Overhanging Shrubs Reported on Path Between Beach Lane and Grassy Beach

Earlier in the week, a constituent contacted me to complain about the overgrown hedges and overhanging shrubs on the path connecting Beach Lane and Grassy Beach in The Ferry.

When I walked this stretch of pathway on Wednesday afternoon, I took some photos. Subsequently, I contacted staff in the Environment Department to ask that these shrubs and the hedging are cut back. 

On Thursday morning I received a positive reply to let me know that the cutting back would be scheduled in next week.

Temporary Closure of Coastal Pathway Between Douglas Terrace and Grassy Beach

Improved surface on Beach Lane

The second of two planned closures of the Coastal Pathway in Broughty Ferry will take place in this coming week. 

Contractors Kilmac will be laying concrete under the walkway which will mean all day closures on Tuesday (March 5) and Wednesday (March 6). Signs will be put up and an alternative route will be available over the footbridge over the railway and along Beach Lane. 

Beach Lane has recently had work undertaken by the Environment Department to improve its surface. The contract to upgrade the last unimproved section of the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace is expected to be completed in the spring. 

In August 2012, I requested that Beach Lane should be improved not only in anticipation of its vital role when the coastal pathway was closed for rebuilding works but also because it is one of the 'core paths' in Broughty Ferry and is well used in its own right.

Resurfacing Beach Lane Path Almost Complete

Click on image to enlarge

Yesterday morning I visited Beach Lane in Broughty Ferry to examine the condition of the path that connects Grassy Beach and Dundee Road. 

The Courier and Evening Telegraph both reported on Tuesday that the resurfacing of the muddy section of this path had been undertaken by the Environment Department in preparation of the temporary closure of the coastal pathway between Douglas Terrace and Grassy Beach and the diversion along this pathway.

The picture shows that, the resurfacing that I had called for in August last year and at the beginning of this month was well underway. It looked as though, with the laying of another load of grit, the resurfacing of the muddy section of the Beach Lane path would be complete. 

I trust folk using the Beach Lane pathway find this resurfacing work by the Environment Department an appreciable improvement to underfoot conditions.

Broughty Ferry Community Council Meeting February 2013

Last night I attended the regular monthly meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council. Each month there is an opportunity for elected members to report to the Community Council. 

Here is a summary of my report which covers some of the issues I have worked on since the last meeting in early December.

Coastal walkway
The work on the contract to upgrade the last section of the coastal pathway has been progressing more slowly than anticipated because of extreme weather restricting access to the beach. From later this week, the contractor is expecting to be working from both the Douglas Terrace and Grassy Beach ends pouring concrete. The contractors have been maintaining a narrowed pathway for pedestrians while the work is ongoing. Last week, because of the very high tides, the coastal pathway was temporarily closed. During this period of closure, pedestrians were using the connecting path between Grassy Beach and Beach Lane using the the railway footbridge and a connecting pathway. The surface of this pathway was extremely muddy and slippery. After complaints from residents, I contacted the Transport and Environment Departments. This week work has started on the section of muddy path to scrape off the surface and lay some grit to improve the underfoot conditions.

Council Budget
On Thursday afternoon 14 February, the Policy and Resources Committee will convene for the City Council's annual budget meeting. In relation to 'savings' or 'cuts' identified in the budget and affecting residents in Broughty Ferry, I draw attention to the following:

• Grove Academy - Larger Classes for S1/2 English and MathsAt Grove Academy and four other Secondary Schools in the city, Maths and English S1 and S2 classes with an average of 20 pupils will be cut and replaced by standard class sizes with up to a maximum of 33 pupils. According to a report Grove Parent Council last week, Grove will lose 2.4 Maths and English teachers. Over the last 8 years, when these smaller classes have been in place. pupils' examination grades in core examination subjects like Maths and English has markedly improved;
• 5% across the board cut in funding for non council social welfare organisations and services and
• Shoppers 'friendly bus' for sheltered housing residents is to be withdrawn. 

I also reported that the Labour group on the Council are currently finalising their alternative proposals for the budget meeting.

Anton Drive Retaining Wall
Work will be starting soon on rebuilding the retaining wall in Anton Drive.

Coastal Pathway Temporary Closure on Safety Grounds

On Wednesday morning on my daily dog walk along the coastal pathway, I found my way blocked at the Douglas Terrace end with a hand painted sign indicating that the path had been closed because of the danger of high tides. To access the beach further long at Grassy Beach, I walked round to Beach Lane and the connecting pathway from there to the footbridge over the railway. The footpath was very muddy and slippery. Looking from the vantage point of the footbridge, it was able to see that part of the pathway surface adjacent to site works by Kilmac (the Contractor) was missing. 

By the time I had got home and washed off the the mud off my shoes, I had been contacted by a constituent who complained  about the awful state of the path from Beach Lane which he had little option but to use.

I contacted the Council and enquired, on behalf of pedestrians, cyclists and dog walkers about how long the coastal pathway was to be closed? In the light of the closure, I also indicated that I wanted to know what the Council was going to do to improve signage while this stretch of the busy coastal pathway was closed. I thought that diversionary routes should be clearly indicated for those that don't know their way around. Furthermore, I wanted to know what the Council was going to do to improve the surface of the Beach Lane pathway which is one of the Broughty Ferry 'core' paths? It's disappointing that I called for the upgrading of the surface of the Beach Lane pathway last summer but this was ignored apart from cutting back the brambles. 

Later on Wednesday, the coastal pathway was re-opened.

I think it's time for speedy and effective action by the Council so that this pathway can mare adequately provide a safe and convenient diversionary route when the coastal pathway is closed again on safety grounds.

Broughty Ferry Community Council September Meeting

Last night I attended the September meeting of the Broughty Ferry Community Council who meet in the Broughty Ferry Library.

One of the regular items on the agenda is reports from elected members.

Here are some extracts from my report, which I read out at the meeting of the Community Council: 

• I have been working with the Environment Department on issues raised about the coastal walkway/cyclepath between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrrace.
• Work is well advanced to improve the drainage on the raised sections of the path west of the Dundee Sailing Club Centre and beneath Ravenscraig. This should ensure that the slime does not grow back and spread across the path again.
• The brambles and nettles have been cut back on Beach Lane. There is a commitment to improve the surface of the path where it is currently muddy. This is important because this path will become the main access route to Grassy Beach from central Broughty Ferry when the final section of the unimproved raised section of the coastal pathway is closed for upgrading.
• A quarterly cleaning of the coastal pathway has been programmed. It will be undertaken by a small mechanical sweeper from the Stannergate end as far as the steps up to the footbridge over the railway  This will be extended as far as Douglas Terrace when the last unimproved section of the coastal pathway is upgraded.
• I have been very concerned about the recent decision of the Development Management Committee of the Council with regard to relaxing the planning conditions on Sainsburys and the admission by the Director of City Development that no routine checks had been made on developers such as large retailers to see whether they had been complying with planning conditions.

One of the Community Councillors, Ken Anderson, reminded me and the meeting that I had also been taking up the issue of traffic calming measures in the narrower section of Camphill Road and he endorsed what I had been promoting along with the residents.

Beach Lane Brambles and Nettles Cut Back - Good Job by Environment Department Staff

Before

Just over a week ago, I wrote to the Environment Department and requested clearance of the core pathway that runs from Beach Lane over the railway footbridge to Grassy Beach. 

I reported that it had become badly obstructed by brambles and nettles which blocked the way to all but the most determined walkers. I also observed that stretches of the path had become muddy.

I am pleased to report that my email and photograph sent to the Environment Department triggered a good strimming of the margins of the path, which is now well and truly cleared. 

I think my 'before' and 'after' photographs tell their own story. 

After

Well done to the staff of the Environment Department for acting so promptly. 

I will continue to press for some action to improve the underfoot conditions, where the Beach Lane path is muddy. 

I am mindful that when the £0.5 million contract work is undertaken to rebuild the raised walkway connecting Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace, that section of the coastal pathway will be temporarily closed. When that happens, Beach Lane will be the alternative main access route, from central Broughty Ferry, along which pedestrians, joggers and dog walkers will be diverted. 

Jungle in Beach Lane Pathway Must Be Cleared and the Path Should be Upgraded

I have received three recent complaints from constituents about the state of the Beach Lane pathway which runs from Dundee Road over the railway footbridge to the coastal pathway at Grassy Beach. 

One of the constituents was out for a walk last week and observed that 

"I found it (the path) to be in a terrible state with grass, nettles, brambles etc and, determined to get to the bridge, I struggled through but found it a very unpleasant experience and ended up with a few nettle stings and muddy feet into the bargain." 

I checked the core paths map produced by the Council which confirms that the Beach Lane pathway is clearly indicated on the West Ferry map of core paths; so this is recognised as an important pathway.

I have written to the the Environment Department and asked them arrange for the brambles, nettles and other plants blocking the path to be cut back and removed.

This pathway will become the main access route to the coastal pathway from the Ferry end, when work to upgrade the eastern end of the raised coastal walkway/cyclepath is undertaken.  I think therefore that Beach Lane also deserves some improvement, especially drainage where surface water collects and makes the underfoot conditions muddy. 

I have also written to the Transportation Department to request that the surface of this pathway should be treated to get rid of the muddy patches where the surface water currently collects. This will necessarily take more time to schedule than the cutting back of the overhanging plants and shrubs.