Proposed 20mph limit / zone consultation

Last week’s City Development Committee approved a city wide consultation exercise on potential areas where 20mph speed limits could be implemented. These are primarily in residential streets. It is intended to keep the current speed limits on the principal road network.

 

Initial consultation has already been held with the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland and the main bus operators in the city. Community councils, tenants and residents associations, local community planning partnerships and other community organisations will also be consulted.

 

It is thought that the introduction of 20mph speed limits in residential areas could improve road safety and encourage more sustainable modes of transport such as walking and cycling.

 

You can view where the council feels 20mph limits may be appropriate on the council’s website at http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/20mphconsultation and complete an online survey.

 

The consultation period runs until 30 June 2016 so that as many people and organisations as possible can have a say.

Christmas events in Broughty Ferry

The Christmas countdown begins this Thursday, 26th November, with the Broughty Ferry Christmas Lights Night. The entertainment starts at 6pm with the big switch on at 7pm. It is always a great occasion so try and get along to it if you can.

Hustings meeting

The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is in the process of ‘ranking’ its candidates for the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. The higher up the list a candidate is ranked, the better their chance of being elected next year.

 

In the past, it’s only been the members of political parties who have had a say in candidate rankings. But this time, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is doing things differently. Everyone who supports the party has been sent a ballot paper to help decide their Scottish Conservative representatives in Holyrood.

 

The north east region has an excellent slate of candidates and on Sunday I attended a hustings meeting at Castle Green Leisure Centre in Broughty Ferry to listen to them debate.

Grove Academy’s Christmas Fayre

Bruce Mackie memorial bench

 At lunchtime today in City Square I attended the dedication of a memorial bench to my former colleague and long serving councillor for Broughty Ferry, Bruce Mackie OBE, DL.

 

The bench was unveiled by Roberta Mackie and Dundee’s Depute Lord Provost, Christina Roberts. The Depute Lord Provost said a few words, recalling Bruce with great fondness, as did Charlie Webster DL, who is also a former councillor for Broughty Ferry.

 

Bruce represented Broughty Ferry with distinction on Dundee Corporation, Tayside Regional Council and Dundee City Council for over 40 years. I had the privilege to serve with Bruce as a fellow Broughty Ferry councillor for 12 years before he retired. It is fitting that Bruce’s memorial bench is sited outside the City Chambers, a place where Bruce made a significant contribution to Dundee’s civic life.

Dawson Park nominated for award

Dawson Park has been nominated as one of the best parks in UK in the Fields in Trust Awards.

If you wish to register your vote you can do so at :

 http://www.fieldsintrust.org/bestpark/nominations

The vote closes at 5pm on Wednesday 25th November and the three parks with the most votes will be shortlisted with the winning park announced at the Fields in Trust Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 2nd December.

Claypotts Pond

A resident contacted me about the condition of the retaining wall in Claypotts Pond adjacent to Balgillo Road.  

 

I asked the city engineer’s office if it could be checked  to confirm that it is in a safe condition and I have since been advised that the wall is plumb and in a reasonable state of repair, although the coping is spalled and cracked along its length. It seems this has been caused by expansion from the corrosion of the metal railings which are embedded into the coping, and the type of coping used is also vulnerable to freeze-thaw action. Currently the defects are primarily considered to be of aesthetic concern.

 

I‘m told that remedial works would ideally comprise of renewing paintwork to the railings and reforming the half round coping stone in a more durable material.  I have asked the Environment Department to consider carrying out these actions.

Temporary traffic orders

Christmas is coming. I have received details of a couple of temporary traffic orders for central Broughty Ferry to facilitate the Christmas lights switch on.

 

The first notice is in respect of Brook Street, between Fort Street and Gray Street, where all traffic will be prohibited on Tuesday 17 November between the hours of 6.00pm and 11.00pm for the erection of the lights. A diversion route will be available via Fort Street, Queen Street and Gray Street. Access will be maintained where possible.

 

The second notice is for the switch on and will result in all traffic being prohibited on Brook Street, between Fort Street and St Vincent Street and Gray Street, between Queen Street and King Street, on Thursday 26 November between 2pm and 10pm. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Fort Street/ Queen Street/St Vincent Street. Access will be maintained where possible.

Sea wall

I was recently asked about the condition of the sea wall at Douglas Terrace, particularly the section near to Church Street. I contacted the city engineer about it and was advised that the area has been inspected and is safe at this time and the situation will continue to be monitored.

 

The whole of Dundee's coastline is surveyed every year to identify defects and subsequent repairs required. In recent years a number of repairs have been carried out to the sea wall between Douglas Terrace and Broughty Castle.

 

Dundee City Council is preparing to improve the coastal defences along the whole of the Broughty Ferry frontage as part of its requirement, like other Scottish local authorities, to reduce flood risk from all sources. It is expected that these works will be progressed over the next few years subject to availability of Scottish Government grant funding and satisfactory completion of statutory procedures.

Whinny Brae carriageway works

Whinny Brae had been included in the 2014/15 planned programme of works for a full carriageway resurfacing but was put on hold pending completion of the conversion of the former Eastern Primary School to housing.

 

The flats are due to be completed by March of next year so I asked the Roads Maintenance Partnership if Whinny Brae would recover its place in a programme of works for 2016/17.

 

In response the roads maintenance partnership manager confirmed that the intention had been for Whinny Brae to be included back in the programme once the residential development had been completed and therefore based on the current information that this will be in March, resurfacing works will be incorporated into the 2016/17 programme.

RADAR locking system to be fitted

I was asked by a constituent if it would be possible for the disabled toilet at the facility on The Esplanade, near to Barnhill Rock Garden, to be fitted with a Disability Rights UK RADAR key so that the toilet can still be accessed after the block has been locked up for the day. The national key scheme was introduced in 1981 and the key now opens more than 9,000 accessible toilets in the UK. I raised the matter with the head of the council’s property section and it was agreed that a RADAR locking system should be fitted. I am advised it will be operational within a couple of weeks.

Community council nominations- update

Earlier in the week I attended the November meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council. I was delighted to learn that 16 formal nominations had been received from residents who wish to serve as community councillors, with the prospect of others being co-opted in the future. Broughty Ferry Community Council can have up to 18 community councillors so to just about have a full compliment is very good news. The appointment of office bearers will be decided at the December meeting.

 

I understand the community councils in West End and Fintry also received sufficient nominations to continue.  There are around 1200 community councils in Scotland, and in Dundee there is provision for another 16 but it seems no petitions were received to establish these.

 

Community councils are very worthwhile organisations and over the years Broughty Ferry Community Council has been involved in lots of initiatives that have helped enhance the local area. I look forward to working with the new community councillors in the years ahead.