Appeal for Contractors to Remove Building Waste Dumped on the Pilot Pier in The Ferry

Two weeks ago two large bags of builders' rubble were dumped at the Pilot Pier in Broughty Ferry. 

A constituent contacted me to complain that:
"there was an incident at the weekend which involved some bags of rubble that have been left at the entrance to the pilot pier in Fisher Street. On Saturday evening one of the bags was dragged along Fisher Street and left on the pavement outside the house. A neighbour saw it and rang the police." 

I passed this on to the Environment Department who reported back that the containers were two large "Dewson" bags which are typically used as containers for the supply and delivery of building materials like sand. These one tonne capacity bags were too heavy for their staff to uplift. They had however contacted the City Development Department in an effort to locate the contractors and get them to remove their trade waste.

Two weeks on and the rubbish sacks are still sitting on the pier. 

I appeal to the contractors to remove these two containers of building rubble that they have carelessly left behind on our waterfront. 

I also appeal to constituents in the area who had building work undertaken or who may have seen a marked builder's vehicle in the area to notify me the details so that the Council can pursue the contractors.

Rusted Sign Post on Grassy Beach Needs Replacement

Out dog walking last week, I spotted this sign post on Grassy Beach beside the coastal pathway. 

The post carries a road safety notice warning cyclists and pedestrians that they are sharing the same route and urging 'Cyclists Show Respect (for) Other Users'. It also carries a dog poo bin. 

As you can see from the two pictures, the post, for these signs and the bin, is badly corroded and needs replacement.

As the post carries items for the Transportation and the Environment Departments, this may need some collaborative interdepartmental working to get it replaced.

I have written to both departments and the Roads Maintenance Partnership and asked them to arrange for a replacement. In the meanwhile, I recommend you don't walk too close to this pole.

Ferry Open Space Needing Care and Attention

The Council mowers had been out on Thursday cutting the grass on the triangle of land at the end of Douglas Terrace.  I commented last year about the rather poor effect of cutting the flatter section of open space one day and then coming back up to a week later to cut the steep banking with a different mower.

At the Environment Committee tonight, approval will be sought for the purchase of several new mowers. I hope that with this additional pool of equipment, it will be possible for all sections of grassy areas like this to be cut on the same day.

The flower bed at the same location is also looking rather sad. I have asked the Environment Department to arrange to weed and replant this. I have also asked them to fill in the ruts that were made in the surface of the grass (out of shot) when the contractors that upgraded the coastal pathway used this area for plant storage.

Sand Dunes Need Stabilisation Again

Recent high easterly winds have deposited tons of sand on the Esplanade in Broughty Ferry which the Environment Department have been valiantly sweeping up and removing.

The dunes that sit between the Esplanade and the beach seem to have taken a pounding. 

Little of the fencing that had been erected to help stabilise the dunes remains in place. It had already been broken but the recent storm force winds seem to have finished it off.  I have contacted the Environment Department to ask what plans are in place to tackle these issues, not only to retain the sand dunes as a feature of the beach, but also to help protect homes in the vicinity from wind blown sand. 

More Dog Bins Requested in Ferryfields

Just before new year, in a blog posting and the associated press coverage, I highlighted concerns about the repeated shortage of the Council's free dog poop bags at collection points in Broughty Ferry.

In response, I have been contacted by some constituents in Ferryfields who wanted me to recognise that in their area the most pressing shortage was a lack of dog poo bins.

More specifically, they pointed out that currently Ferryfields (north of the Arbroath Road) only has two dog bins for the entire estate and really requires at least another two particularly on the access road as some dog owners simply drop bags when used. 

Furthermore, they observe that the access road side walks do not appear to be looked after by anyone and they think this should be a Council responsibility. 

They also drew a comparison between their new housing estate and the Sandy Park Children's play area on the opposite side of Abroath Road in East Balgillo. In the vicinity of the Sandy Park, they observed five or six dog bins alone. More than reasonably therefore, they conclude that there is a shortage of dog bins in Ferryfields. They think they have a good case for obtaining more bins for their development and I agree.

I have raised this shortage of dog bins in Ferryfields with the Environment Department.