing the level crossing.

Dangerous behaviour at level crossings can have devastating consequences and British Transport Police take level crossing misuse very seriously. Pedestrians face a fine of up to £1000 and a criminal record if they are caught and vehicle drivers can be charged with a number of driving offences, including stopping on the crossing, failing to obey the lights, careless driving, and dangerous driving.

Jumping the lights and ignoring warning signs is just not worth it. By trying to save a bit of time you could end up losing your life.

Broughty Ferry swans

I walked along Beach Crescent yesterday evening following a meeting  and  having stopped to watch the swans I felt compelled to take a photograph.

Deutsche Bank warns investors of Scottish separation risks

A report into the impact of Scottish independence by one of the world’s leading banks has expressed a number of concerns. Deutsche Bank’s report on separation said that should there be a Yes vote in September there is a risk of “capital flight” as individuals and businesses move their money out of Edinburgh. The document, ‘Scotland: The independence question’, stated uncertainty over currency and the question of whether or not a separate Scotland would take its fair share of national debt could lead to the financial exodus.

Deutsche Bank added in its findings that Scotland’s rate of borrowing would be higher if it broke away from the rest of the UK, and cast further doubt about a newly independent state gaining automatic EU admission. And whatever currency option was settled on, the report said, it was likely some form of “sterlingisation” would have to occur as a “stop gap”. In a stern warning, economists at the bank said if the Scottish Government had got it wrong on its widely disputed oil projections, “the fiscal position could look more precarious than envisaged by authorities”.

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown MSP said: “This is yet another highly respected international organisation raising some very serious questions for the SNP’s case for independence. The Scottish Government cannot resort to its usual tactic of accusing anyone who questions its plans as scaremongering or lacking impartiality. Deutsche Bank is a major firm with detailed knowledge of how finance works, and is completely detached from the independence debate.

“It is now incumbent on the Scottish Government to reflect carefully on these points and come up with some answers. The report states it is likely a separate Scotland would have higher borrowing rates, an issue the SNP has been extremely vague on.

“People and businesses will also want to hear answers from the Scottish Government on the risk of capital flight should Scotland breakaway from the rest of the UK.”

Sign update

I refer to my earlier post regarding the faded sign on Dundee Road. The council’s head of transportation has advised me that the sign was installed by Tayside Contracts as a temporary printed version of a permanent sign but unfortunately the permanent sign was never installed. Apparently these signs should be removed three months after a change in a speed limit has been implemented and it is anticipated that the advisory signs on both eastern and western approaches to the new section of 30 mph speed limit will shortly be removed.

Drivers should drive at 30 mph in street lit sections of road, unless signage indicates otherwise (i.e. the small speed repeater signs on 40 mph sections of street lit roads). However the head of transportation has confirmed that his traffic engineers are planning on installing a vehicle activated speed limit reminder sign which is likely to be moved around different locations such as Monifieth Road and Strathern Road where there is also concern about vehicle speeds.

New public artwork

A number of people have asked me about the new public artwork that has appeared next to the coastal walkway, east of Stannergate. It has been installed to recognise the successful programme of the re-introduction of sea eagles to Scotland. The RSPB felt that it would be good to mark the recent success of the programme in Tenstmuir Forest with a permanent sculpture and some kind of informative interpretation and this site was chosen because of its views up and down the Tay and of Tentsmuir Forest. 

There was an a exhibition held in Broughty Ferry Library two years ago which informed people about sea eagles and sought public opinion on the proposed sculpture and the location. I’m told that the exhibition was visited by over two thousand people and the response to the proposal was very positive. Funding came from an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

I am advised that the sculpture is made from Corten steel which initially rusts to the colour that it is now but the oxidation process seals the surface from further oxidation. Apparently over time the brightness of the colour will dull. The steel requires no maintenance and is suitable for the local marine environment. The loose gravel surrounding the sculpture is a fine quarry dust which will compact hard in time and the local grass and wildflower will be encouraged to grow up to the edge of the quarry dust and provide a soft natural edge to the site.

Car parks to be resurfaced

For many years residents have raised the issue of the condition of the car park in Torridon Road. I was pleased to learn that it has been included in the council’s resurfacing programme for 2014/15. In fact work is due to commence on site tomorrow! The car park at Marlee Place, on the other side of the grassed area, is also being resurfaced. The footpath from Marlee Road to Torridon Road is to receive some attention as well.

Faded sign on Dundee Road

When the speed limit on Dundee Road was reduced to 30mph between Margaret Crescent and Ellieslea Road two signs were erected to alert drivers that a new speed limit is in force. The sign located near Margaret Crescent is robust and very obvious however the one erected on the approach to Ellieslea Road is more of a makeshift sign and it has now faded so badly that it is impossible to read from a vehicle and it is a struggle to read it even when standing close to it. I have asked the council’s head of transportation if it can be given some attention.

In Touch Spring 2014

In recent weeks I have been delivering my Spring 2014 newsletter. As usual it features across four pages a number of articles on local issues, updates and information. I try to distribute it as widely as possible across the Ferry ward and I’m grateful to the volunteers who help with this.
  

Feedback is always welcome, so if you have any comments then please get in touch with me. You can contact me by email, telephone or letter. If you prefer to write to me then there is a cut off slip on the back page of the newsletter which you can use if it would be more convenient for you.

Road repairs

I’m pleased to report that a number of carriageways in Broughty Ferry are to receive some attention during this financial year. I have repeatedly reported potholes requiring to be filled in most of them so it’s good to see that more permanent action is being taking.

A large section of Queen Street has recently received a full resurfacing. Whinny Brae and Long Lane from Fort Street to Gray Street are also to receive a full resurfacing. Motorists will be delighted to learn that the badly worn and rutted junction at Dundee Road/Westfield Road/Claypotts Road junction is to be getting resurfaced. There will also be full reconstruction at the problem bus stop locations on Strathern Road between Duntrune Terrace and Claypotts Road.

Claypotts Terrace is to receive a proprietary thin surfacing as is Collingwood Crescent and the west section of Strathmore Street from Campfield Road. A surface dressing is also planned for Redcastle Crescent. Balgillo Road/Strathmore Street from Marlee Road to Nursery Road will be patched and then receive a surface dressing as will Falkland Crescent. Oakley Place will be getting a thin surface treatment as well as its unadopted pavements made up (see earlier post on unadopted pavements).

Road closure

I have received notification of the closure of Douglas Terrace for the Scottish Water manhole works. The notice prohibits the driving of any vehicle in Douglas Terrace from its junction with A930 Dundee Road to approximately 100 metres south.

It comes into effect on Monday 12 May for 5 working days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Home Street  and Dundee Road.