Ferry Time pop-up shop

 

 

 

 

Come and find out about how to become a volunteer in Broughty Ferry with the Ferry Time Timebank. Ferry Time staff and volunteers will have a pop-up shop at 39 Gray Street Broughty Ferry on Tuesday 2nd Thursday 4th and Saturday 6th of June 2015 between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

This week’s activities

This week has been very busy, lots of meetings, visits to constituents, correspondence dealt with, surgeries and site inspections. I thought it worthwhile highlighting just four of the things I have been up to.

 

Road safety

 

On Monday afternoon I attended the switching on of a new electronic sign on Balgillo Road, eastbound near Wyvis Road junction. In response to community requests three vehicle activated signs have been provided in  Broughty Ferry to remind drivers that the speed limit is 30mph.

 

To support the Safer Routes to Schools initiative for pupils and parents of Barnhill Primary another sign has been provided westbound on North Balmossie Street near Inchkeith Avenue junction. The third has been sited eastbound on Dundee Road near to the Ralston Road junction.

 

Traffic chiefs will monitor the effectiveness of the signs and consider relocating or adding new signs as appropriate.

 

Official opening

 

On Tuesday lunchtime I was delighted to attend the official opening of Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex in Forthill Drive following an extensive refurbishment of the facility.

 

The director of housing, Elaine Zwirlein, and the convenor of housing, John Alexander, were in attendance and both made a short speech. Elaine and Forthill resident Alistair Urquhart, author of The Forgotten Highlander, an account of the three and a half years he spent as a Japanese prisoner of war, unveiled a commemorative plaque.

 

The event was well supported as there was standing room only. I enjoyed a cup of tea and chat with many of the tenants.

 

Broughty Ferry Development Trust

 

On Tuesday evening I attended a meeting of the management committee of Broughty Ferry Development Trust. We finalised arrangements for the AGM, which is to take place on Saturday 27 June at 10.30 am in Castle Green Leisure Centre. The guest speaker will be Rory Dutton from Development Trusts Association Scotland who will talk about the importance of development trusts and the contribution they can make to improve the quality of life in their community.

 

Broughty Ferry Development Trust has been responsible for such things as restoring the historic lampposts on Beach Crescent and improving / providing access to the Fishermans’ Graveyard. It is hoped that going forward the Trust will be able to champion more projects that protect Broughty Ferry’s heritage and enhance its environment. One of the things we are looking at is improvement works at Reres Park. If you can make it along to the AGM we will be very pleased to see you.

 

Community Planning Partnership

 

On Thursday it was The Ferry Local Community Planning Partnership meeting at Broughty Ferry Library. Dougie McKay the manager of the Road Maintenance Partnership was present and explained how council owned road and footway assets are managed and he provided guidance on communications and enquiries.

 

The community planning partnership is made up of representatives from many agencies and organisations and they all provided an update at the meeting, including Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

 

The meetings are open to the public and are held quarterly, the next one is due to take place on Thursday 27 August.

Missing street nameplate

Can you guess where this is? Okay I’ll tell you, It’s Westerton Avenue. The City Council is responsible for maintaining and replacing damaged and missing street nameplates when this becomes necessary either due to accidental damage, vandalism or normal wear and tear. I have asked for a replacement sign to be provided at this location. It can take a few weeks for a new street nameplate to appear because the council orders them in batches to ensure value for money, but at least this one is in the system now.

  
 If you see any more missing street signs let me know or you can report them directly to the council either online or by calling call 0800 232323 (freephone) or 01382 433063.

Pavement success

I’m pleased to report that a pavement I have raised with the council a few times as needing attention is to be resurfaced this financial year. The section of pavement on the north side of Dalhousie Road from Guthrie Terrace to Bridge Street has been scoured away by constant flooding. A length of linear drainage channel was installed between two existing gullies to deal with the flooding and now the pavement is to get much needed attention. 

The opposite side of Dalhousie Road from Abercromby Street to Guthrie Terrace is also to be resurfaced, which is a stretch of pavement that has been mentioned to me by a number of residents. It is quite a busy bit of pavement as it is used by people who are visiting the Tesco Express store. A section of Rossie Avenue from Redcastle Crescent is also to be resurfaced.

Sinkhole

I recently requested an update from the council on the action that is being taken to deal with the ‘sinkhole’ that appeared in the parking area at Beach Crescent. Apparently there is a void in the sea wall and fine material is being drawn out of the void by the tide which has resulted in the collapse of the carriageway adjacent to it.

It is intended to fill the sink hole with concrete and reinstate the carriageway thereafter. Firstly, trial holes are to be dug on Monday 18th May to determine the foundation for the concrete with the works to follow thereafter. There are another two voids in the sea wall but these are not impacting on the carriageway. A proprietary expanding foam concrete is to be injected into these voids.

Road repairs

Regular readers of my blog will be aware that I take a great deal of interest in the condition of our roads and pavements. I frequently walk around Broughty Ferry with a notebook in hand to record the location of the potholes I come across. When I report these to the council they are dealt with effectively and generally any defects are attended to well within the target repair time.

  

When a street appears to me to be in need of a more permanent repair I ask when it is likely to be included in a programme of works. In my view this is a more cost effective solution that constant pothole filling and patching.  Many of the streets I have highlighted as requiring attention feature in the Road Maintenance Partnership’s programme for 2015/16. King Street (from Westfield Road to Fort Street) St. Vincent Street (King Street to Beach Crescent) and Brown Street (from Brook Street to King Street) are to be resurfaced. West Queen Street has recently been completed.

 

Preventative surface treatments are to be carried out in Nursery Road and Abertay Street. The carriageways in Portree Avenue, Ardmore Avenue, Invermark Terrace, Boyd Place, Hutton Place, Ramsay Street, Strome Terrace, Golspie Terrace, Claypotts Castle Gardens, Westerton Avenue, Langholm Gardens and the streets in the Dawson housing area are to receive a thin overlay, providing a new top surface.

I’m pleased to see that so many are to be getting something done to them but I will of course continue to keep a lookout out for any annoying potholes.

Coastal protection works

The third phase of coastal protection works is underway at Broughty Ferry Esplanade, which will provide coastal protection and flood protection following the erosion of significant quantities of dune and beach material.  It is completing the rock armour revetment works between those previously constructed opposite the Glass Pavilion and at Bridge Street. I am advised by the city engineer that the rock armouring works will be the same profile and size of stone as the existing. 

Similar works will also be done at the Bridge Street end for about 50 metres east of the existing rock armour revetment where erosion has taken place. A set of concrete steps will be built at the east end of the existing Glass Pavilion rock armour revetment where the new works will tie in. The existing vehicular access track to the beach at the playing fields will also be the location for a new vehicular access ramp.  The cost of the work is £1m and is expected to be completed by September.

Sandy Park

Issues in respect of Sandy Park are often raised with me. Sandy Park is the play area/open space next to the Balgillo Park housing area. It was recently brought to my attention that there is an increase in dog fouling and that a damaged dog bin has never been replaced. I contacted the Environment Department about it; although the council isn’t responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the park it is responsible for dog fouling collection and disposal. In response I have been advised that dog fouling notices were placed at the entrances to the park earlier this week, and that an animal control officer has been monitoring and will continue to do so.  Arrangements are being made to have the missing dog bin replaced