Use of Queen Street car park for railway works

A large section of the car park in Queen Street will be closed for about three months while it is used as a construction compound and material storage for contractors carrying out works at the railway station. The east coast mainline is being upgraded to enable the introduction of the new intercity express fleet. The stepping distance of the platform at the station will be addressed as well, providing easier passenger access to trains.

 

I contacted the council’s City Development Department to find out if there was any other way of doing the works without having to use the car park and I was advised that a number of different ways were explored and the closure of part of the car park was considered to be the least inconvenient. Alternatives could have included the total closure of Gray Street for three months. The works are due to start mid-August.

I have asked that steps be taken to regularly review the situation to see if spaces for public use can be returned as soon as practicably possible and to look at other measures that can be taken during this time to support public parking in Broughty Ferry.

Green Circular Cycleway Route

The council hopes to be able to eventually provide a tarmacadam surface along the length of the Green Circular cycleway route. The proposals being worked on at the moment include improving a section of about 300m from the Angus boundary at the Seven Arches to Panmurefield Road. External funding has been sourced along with some council funding and it is anticipated these surface improvement works will be carried out later this  year.

 

There are no definite plans for extending the Green Circular in the near future, although there is an aspiration to develop a path from West Pitkerro Industrial Estate to Panmurefield, close to the Dighty. Council officers are currently looking at it but a project of this size will be dependent on future external and council funding, along with land owners consent.

Sea wall

Residents have contacted me about the condition of the sea wall at Douglas Terrace, parts of which are in disrepair, with missing stones. One section in particular was in a very poor condition. I raised the matter with the city engineer who advised me that repairs were programmed in as part of a larger set of works, but because the condition had worsened emergency works were required. These were carried out this morning.

 

People will notice that the repair was carried out with concrete, but in due course the new flood protection works will be built in front of the sea wall here and it will be hidden.

Like our new Facebook page

As well as posting on this blog items I think might be of interest to local residents, I have also set up a Facebook page with my Ferry ward Conservative colleague, Councillor Philip Scott. It will contain local news, information, events, updates and will feature some of  the issues we have raised. You can visit our Facebook page at:

 

    www.facebook.com/ferrywardconservatives

Sight lines at Ballinard Road

I often get asked by residents if anything can be done to improve the sight lines at the Ballinard Road/Claypotts Road/Victoria Road junction. Concerns I raised in the past about this resulted in realigned give way markings a few years ago to improve visibility.

 

Recently it was suggested to me that a mirror would be useful, for those emerging from Ballinard Road, to check for vehicles coming down Claypotts Road. I asked the council’s transportation section whether this was viable and for clarification on the use of mirrors on the public highway and received the following information:

 

‘In the last few years there has been no injury accidents at this location. Road mirrors are not really recommended as they can be misleading to drivers at night and affected by sunlight during the day, damaged by vandals and are confusing for non-local drivers.  They can also mislead drivers in judging distance and speed while maintenance is also an issue as the need regular cleaning.  I would not recommend the use of a mirror at this location as it would likely only be a distraction for motorists.’

Beach clean

From Dundee City Council Neighbourhood Services

 

Saturday 22 July 2017: Broughty Ferry Beach

2.00pm to 4.00pm

ParkLives will be holding a beach clean on Broughty Ferry beach to help keep our coast litter free. This is a family event so please bring the whole family along to help tidy up. The litter pick will be from 2-3pm then there will be family fun and games afterwards until 4pm. Meet at the Windmill Car Park ready for a 2pm start. For more information about this event please contact lisa.north@leisureandculturedundee.com.

 

Litter picking equipment will be provided, but please remember to wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Balgillo Road

I have been contacted by residents in Balgillo Road about possible traffic calming measures on the section of road between between Gillies Terrace and the sharp bend that leads onto Arbroath Road and Claypotts junction. In recent weeks there has been two accidents, the most recent one resulting in damage to the wall and gate of a nearby house. These are not isolated events as I aware there has been damage to adjacent properties in the past due to drivers losing control of their vehicles around the sharp bend.

 

It has been suggested to me that a small refuge island with bollards and red and white ladder markings similar to those recently installed along Happyhillock Road would be beneficial to road safety.   This would highlight the tight bend, slow traffic down and allow the local residents to feel safer.

 

 I have asked the council’s head of transportation to look at what might be possible.

Look out for Broughty Bag 2

 

 

Broughty Ferry Traders' Association has launched edition 2 of the Broughty Bag. This stylish jute shopper  has been designed locally and is the second in a series of seasonal Broughty bags. The first design proved extremely popular and has now sold out. You will be able to purchase one from many of the local retailers.