Winter weather

During winter months Dundee City Council constantly monitors weather conditions and forecasts using modern ice prediction and thermal mapping systems. Gritting and ploughing vehicles are on standby to act as required.

In snow conditions:

Visit dundeecity.gov.uk/winterweather

Tune-in to local and national radio
Follow the council on twitter@dundeecouncil

Telephone enquiries to the council can be made using the Freephone number

0800 145 6897

Email: customerservices@dundeecity.gov.uk

In adverse conditions priority carriageways and footways are treated seven days a week. Priority routes are principal roads, other strategic routes, main service bus routes and other heavily used roads. Only when the priority routes have been adequately dealt with will resources be deployed on secondary routes and then cul de sacs.

Pavements are also categorised as priority and secondary routes. The priority routes cover educational establishments, main retail locations and main thoroughfares.

There are over 750 grit bins at locations such as steep gradients, bends, steps and sheltered housing. These will be refilled during the winter for use on a self help basis but should not be used for treating private property. Empty bins should be reported to customer services or online.

For information on trunk roads throughout Scotland telephone Traffic Scotland on 0800 028 1414 or visit its website trafficscotland.org

The latest winter maintenance leaflet with detailed information is on the council's website.

New street name required

I have been advised by the City Development Department that associated with the new development of flats on the lock up garage site at Churchill Place/East Links Place is a new road which will require a new street name.

The local councillors, community council and others have been asked to give this some consideration and forward any suggestions for names before Monday 16th December.

When a name has been chosen after consultation has been completed, it will be put to committee for approval.

Churchill Place was named after Lord Randolph Churchill, father of Winston, and Salisbury Place was named after the Conservative Prime Minister the Marquess of Salisbury. It might be an idea to name the new street after another eminent nineteenth century politician. It has also been suggested that  the name should incorporate “Sandy Hole” as this is what the area was know as by the local community.

Send me an email and let me know what you think? I will be happy to hear your suggestions.

North Barnhill Walkabout

This morning I attended a walkabout with the North Barnhill Residents Association which took in Abercromby Street, Aberdour Place and Abernethy Road. A number of local residents were present as well as the Ferry ward councillors and representatives from the police, housing department, city development department and environment department.

It was a good opportunity for the residents to engage with the various agencies and highlight issues that need some attention. These included things such as potholes, damaged utility covers, dog fouling, broken street name signs, overgrown shrub beds and litter.

 Estate walkabouts are organised by the housing department and are a good way of helping to maintain the well being of an area.

 Action points were recorded and updates will be provided at the next residents meeting.

White Paper must provide answers Scotland needs

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s launch of the Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said:

“We benefit from being part of one of the world’s strongest economies and Scotland exports more to the rest of the UK than it does to the rest of the world combined.

“Tens of billions of pounds and hundreds of thousands of jobs rely upon our shared market and the stable currency we share with our neighbours in the UK.

"Through the Scottish Parliament, we enjoy control over health, education and justice matters, and more powers are on the way which will give us more responsibility over tax.

“At the same time, being part of the UK means we benefit from a fully funded pensions system while being protected by one of the most professional fighting forces in the world.

“Alex Salmond and the SNP want the people of Scotland to swap all this for an independence prospectus that has so far failed to answer key questions on currency, pensions, welfare and defence and whether taxes would go up or spending cut to pay for separation.

“His deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, has raised the bar by claiming the answers to all these questions and more will be in the White Paper.

“If the SNP fail to do this, the document will be nothing more than an uncosted wish-list.

“Taking Scotland out of the UK and unpicking the bonds that make us part of one of the most successful economic, political and social unions in the world is not like flicking a switch.

“It would be a complicated and uncertain process and Alex Salmond cannot simply gloss over the detail and claim that everything will be ok just because he says so.

 “This is the biggest decision Scotland has faced in 300 years and at the very least, people should be armed with all the facts on what an independent Scotland would look like.

 “It doesn’t matter how many pages the White Paper has, it must contain hard facts so people can make an informed decision on September 18.

 “Anything less than this, and Alex Salmond and the SNP will have failed voters desperately looking for answers on how they and their families will be affected by the break-up of the UK.

 “Only by renewing our place in the UK in 2014 can Scotland thrive and not merely survive.”

Pedestrian guardrail Panmurefield

I have been asked by local residents why there is no barrier protecting the pavement running parallel to the A92 at Panmurefield. It is directly behind the carriageway, which has a 40mph speed limit, and as the pavement is well used by pedestrians and cyclists I agree that it would be appropriate to install a pedestrian guardrail. I raised the matter with the City Development Department and the traffic engineers undertook an inspection of the Panmurefield roundabout section of the A92.

The council’s head of transportation has subsequently reported back to me to advise that with the existing layout arrangement it will not be possible to erect a new pedestrian guardrail set back 0.5m behind the kerbline and maintain a 1.8m wide footway for pedestrians, including wheel chair users and push chairs.  To erect a new section of pedestrian guardrail would also require the construction of a footway widening scheme to maintain a 1.8m wide footway.

I have been assured that the traffic engineers will continue to monitor this location and a pedestrian guardrail and footway widening scheme will be considered within a future minor improvement / road safety programme but will have to compete with other schemes within the available budgets.

Festive Fun in the Ferry

Broughty Ferry’s Christmas Lights Concert 2013 takes place tomorrow, Thursday 21 November, in Brook Street. Admission is free and it starts at 6pm with the Radio Tay Roadshow. There will be carol singing and musical entertainment from the Eastern Primary School Christmas Choir, Downfield Musical Society and a Jessie J tribute performance. Santa will be there with sweets for the children; there will be carnival rides, street entertainers, BBQ and mulled wine stalls and complimentary mince pies.

 

 The Christmas lights will be switched on by Dundee’s Lord Provost at 7pm.

 

 Many thanks to The Broughty Ferry Traders' Association for organising such a wonderful start to the festive period in Broughty Ferry.

Council meetings

I attended two council committees tonight; the Development Management Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee (Police, Fire and Community Safety).

There was only one planning application included in the agenda for the Development Management Committee and that was for permission to change the use of a shop premises on Dundee Road from retail to beauty salon. Residents of West Ferry will remember this shop when it operated as a newsagents.

The Policy and Resources Committee considered reports by Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland.

One of the reports provided information on the proposals for police public counters within Dundee which includes the removal of the provision at Longhaugh and Maryfield police stations and the reduction of opening hours at Lochee and Downfield police stations. I voted for a motion that would have seen Dundee City Council express its opposition to the proposed changes as I believe that a public counter provides an important link with the police in our communities. We haven't had a public counter facility at Broughty Ferry Police Station for some time and it is something that constituents quite often ask me about. The motion was unsuccessful as the SNP majority on the council didn't support it.

The Dundee local area policing report showed that the Ferry ward had by far the lowest number of crimes, however it also showed that the Ferry had the lowest rate of detected crimes in the reporting period. The committee was advised that this was due in part to there being fewer opportunities for detection (detecting a crime can often lead to the detection of further crimes) and that forensics can sometimes take a while to catch up with the reporting period. Acquisitive crime had impacted on the figures and the police said they are working hard to improve the position.

Clash of personalities hampered Police Scotland set-up

A report has revealed how “difficult relationships” between police and the Scottish Government at senior level hampered the establishment of a single force.

Audit Scotland has ordered the Scottish Government, the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland to work on improving relations if it is to make progress on the future. In its ‘Police reform’ audit, the organisation said planning the national police force was “hampered” by “poor information, a lack of clarity about roles, and difficult relationships” between the three bodies.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of a long-term financial strategy, with auditors warning that some savings may need to be increased in future years.

As it stands, Police Scotland intends to save £1.1 billion by 2026, but Audit Scotland said it was far from clear how this would be achieved. The Scottish Government should carry out a “lessons learned” exercise following the move, the report said, it also expressed fears about savings estimates being based on an outline, rather than a full, business case.

The criticism comes weeks after Police Scotland announced it was to close station front counters right across the country, despite some facilities receiving thousands of visits from members of the public every year. Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell MSP said: 

“This is a damning report which reveals how egos at senior level threatened the whole process.

“That is a ludicrous state of affairs which should never have been allowed to happen.

“The Scottish Government needs to ensure people in all these organisations work together amicably, otherwise the benefits of a single force may never be realised.

“It is also astonishing that no long-term financial plan has been detailed.

“Clearly, if you state savings of more than £1 billion will be made in the space of little over a decade, then self- evidently you should be able to show how this is to be achieved.

“Given one of Police Scotland’s first moves was to shut down police stations to the public across the whole country and propose the closure of still more, the publication of this report hardly inspires confidence in the changes envisaged by those in charge.”

Council committee meetings

At tonight’s Environment Committee I welcomed the open space improvements being carried out in Broughty Ferry.

The Policy and Resources Committee received its usual monthly report on the grants made from the Community Regeneration Fund. I reminded members that I had previously been advised that a review would be carried out to see whether it would be possible to allocate some funding to The Ferry and West End wards and that the outcome would be reported to committee in December. I asked if this timescale would be met and the chief executive indicated that it would be. Hopefully it will result in some funding becoming available that local community groups in both of these areas can apply for.

The Policy and Resources Committee also agreed a collections development policy for Leisure and Culture Dundee. I was interested to read the overview of current collections which is very extensive and contains some wonderful items. Dundee has one of the best collections of Scottish paintings in the country. I mention this as it includes the only nineteenth century collection to survive in its entirety-the Orchar Collection- which of course was left for the benefit of the residents of Broughty Ferry by James Guthrie Orchar, a former Provost of Broughty Ferry.

Open space improvements

Tomorrow’s Environment Committee will be asked for approval to spend £100,000 of the Environment Department’s budget on public open space improvements across the city. In Broughty Ferry the following measures are proposed:

The large conifer hedge at the car park in Queen Street is to be reduced in height to approximately 7 ft.

At Castle Green there will be a redesign of the floral scheme to incorporate some sustainable plantings while reducing the bedding costs. The design will be in the shape of a dolphin.

There will also be a redesign of the bedding areas at Windmill Garden while retaining the wonderful colour within the area. The privet hedge will also be reduced in height allowing people to see into the garden from outside.

Some of the tired looking rose beds at Orchar Park are to be removed and replanted with sustainable plants which will reduce the maintenance costs.

Some substantial pruning will be carried out on the public footpath running from Inchkeith Avenue to Balmossie Street.

In north Barnhill some overgrown shrub areas will be removed and replanted or grassed over.

Road closures

I have been advised of another couple of road closures to allow for utility works. The driving of any vehicles in St Vincent Street (from Queen Street to Brook Street), will be prohibited by reason of openreach repair works being carried out. The notice comes into effect on Friday 15 November 2013 for 4 days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Queen Street / Gray Street / Brook Street.

Openreach works being carried out will prohibit the driving of any vehicle in Erskine Lane. This notice also comes into effect on Friday 15 November 2013 for 4 days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. No alternative routes are available.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

Dog lead hooks Campfield Square

It was brought to my attention by a resident that there are no longer dog lead hooks at the shops in Campfield Square. There used to be some outside Iceland and also beside the Co-op and I was asked if these could be replaced. I wrote to the owner of the Square about it and I received an email today informing me that a contractor has been asked to source some new hooks. A simple issue but it will nevertheless be welcomed by those local residents who call in at the shops when out walking their dogs.

The Memory of Broughty Ferry

Tonight I attended an open evening of The Friends of Broughty Ferry Library where prizes and certificates were presented to the children who had entered the competition to come up with a logo for the group.

After the presentation Charlie Webster gave an interesting talk on Broughty Ferry and the fishing community which took on a special significance because Dundee’s boundaries were extended 100 years ago today by an Act of Parliament to include Broughty Ferry.

There is a wonderful report of a farewell dinner on page 93 of "The Dundee Year Book - facts and figures for 1913", published by John Leng & Co, Bank Street . It gives an account of the gathering held in the council chambers Broughty Ferry to mark the passing of the burgh as a separate municipality and mentions the toast proposed by the Provost shortly after midnight, The Memory of Broughty Ferry.

During 100 years of shared history, Broughty Ferry has retained its distinct identity and can righty claim to be the jewel in Dundee’s crown.

Plan to close police stations to public based on flawed figures

Alex Salmond’s case for closing police station front counters across Scotland is based on inaccurate information that is out of date. The First Minister has justified shutting the doors of stations based on the number of people using them but some of the footfall figures used by Alex Salmond date back to 2009 – before more than 60 were either closed completely or had their hours reduced.

It has also emerged that for some rural stations, a proper analysis was not even conducted to determine how well they were used by the public.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said this means the First Minister’s case for closing police stations to the public is based on flawed information several years out of date. She has now called on Alex Salmond to halt controversial plans to shut 65 police station front counters in communities across Scotland.

The First Minister has previously played down the significance of the public being able to walk in to their local police station to report a crime or to speak to an officer, insisting they can contact police using social media or by telephone.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said: “Alex Salmond has based his entire case for closing police stations to the public on the number of people walking through the front door.

“He points to footfall figures taken by the police over a four week period to justify his case for front desk closures.

“Yet, now we find from internal police documents that his figures are inaccurate, with some dating as far back as 2009.

“And the police’s own consultation document admits there was ‘no data available’ for how many people were using some rural stations.

“The SNP insisted the creation of a single police force would protect the frontline, but now we have a First Minister set to close police counters using out of date information that may not have been right in the first place.

“Alex Salmond needs to step in and halt these front desk closures immediately to protect communities across Scotland.”

Sculpture at Broughty Ferry Library back in place

At the end of August I reported that the sculpture at Broughty Ferry Library of the older gentleman sitting on a bench with a book, being approached by a cat, had been removed to repair the bench, which had some rot in it. 

I called in at the library today and I noticed that the sculpture has been returned. It has taken a while but it is good to see it back where it belongs. I’m grateful to the environment department and the community service team for carrying out the repair work.