It’s Your Neighbourhood certificates

Congratulations to Friends of Barnhill Rock Garden and Queen Street Community Garden for their recognition in the recent Keep Scotland Beautiful- It’s Your Neighbourhood campaign. The campaign is based on the three themes of community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.  Keep Scotland Beautiful rewards participating groups through a series of certificates to acknowledge the good work being done on behalf of their communities. There are 5 levels available: 1- Establishing; 2- Improving; 3- Developing; 4- Thriving and 5- Outstanding.

 

Friends of the Barnhill Rock Garden were awarded an Outstanding Certificate. Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “The group works closely with the Environment Department of Dundee City Council to support and promote the development of the Rock Garden. The group holds social events, including talks and tours and, with weekly work sessions, keeps the garden at a very high standard.”

 

Queen Street Community Garden was awarded a Thriving Certificate. Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “A small area between the railway line and a car park in Broughty Ferry has been transformed by the students at Grove Academy, assisted by some adult volunteers, into a blaze of colour with wildflower meadows and edibles.”

 

Friends of the Barnhill Rock Garden were also awarded a Certificate of Distinction to further recognise their achievements.

 

Pavement works Reres Road

I was pleased to see that work has started on the upgrade of the unadopted pavement on the south side of Reres Road. The section between Monifieth Road and Reres Hill is being attended to.  We’re getting though the remaining unadopted pavements in The Ferry ward at a good  rate; I’m hopeful that at least another 4 will be upgraded in the next financial year with the remaining dozen or so seeing some work over the following three years.

Council meetings

A few items at yesterday's council committee meetings that relate to Broughty Ferry.

 

The City Development Committee considered the request to review parking in central Broughty Ferry to remove unnecessary lining which could be utilised by residents, shoppers and businesses who struggle to find suitable parking. I reported on this in an earlier blog. The outcome of the traffic survey carried out over the summer has resulted in the preparation of a traffic regulation variation order which will create 38 new  unrestricted parking spaces and 14 new limited waiting parking spaces.

 

The committee also agreed to a tender for works that will see the formation of a new external boiler house at Craigiebarns Primary School and the installation of a new boiler prior to the renewal of the heating system within the school.

 

The Policy and Resources Committee considered the usual monthly report on proposals for the community regeneration fund allocations. I took the opportunity to ask the administration to give an undertaking, given the savings that have to be made from the council budget, that the same level of allocation of funding to all eight multi member wards would continue in 2016/17. I campaigned for a long time for Broughty Ferry to get something from this fund and the allocation it currently gets has supported a number of worthwhile projects, so it would be disappointing if it were to be stopped. Thankfully the finance convenor said yes.

 

The Environment Committee considered proposals to undertake public open space improvements at a number of locations, these included regeneration of the planted area adjacent to the Arbroath Road entrance of Dawson Park; general improvement works at Castle Green, including the replacement of existing chespale fencing with metal bow top fencing; removal of the hedge along the northern side of Orchar Park.

 

The Housing Committee agreed to consult with council tenants for a two month period on the proposed options for the rent increase from 2016/17, these are: 1%, which will see the current standards maintained; 1.5 %, which will maintain the current standards and provide for additional environmental improvements of £225,000; and 2%, which will also allow for additional capital expenditure of £2.5M to advance the energy efficiency programme. Other charges are being maintained at their current level including the additional charge on top of the rent for sheltered housing of £26.94 per week.

Reres Hill tidy up

Dundee Citizen of the Year 2016

Temporary traffic order

I have been advised that Dundee City Council propose to make a Temporary Traffic Order for the purpose of facilitating carriageway resurfacing works in King Street.  The Order is expected to be in force for 2 weeks from 26 October 2015.
 

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in King Street from Westfield Road to Lawrence Street (phase 1) and from Lawrence Street to Fort Street (phase 2).
 

Only one phase will be closed at any time.  No work will be carried out at the weekend and the road will be open.
 

An alternative route will be available via Westfield Road, Brook Street and Brown Street (phase 1) and via Church Street, Brook Street and Fort Street (phase 2).

Community council nominations

Nominations are currently being sought for residents to serve as members of Broughty Ferry Community Council. All the relevant paperwork including hard copies of the nomination forms is available in Broughty Ferry Library on the community council noticeboard. Nominations must be sent to the returning officer by 23rd October.

 

In Dundee there are community councils active in Broughty Ferry, Fintry and the West End and as well as seeking nominations for people to sit on these community councils Dundee City Council is also keen to receive petitions from local communities to establish new community councils. There is currently provision for 19 community councils in Dundee.

 

A community council is a voluntary organisation run by local residents. Its role is to express the views of the community to public bodies on issues of local concern and to promote the interests of its area. Broughty Ferry Community Council meets at 7.00pm on the first Tuesday of every month (except August) in Broughty Ferry Library.

 

More information on community councils and the nomination process can be found on line at http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/ccnominations.

Bus shelter Balgillo Road

I was pleased to see that a bus shelter has at last been installed on Balgillo Road near to its junction with Forthill Road. It’s something I enquired about quite a while ago. It has been recycled from another location. There is currently no power to the shelter but I am advised that this will follow in the next weeks as part of an electrical installation programme at various bus shelters. I know this is fairly popular stop for passengers and now they will be able to wait for a bus with some protection from the elements.

Temporary traffic order

I have been advised that Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating gas main renewal works.  The Order is expected to be in force for 8 weeks from 19 October 2015. 

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Seafield Road from Davidson Street to Fintry Place (Phase 1) and Fintry Place to Balgillo Road (Phase 2). Only one phase will be closed at any time.

An alternative route will be available via Davidson Street, Cedar Road, Forthill Road and Balgillo Road for northbound traffic, and via Balgillo Road, Forthill Road, Fort Street, Queen Street, Church Street and Seafield Road for southbound traffic.