Broughty Ferry Library extension

It has long been recognised that there is a lack of community space in Broughty Ferry. In response to this the council is proposing an extension to the library that will become a space for community meetings, events and activities.

 

You can view the plans at a display currently located in the library or online at www.leisureandculturedundee.com/bf-expansion.

The indicative cost of the project is £1,828,000. Just under £1 million has already been secured from Dundee City Council and Leisure and Culture Dundee and the remainder is being sought from fundraising, including applications to external grant funders. There is also a public fundraising campaign and people can get involved by donating or raising money via a JustGiving page.

Gala in the Garden

From the council’s Neighbourhood Services Department

 

Gala in the Garden - Saturday 8 July 2017. A fun family event at Barnhill Rock Garden with music, children's entertainment (including face painting, balloon modelling and activities), a fire engine, horticultural and nature stalls and much, much more. Open 12-4pm, free entry. See attached poster for details.

The Secret Garden Trail - Sunday 9 July. Take a walk around Broughty Ferry in Bloom's Secret Garden Trail and enjoy some of the beautiful gardens on show in Broughty Ferry. The event runs from 1-4pm. Maps are available from Broughty Ferry library. 

Broughty Ferry Gala Week 2017

Broughty Ferry Gala week is almost here again. It opens on Sunday 2nd July with the Gala Fete at Castle Green from 1pm to 5pm. There are lots of fun events and activities for all the family right through to 9 July, including the legendary window guessing competition which runs to 15 July. 

 

Look out for the Minions,Transformers and Paw patrol who will be out and about during the week. Pick up a programme from one of the local shops.

 

Many thanks to Broughty Ferry Traders’ Association and the Community Gala Committee for all that they do in making the first couple of weeks in July so memorable.

Broughty Family Healthcare- boundary change - update

I previously posted a comment about the proposal by Broughty Family Healthcare, in Brown Street, to amend its practice boundary. Not having received notification about the outcome of the consultation that was carried out I contacted NHS Tayside for an update and in response I was advised:

 

'NHS Tayside approved the application from Broughty Family Healthcare, Brown Street to amend their practice boundary. Following due consideration the Board's General Practice Advisory Committee unanimously decided that the application be granted in order to maintain the sustainability of the practice and protect future healthcare services in Tayside.'

This means that anyone who moves into Balmossie Brae, Clearwater Park, Ferryfields, and Panmurefield will not now be able to register with the practice and would need to go to a practice out with The Ferry ward.  I understand patients of the practice who currently live in these areas will remain registered until such time as they either de-register or move to a new address out with the practice boundary.

 

It seems to me that anyone who lives in Broughty Ferry should be able, if they wish, to register with one of the medical practices in the town. Perhaps rather than redrawing a boundary to overcome a problem NHS Tayside could come come up with a solution that would allow all of the residents of Broughty Ferry to access primary health care within their own locality rather having to travel further afield.

Availability of public toilets

I was recently asked why, on sunny days such as today, the public toilets in Broughty Ferry don’t stay open until a bit later than usual. I was first asked this a couple of weeks ago when we had a day of glorious weather and there were families still on the beach and at Castle Green at 8pm but the public toilets were closed.

 

Community safety wardens are responsible for locking up the toilets and these are generally closed between 6pm and 6.30pm during the summer. There are signs up informing people of this. However I understand that that wardens are advised to use common sense and leave them open for an extra couple of hours should the weather be good and the area is busy. The Neighbourhood Services Department also liaises with local groups and keep the toilets open when there are planned events in the area.

It’s important that these facilities remain available when people need them and I am pleased that the community wardens have some flexibility in keeping them open until a bit later. It’s also good to know that there are wardens patrolling the area helping to keep everyone safe.

Queen Street Car Park

I have been asked by a number of people why it’s taking so long  to put a proper surface on the trenches that were dug in Queen Street Car Park some time ago. I had assumed they were to do with the proposal to create an electric vehicle charging hub at the car park and would be attended to when the work associated with relocating the existing chargers to their new location is carried out. However I am advised that they were dug as part of a ground survey undertaken at the car park and are to be reinstated to the original standard. I have requested that this now be be dealt with as soon as possible.

Bus service consultation

I attended a lively meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council on Tuesday, held in the library. There were two presentations, one from Xplore Dundee, about its bus service review, and one from the council’s Neighbourhood Services Department, about the revised recycling scheme.

 

It’s good to see Xplore Dundee consulting on its proposals before settling on a final option for implementation later this summer. To try and improve the reliability of its Broughty Ferry service, the number 5, the intention is to change the frequency of buses from every 7 minutes to every 10 minutes, down from 8 buses an hour to 6 buses an hour.

There is also a proposal to put on a new service - number 6, which will run every 15 minutes. This will actually result in an increase of 2 buses an hour serving the Forthill and Barnhill area. Apparently a number of route options have been considered for this service and the current suggestion takes in Strathern Road. For many years I have been calling for an improved bus service along Dundee Road and I was pleased to learn that its possible inclusion in the number 6 route has been looked at.

Ultimately the final route will be determined by what proves to be commercially viable, however I asked if it would be possible for Dundee Road to be used, even for a trial period, to show that there is demand for it.  I intend to respond directly to Xplore Dundee on its consultation.

Panmurefield Baptist Centre

I was delighted to attend yesterday’s  official opening of the extension at Panmurefield Baptist Centre in  Lawers Drive. It was great to see so many young people and families there.

 

The extension was fully funded from Broughty Ferry Baptist Church’s own resources and fund raising efforts. The need for additional space was driven by public demand for places at indoor activities. The extended centre is also going to be the base for the provision of youth activities and for projects such as Life to the Full, which includes much needed help and support for young people experiencing mental health problems.

There is limited public meeting places available for the housing developments in the north of Broughty Ferry so it’s really good to see the Baptist Centre take forward this initiative.  

Take Pride in Your City events- June