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.

Positive Responses to Missing Yellow Lines and Gillies Park Improvements

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On Sunday I wrote about the missing yellow lines that had not been repainted at the junction of Brook Street, Westfield Road, Dundee Road and Claypotts Road after it had been resurfaced. I followed this up by contacting staff at the City Council.

I received a very prompt explanation from the Roads Maintenance Partnership that the yellow lining had not been forgotten  but that "the line painting lorry is currently under repair and the double yellow lines will be repainted once the lorry is back in working order."

On Monday, I visited Gillies Park in Barnhill which is located next to Barnhill Primary School and is accessed by road from Ceres Crescent and by foot from Abercromby Street and Falkland Crescent.  I had been expecting to see that the badly rutted car park had been resurfaced and improvements to the lighting in the park had been installed. Having seen that no work had been started and mindful of the fact that funding for this project was available until the end of March, I wrote to the engineer in charge of projects like this. 

The good news is that work at Gillies Park will likely start either later this week or early next week. The staff involved have also reassured me that they will provide advance warning to Barnhill Primary School of the definite start date on site.

No Progress Surfacing Parking Area in Gillies Park

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In the Autumn of last year before he retired, Chief Executive David Dorward committed the Council to provide a proper surface to the Car Park in Gillies Park and install better lighting. 

Subsequently funds were approved to do the job before the end of the 2014-15 financial year later this month.

This commitment recognized that when the weather was wet the surface of the car park become a bit of a quagmire which turn into pot holes. It is especially bad by the entrance to the car park from Ceres Crescent. It was hoped that surfacing the car park for the first time would not only improve access for parents and carers picking up and dropping off their children at Barnhill Primary School but also provide better access to the park for recreational users such as the footballers who use the pitches.

Yesterday, when I visited Gillies Park, there was no evidence of a start on site. As there are only four weeks to go before the end of the financial year, I written to the Council to inquire about when the work is programmed and to ensure that commitment has not been forgotten.

Upgraded Car Park at Gillies Park on its Way

On Monday night the City Development Committee approved a tender for £48,358 for the surfacing of the car park at Gillies Park and some related lighting work.

I welcome this contract for the surfacing of the car park at Gillies Park. Many Barnhill residents have complained to me about the potholes and mud in the car park so I am sure they will welcome this upgrade.

It will also help parents and carers dropping off and picking up their children from Barnhill Primary School. The Nursery and P1 classes located in the new extension to the school are easily accessed from Gillies Park.

There will also be improvements to the lighting which should help all park users feel more confident about walking through the park at night time.

I have been assured that the work will be carried out before the end of March so thankfully folk won't have to endure the potholes much longer.

Improvements to Open Spaces and Play Areas in Broughty Ferry Approved by Environment Committee

At the meeting of the Environment Committee on Monday 12 November, the Committee approved a report on improvements to Open Spaces and Play Areas throughout the city. 

This is the list of improvements which is to be undertaken in five parks and open spaces in Broughty Ferry:


Gillies Park
Refurbish and replace children's sit-on-spring-mobiles and
Repair worn sections of safer surfacing in fenced children's play area

Dawson Park
Landscape area to create seating and also refurbish shrub beds. These works will improve the visual aspect to the park and make the entrances more welcoming, yet not affecting existing maintenance costs.

Castle Green
Repair worn sections of safer surfacing in children's play area and 
Refurbish shrub beds and plantings to improve visual impact and maintenance.

Barnhill Cemetery
Landscape area to create seating and also refurbish shrub bed areas. This will make use of an unused area for the installation of memorial benches.

Strathmore Avenue
Landscape area to create seating and also refurbish shrub beds.

I know that many constituents and visitors to The Ferry will appreciate these minor but significant improvements to be undertaken by The Environment Department.