Hermitage Road traffic survey

I was contacted about the speed that some vehicles appear to travel at in Hermitage Road. I raised the issue with the council’s transportation section and it arranged for a traffic survey to be carried out.

The survey information was recently sent to me and it shows that the average speed is 21 mph. Based on this outcome the council has concluded that no action is required at this time.

While I was in Hermitage Road I noticed that the street name plate was badly faded so I have asked for this to be replaced.

Garden waste bags

It was brought to my attention that Riverside Recycling Centre has no receptacle for plastic bags. Residents in the east of the city who now have to travel across Dundee to dispose of their garden waste discovered that they were unable to discard the bags they carried it in.  I raised the matter with the council’s environment department and I have been advised by the waste services manager that a facility for disposing of plastic bags will be progressed.

Better Together campaign

I spent a couple of hours yesterday afternoon canvassing in Broughty Ferry with a team of volunteers for the Better Together campaign. The weather was wonderful; just right for chatting to people on their doorstep. I was encouraged by the response we received to our message that Scotland’s future is best served by remaining in the United Kingdom. Many concerns about separation were raised including what currency an independent Scotland would use and the security of pensions.

Traffic order Fintry Place

I have posted below a copy of the Notice of Proposal relating to a Traffic Order that includes the section of Fintry Place to the east of Forthill Road, which leads to Forthill Primary School and Forthill Sports Club.

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (ST MARY’S LANE, LOCHEE AND FINTRY PLACE, BROUGHTY FERRY, DUNDEE) (PART TIME PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2013

Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.  Due to high traffic volumes and parking issues during school pick up and drop off times at Forthill PS and St. Mary’s RCPS, it is necessary to prohibit vehicular access to both Fintry Place and St. Mary’s Lane to stop the potential for conflict between vehicular traffic and school children.

Full details of the proposals are contained in the draft Order, which together with a Statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined during normal office hours and without payment of fee at Dundee City Council offices, Reception, 18 City Square, Dundee by any person, during a period of 21 days from 26/4/13.  A copy of the plans can also be viewed by searching for "Traffic Regulation Orders (In Progress)" in the A to Z section of our website.

Any person may within 21 days from 26/4/13 object to the proposed Order by notice in writing to the Head of Democratic and Legal Services, Dundee City Council, 21 City Square, Dundee.  Objections should state the name and address of the objector, the matters to which they relate and the grounds on which they are made.

ROGER MENNIE, Head of Democratic and Legal Services

Plans for a currency union do not add up

The UK Government yesterday published its second Scotland Analysis paper on the consequences of separation.

The 113 page document on currency and monetary policy questions the SNP’s assertions that under separation a currency union could be set up with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Scottish Conservative Finance spokesman Gavin Brown MSP said: “What is clear, despite the mutterings of the SNP, is that there has been little or no meaningful contact with the Treasury or the Bank of England about their preferred currency option under separation. With just under a year and a half to the referendum vote, it is quite staggering that the SNP has not bothered to ask how this could work in practice. We also need to know if the Scottish Government’s independent Fiscal Commission has had any meaningful discussions with either the Treasury or Bank of England before publishing their economic paper.

Today’s paper states the economic case for the rest of the UK entering into a currency union with a separate Scotland is not clear cut. While it may be the Scottish Government’s preferred option, it’s only realistic if both sides want it. It does not matter how often the SNP say they want such an arrangement, if the other side does not want to deal then it will not happen. The Treasury paper also makes clear that if the rest of the UK does agree to a currency union, there would need to be mechanisms for controlling and reviewing the tax and spending policies of a so-called independent Scotland.

Alex Salmond has clearly not thought through the implications of this, yet is prepared to gamble away Scotland’s financial stability in his vain pursuit of breaking up the UK.”

Fence at Campfield Square shops

I have received complaints from residents about the gap in the fence on Nursery Road at the Campfield Square shops.

It has been like this for some time and is becoming a bit of an eyesore due to the build up of all the rubbish, as can be seen from the photograph.

 I have asked the environment department if this area can be tidied up. I also intend to contact the owner of the land to ask if it would be possible to have the fence repaired.

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Pothole repairs

I can’t believe the number of potholes there are in Broughty Ferry at the moment! There are also a lot of sections of carriageway in dire need of repair.

I spent most of last weekend checking on locations I have previously reported to ensure that action had been taken and noting new locations that are in need of some attention.

The Roads Maintenance Partnership has recently advised me of the following works:

·         Claypotts Road between Queen Street and Strathern Road is to be resurfaced

·         Lower Broughty Ferry Road is to receive a proprietary thin surfacing as is Dunnottar Place

·         Dundee Road West between Ralston Road and Strips of Craigie is to get a surface dressing

·         Repairs will be carried out to the Bayfield Road carriageway using the Rhinopatch equipment for a more durable repair rather than repeatedly filling the many potholes

I was particularly pleased to learn about Claypotts Road. The section to be attended to is in a shocking sate of repair for a principal road through Broughty Ferry. The picture I have posted doesn’t really show the full extent of the problem. The only down side is that it will result in further temporary traffic management arrangements (which we never seem to see the end of what with one thing or another).