Balmossie graffiti

For some time I have been trying to get graffiti cleared from the pumping station at Balmossie. I have contacted Scottish Water about it directly as has the environment department. The latest response to the environment department from Scottish Water said that it had been in touch with its partner organisation, Veolia, who are responsible for the site.  Apparently the cleaning hasn’t been carried out yet due to a delay in the delivery of graffiti removal spray. Balmossie is at the top of its list of sites to be addressed and the removal spray will be applied shortly. If it is ineffective for any reason other measures will be considered.  Hopefully no matter what happens the end result will be a clean building.

West Queen Street

I was asked if I knew when the carriageway in West Queen Street might get some attention. In recent years, sections either side on Dundee Road and Queen Street have been resurfaced. I raised the matter with the City Engineer and received the following response:

‘A detailed condition survey of the Council's carriageways is currently underway and the Roads Maintenance Partnership will be in a position to report back to me towards the end of this calendar year in order to review and update the rolling 3 year programme for issue in Spring 2015. At that time I will be able to advise on where this section of road sits in priority for repair and when resurfacing is likely to be carried out.’

Barnhill Post Office

I have received notification from the Post office’s Regional Network Manager about a proposal to move Barnhill Post Office from its current location at Unit 3 Campfield Square to MS News, Unit 8 Campfield Square. Consultation is being carried out, which will last for 6 weeks, and the public is being asked for views on the proposed new location. I am told that Post Office services will be offered from two tills on the retail counter in a modern branch, there will be longer opening hours and that the majority of Post Office products and services will still be available.

The consultation period runs until 30 October and it is anticipated that if the move goes ahead it will take place in January/February 2015. You can read about the details of the proposal and make comment on it by going to the Post Office website page postofficeviews.co.uk. The branch code for Barnhill is 10282099.

Garden competition

Broughty Ferry in Bloom achieved a Silver Gilt medal in this year’s Beautiful Scotland competition. Broughty Ferry was judged in the Coastal Resort category. A Silver Gilt is recognition of a very high standard. Well done to Brought Ferry in Bloom and its volunteers and organisations that contribute to this on-going success and for making Broughty Ferry such a colourful place.

 

I previously highlighted the great work done by the sheltered tenants in Forthill in brightening up the garden at the sheltered complex. I was delighted that they won the Community Living Spaces category in Broughty Ferry in Bloom’s own local garden competition. They also won the Community Living Spaces category in the Bonnie Dundee competition.

Most important vote we will cast in our lifetime

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has issued a rallying cry ahead of tomorrow’s referendum vote on separation. She said: “The vote we cast tomorrow will be the most important vote any of us will cast in our lifetime. We are not being asked to pick a government for five years, but to choose whether or not to break our country apart forever.

“There will be no going back after a Yes vote. But the risks of separation are risks that we don't have to take as a country. Change is coming - sweeping new powers to put the Scottish Parliament in charge of tax and welfare. But we will ensure that change doesn't come at the cost of our security and prosperity.

“A No vote means we keep the parts of the UK that we hold dear - our pound, our passport, our pension and our armed forces. All of the UK's success in the world is our success too, because - as Scots - we helped build the UK. It is ours.

“So I want people to walk proudly into the voting booths tomorrow, confidently casting their vote to keep our country together.”

Dundee Road pedestrian refuge update

I previously asked the council’s City Development Department, on behalf of the residents of Ravenscraig Gardens, if a pedestrian refuge could be provided to assist them in crossing Dundee Road to access the bus stop. Dundee Road is fairly wide at this location and the volume of traffic makes it difficult to cross. In response the head of transportation has advised me:
 

‘Consideration can be given for a central refuge island however there is already an island to the west near Ralston Road and an island to the east near Ellieslea Road.  Both these islands are relatively close, in terms of walking routes travelling east or west from / to Ravenscraig Gardens and serve large area wishing to cross the Dundee Road…… I will arrange to review this location further but at this stage no firm plans are in place to provide additional central refuge islands in this area of Dundee Road.’
 

I’m told that by keeping it under review sometimes an unknown factor or consideration is raised which might highlight the need for a refuge island.

Leading businesses warn of economic risks of separation

Scottish Conservatives press release

 

Two of the UK’s largest companies have expressed clear warnings over the economic risks of separation.

Standard Life, the third largest private sector employer in Edinburgh, has announced contingency plans to move key parts of the business down to England if Scotland votes to leave the United Kingdom. And in a further blow to the SNP’s economic credibility, BP Chief Executive Bod Dudley has said he backs Sir Ian Wood’s assessment that Alex Salmond has grossly overestimated the value of remaining North Sea Oil.

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown MSP said: “On the same day we have formal statements highlighting the risks of separation from vital employers in two of our most important industries.

“It is clear from their statements that future jobs and investment in both financial services and oil and gas are far safer with Scotland remaining in the UK. The uncertainties of separation could cause real and lasting damage to our economy. Standard Life is the third largest private sector employer in Edinburgh and BP has been operating in the North Sea for 50 years. Their concerns need to be treated extremely seriously.”

Open space improvements

The council’s environment committee will be asked tomorrow to agree proposals for open space improvements at a number of locations across the city at a cost of £100,000. Included in the measures are high amenity planting and reshaping works at Windmill Gardens (which is one of Broughty Ferry’s secret gems). Dawson Park will see an old heather planted area returned to grass, the path areas at the sunken garden upgraded and an upgrade of signage at two of the access areas to the park.

Former Scottish Secretaries say wealth and strength of Union offers best future for Scotland

Three former Scottish Secretaries of State for Scotland have come together to issue a powerful case for keeping the Union, arguing the economic and financial case against breaking up the UK is unarguable.

Lord Lang of Monkton, Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said in a joint statement that an independent Scotland would not enjoy the same wealth and strength the country currently enjoys as part of the United Kingdom.

They added that being part of a joint Union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland offers the strongest springboard to the wider world for young people in Scotland.

Lord Lang said: “We think it right to focus on the broad issues and the long term. The separatist campaign focuses too much on airy electioneering promises, but the Referendum is about a once-and for-all decision on the future of Scotland."

Lord Forsyth said: “At a time of great political and financial uncertainty we need the strength of a United Kingdom to protect and secure our children's future. Now is not the moment for a reckless gamble and a leap into the unknown.”

Joint statement:

 

“We, who have served in government as Secretaries of State for Scotland, believe strongly that Scotland, the land we love, should remain in the United Kingdom. We believe that the value and the emotional appeal of the present Union is far more compelling than the mirage of Independence.  The one has stood the test of three centuries.  The other is built on a myth that sees Scotland as a deprived country, exploited by an uncaring neighbour.

From our knowledge gained in government, we maintain that the economic and financial case against breaking up the United Kingdom is so clear as to be unarguable; that any hope that with Independence Scotland could achieve material or social objectives unavailable within the Union is vain; and that the chance of Scotland maintaining in isolation the wealth and strength she enjoys as part of Britain is non-existent.

We hold that the constitutional, financial and legal difficulties of unscrambling so integrated and successful a Union as ours would be as complicated, damaging and heart-rending as breaking up any marriage can be.  Divorce is always painful – the more so when the two parties must continue to live next door to one another.  We warn that separation of Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland after so long together would lead to pain and blame:  that decades of aggravation would follow, to the detriment of all.

We must remind ourselves that we Scots have achieved much in the world because of Britain.  No less has Britain prospered because of Scotland.  We have helped each other to make our United Kingdom one of the richest, most successful and most influential powers on Earth.  None can doubt the Scottish contribution to this achievement, on a scale that being part of Britain opened up for us.  Far from being fettered by the Union, Scotland has been liberated by it.

Our contribution to Britain’s industry, engineering, science, medicine, philosophy, literature, the arts and sport has been incalculable.  We have run Scotland, run Britain, run the Empire and Commonwealth over the centuries.  We have fought tyranny alongside the rest of the British peoples.  Our shared commitment to freedom and the rule of law has been a beacon of light for the world.

Nor has Scotland’s own identity suffered in this partnership.  On the contrary, the Scottish character has worldwide recognition.  Whether as missionaries or merchants, explorers or administrators, we Scots have won respect and friendship wherever we have ventured.   Scottish enterprise and drive have enabled us to prosper, taking advantage of the global reach of the United Kingdom.

We contend that nationalism and patriotism are different forces.  Patriotism is positive.  It is open, forward-looking. It allows pride in Scotland and in the United Kingdom.  Nationalism is negative.  It has to be against something.  It is narrow, resentful.  While nationalism seeks to blame others for the grievances of an imagined past, patriotism seeks to share with others the challenges of a promising future.

We believe that for the young Scots of today the United Kingdom still offers, as it has always done, real opportunities that we should not reject.  England is still by far our largest market; and being part of Britain still offers a strong springboard to the wider world.  That was why, over three hundred years ago, our forebears decided to join the Union with England. 

Their decision has been triumphantly vindicated; and the same arguments hold good today.  The Union led to a marriage of nations so successful that it has shaped the modern world. It can continue to do so. Scotland has evolved within the United Kingdom.  Scots have always had our own Church, our own law, our own local government system and much of our own parliamentary legislation – first at Westminster, now in Edinburgh.  The Scottish Parliament now has more powers than the provinces of Canada or the States of Australia.   We can still have all that, as well as the comfort of a sense of family, with the added security of a home within the United Kingdom.

With the fracture of our Union, something in all of us would die. Great Britain’s history is Scotland’s history.  Without Scotland there would be no Great Britain.Why now throw all that away?  Why now put at risk our security, our prosperity, our jobs, the opportunities for our young people and the pensions of our old?  Why dismantle our great success story and embark on a sea of uncertainty?  It does not make sense.  To do so would diminish us all and bring comfort only to those who wish us ill.

We believe passionately that it need not happen and it should not happen.  We love our country, Scotland, too much to see her torn out of Britain to struggle, diminished, weakened and alone in an indifferent world.  The decision to be taken on 18th September will affect the lives of generations unborn.  

With heart and mind we urge our fellow-Scots to stand firm for the United Kingdom, whose past has been magnificent and where our future would be secure.

IAN LANG, MALCOLM RIFKIND, MICHAEL FORSYTH

MICHAEL FORSYTH was Secretary of State for Scotland from 1995 to 1997

IAN LANG was Secretary of State for Scotland from 1990 to 1995.

MALCOLM RIFKIND was Secretary of State for Scotland from 1986 to 1990.

Temporary traffic orders

I have recently been notified of two temporary traffic orders:

 

King Street

 

This notice comes into effect on Friday 5 September 2014 for one day. The driving of any vehicle in King Street  between Ambrose Street and Bath Street is to be prohibited to allow Scottish Water to carry out ironwork repairs. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

 

Alternative routes for vehicles will be available via:

 

Eastbound - Fort Street / Brook Street / Gray Street

Westbound – Gray Street / Queen Street / Claypotts Road / Brook Street / Fort Street

 

Fort Street and Gray Street

 

This notice comes into effect on Tuesday 16 September 2014 for one day. The driving of any vehicle in Fort Street between King Street and Fisher Street and Gray Street between King Street and Beach Crescent is to be prohibited to allow Scottish Water to carry ironwork repairs. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

 

Alternative routes for vehicles will be available via:

 

Fort Street closure - Fisher St / Church St / King St

Gray Street closure – Beach Crescent / St Vincent St / King St