Car Parking Improvements in Gillies Park Underway

On Tuesday afternoon between my surgeries, I visited Gillies Park to see how the work is progressing on upgrading the Car Park and improving the lighting.

The quite deep trenches were not quite what I had expected to see.


On subsequent inquiry from the City Engineer, I found that these trenches had been excavated to improve drainage in this area of Gillies Park and to provide access to cabling for the improvements to the lighting.

Consultation Meeting on New Bins in Barnhill

Last night North Barnhill Tenants' and Residents' Association hosted a consultation meeting about the introduction of changes to bin collections in their area.

The meeting, held at Barnhill Primary School, was well attended by residents who wanted to find out more about which new recycling collections were to be introduced in week beginning 23rd March. Additionally, they wanted clarification about which new recycling bins might be available for their homes or communal areas for flatted accommodation.

The meeting was addressed by a member of staff from the Environment Department. While most questions were clearly answered, it was evident that not all residents were convinced that they could cope with the storeage of the extra household bins. 

There are also remaining uncertainties about how the detailed arrangements can be sorted out over the next two weeks before the extra recycling bins are distributed on our streets.

In addition to Abercromby Street, Aberlour Place and Abernethy Road, most of Broughty Ferry is also in phase one of the new recycling collections. But houses west of Church Street, Forthill Road, Balgillo Road East and Linlathen Drive are excluded from the first phase rollout. Ferry folk, not in the first phase may be relieved that they are not going to be the guinea pigs.

More details of the changes which are to be introduced, are available at:

http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/recyclefordundee

Barnhill Tenants and Residents Group Awarded Grant

For a number of years there has been a group of tenants meeting informally in North Barnhill. Their interest has been in representing residents living in Abercromby Street, Abernethy Road and Aberdour Place; principally about housing and environmental issues. 

About six months ago, the group agreed to formalise themselves into a fully constituted Tenants' and Residents' Group. With the support of Tenant Participation Officer, Nicola Mitchell and Communities Officer, Carole Jenkins and a considerable amount of detailed work by their committee members, the formalities have now been completed.

At the Housing Committee on Monday evening, the Committee were advised that the recently constituted Barnhill Tenants' and Residents' Association met all the criteria to become a Registered Tenants' Organisation (Housing {Scotland} Act 2001. As well as approving their registration, the Committee also approved an administration grant of £500 for 2014/14.

I wish Barnhill Tenants' and Residents' Association all the best for the future. I am committed to working with them on the issues that they raise on behalf of their local community.

Work Starting on Extension to Barnhill Primary School in October Holidays

During the forthcoming two weeks of the October school holidays, work will begin on the £2.2 million contract to extend Barnhill Primary School.

This contract will deliver much needed additional classrooms and facilities to help the school cope with the rising demand for places.

The construction work, during the holiday fortnight, will include moving the Nursery building to its new location with the help of a crane. In addition the site compound will be fenced off and a temporary access road from Abercromby Street put in.

After the October 2013 holidays, work will proceed in a number of phases.

It is hoped that with regular communication between the contractors, the school and residents, the building of this extension will not be too disruptive. Hopefully it won't be too long before school pupils and staff can enjoy their enhanced and extended school.

Police Appeal for Help to Track Down Vandals That Spray Painted Property in Broughty Ferry

Police Scotland, Tayside Division is looking for the public's help in trying to track down the vandals who spray painted graffiti on a number of cars, garages, walls and phones boxes in the Broughty Ferry area of Dundee.

The vandalisms happened sometime between 10pm on Thursday, September 26 and 6am on Friday, September 27.

The green-coloured paint was sprayed on property in Montague Street, Strathmore Street, Hamilton Street, Abercromby Street, Fettercairn Drive and Guthrie Street.

Vandalism is unacceptable no matter what form it takes. It creates unnecessary expense for individuals and organisations. Where offences are reported to Tayside Division it will carry out appropriate enquiries and where offenders are identified they will be robustly dealt with. 

Police Scotland urges people not to tolerate vandalism but to report them immediately.

Anyone who can assist Police Scotland with their inquiries should get in touch with Tayside Division on 101 or speak to any police officer.

Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Call for Building Work at Barnhill Primary School to be Complete Before Pupils Return Next Week

Click on image to enlarge

When I visited Barnhill Primary School on Monday evening, building work by the Council appeared to be seriously behind schedule for the new term beginning next Tuesday. 

Over the six week summer holiday, the temporary classroom that houses the Nursery Class was supposed to have been moved from its site close to the front entrance to a new location at the other side of the school. When I visited on Monday evening, I had expected to see the job done or merely the finishing touches to be completed. Unfortunately the site preparation for the relocated hut was still being undertaken and the Nursery Hut hadn't budged from its original location. The school looked like a building site with the playground on the Abercromby Street side of the school fenced off - see photograph.

Apart from the temporary classroom being moved to its new location, services will need to be connected, there are access ramps to fit, external play equipment to be moved, secured and fenced off all before the Care Inspectorate are called in to inspect and approve the relocated nursery unit."

I contacted the Director of Education to pass on my observations and seeking a reassurance that the re-located Nursery will be ready to welcome its young pupils next week and the school site ready for its staff and pupils.

On Tuesday morning, I was relieved to hear from the Director that the Nursery Unit move had been rescheduled. It will now be moved to its new location during the October holiday. It still looks like it will be a challenge to get the playgrounds and the external areas around the school tidied up before the beginning of term.

When members of the Parent Council were briefed about the extension of their School earlier this year, they were assured that the work would be carefully scheduled and monitored to ensure that disruption to the teaching and learning would be minimised. This does not appear to be the start that they were promised.

Barnhill Primary School Extension - Planning Permission

Click on image to enlarge

At the Development Management Committee meeting on Monday 13 May, the Committee Approved the planning permission for the extension of Barnhill Primary School. 

This will provide the accommodation for the increased roll in the school to cope with the rising population of pre-school children in the catchment area of the school.

At the committee I welcomed the application but moved that on the grounds of pupil safety, good relations with resident neighbours of the school and respect for those attending burials or tending graves in the adjoining cemetery, the Council should take care when scheduling the construction of the temporary access road to the site from the turning head at the northern end of Aberomby Street. My proposal was accepted and approved by the Committee.

Read/download the Development Management Committee Meeting Papers

Potholes in Aberdour Place Reported

Potholes at the junction of Aberdour Place
and Abercromby Street

Constituents in Aberdour Place have complained to me about the state of their road.

My picture, left, shows some of the potholes at the junction of Aberdour Place with Abercromby Street. Local residents have observed how the road surface has deteriorated during the winter weather.

Walking round Aberdour Place, it is clear that there are several more sections as pockmarked and deserving of attention as the one I have photographed.

I have reported this this specific roadway to the Roads' Maintenance Partnership. I have also requested they inspect the remainder of Aberdour Place, particularly the junctions with its various cul-de-sacs.

Strathern Road & Abercromby Street Temporary Closure

Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating carriageway reconstruction works. The Order is expected to be in force for ten days from 9 August 2010. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Abercromby Street from Dalhousie Road to Panmure Terrace.

Access for residents will be maintained. The junction of Abercromby Street with Invermark Terrace will be closed for the duration of the works.

An alternative route will be available via Dalhousie Road , Abertay Street and Panmure Terrace .

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Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating carriageway resurfacing works . The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 9 August 2010. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Strathern Road from Claypotts Road to Caenlochan Road.

Access for residents will be maintained. The junctions of Strathern Road with Caenlochan Road , Grove Road , Duntrune Terrace and Victoria Road will be closed for the duration of the works.

An alternative route will be available via Claypotts Road, West Queen Street, Dundee Road and Fairfield Road.