Push the Boat Out 2017 at Royal Tay Yacht Club Saturday 13th May 1-4pm

 

Come along and join us to Sail or Row

Taster sessions are available once you register on the day for Sailing and Rowing. We will be happy to show you around our fantastic facilities too. Refreshments will be available from the beach café at very reasonable prices. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 13th May.

Saturday 13th May – Grassy Beach, Broughty Ferry 1pm – 4pm

Contact

email – sailing@royaltay.org

call – 01382 477516

Broughty Ferry Flood Defences Further Consultation Tuesday 13th December at the Castle Green Leisure Centre from 11am to 7pm

Have your say in the further consultation about the design of the proposed flood defences for Broughty Ferry. These defences will run from the Stannergate to Broughty Ferry Castle via Grassy Beach, Douglas Terrace, James Place, Fisher Street and Beach Crescent. 

The drop in consultation event will be held on Tuesday 13th December 2016 at the Castle Green Leisure Centre from 11am to 7pm.

This event will provide an update on the project and seek opinion on the latest design proposal. A sample panel of the proposed flood protection wall is already on display at the notice board at Castle Pier and comments on the material and colour will also be welcomed. 

On the day members of the city council’s design team will be available from 11am to 7pm to help answer questions, explain technical details and the thinking behind the plans at this stage.

More information can be found on the regularly updated webpage at: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/BroughtyFerryFloodProtection

Oor Wullie Makes an Appearance on Douglas Terrace

Over fifty 4ft unique Oor Wullie sculptures will be dotted around Dundee this Summer. This marks Oor Wullie’s 80th Anniversary.

Earlier this week I came across one perched on the pocket park at the western end of Douglas Terrace beside the beginning of the coastal pathway leading to Grassy Beach.

One down, more than 49 others to locate!

Link to Oor Wulllie Bucket Trail Website

Dudley D Watkins (1907-1969) who drew Oor Wullie and The Broons for the Sunday Post was a resident of Broughty Ferry. In 2013 his work received some official recognition when one of the first Blue Plaques awarded in Scotland was placed outside Winsterley, his former home in Reres Road.

Possible Coastal Protection Measures between Grassy Beach and Broughty Ferry Castle - Flyover Simulation

Simulated view of possible enhanced sea
defences for Broughty Ferry

If you missed the drop-in consultation on Wednesday 1st June 2016 about the proposed coastal protection measures between the Grassy Beach and Broughty Ferry Castle, you may the video flyover simulation of possible design for the scheme helpful - click on link below. 

Don't worry that you have missed out on the opportunity to respond to the Council. According to senior Council staff present at the drop-in event, this was an initial consultation which will be followed by the formal consultation. I'll try to keep constituents updated when we reach that point.

Link to video flyover simulation of possible changes to coastal defences Grassy Beach to Broughty Ferry Castle June 2016

Dundee Sailing Club Making Environmental Improvements

If you take a walk or cycle along the coastal pathway at Grassy Beach, have a look out for the environmental improvements undertaken voluntarily by members of Dundee Sailing Club.

As well as tidying up the area around their slipway by their Grassy Beach Centre, they also been planting a beach hedge along the perimeter of their chain link fencing.

If you click on my image it will enlarge and make it easier to see the line of beech hedge plants.

In years ahead, when it is fully grown, this should help screen the rather stark appearance of the fencing to their two areas for boat storage.

Well done to the members of Dundee Sailing Club.

Overhanging Shrubs on Coastal Pathway in Broughty Ferry

Walkers on the coastal pathway have complained to me about the gorse bushes which are overhanging the path midway between the Stannergate and Grassy Beach. 

The overgrown gorse has effectively narrowed the available pathway for walking or cycling just on the brow of the hill.

I have asked the Environment Department to trim the gorse back to restore the full width of the coastal pathway as part of their autumn maintenance.

Overfull Rubbish Bin Reported

While out on my dog walk, I have noticed that this rubbish bin at Grassy Beach is stuffed full. 

I have reported it to the Environment Department. I have also reminded them that I previously requested a larger bin for this location. It's a busy spot on the green circular and coastal pathway close to the sailing and yacht club premises.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Job Done! Replacement Sign Post for Grassy Beach

Council staff in the Transportation and Environment Departments are to be commended for a speedy replacement of the rusted and leaning sign pole beside the coastal pathway at Grassy Beach.

The new pole with the warning signs and the Dog Poo Bin attached is pictured.

Demolition of Broughty Ferry Boating Club Building at Grassy Beach

When I walked along Grassy Beach earlier today, I noticed that contractors had fenced off the Broughty Ferry Boating Club boat shed. They had begun the task of demolishing the building prior to reconstruction of a new building on the same site. While the wooden building was clearly looking unloved and in need of maintenance and repair, it's clearly been on Grassy Beach for some time.

I am sure many folk will regret the loss of the distinctive shape and traditional decoration of the Broughty Ferry Boating Club building. To my mind it was a bit superior to some of the more utilitarian sheds and garage like structures further along the beach.

I hope that the replacement building will better support the boating and sailing interests of the BFBC without detracting from the beauty of Grassy Beach. I am reminded of the chorus from Joni, Mithchell's song, Big Yellow Taxi:
'Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?'

The applicant for planning permission for the replacement building was the Tay Sailing Training Association. As there were no reported objections, this planning application was approved by Council Planners under delegated powers.

Link to the planning application and decision.

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.

Contractor Urged to Remove Construction Debris from Grassy Beach

In July the slipways on Grassy Beach were resurfaced. Unfortunately the contractors seem to have forgotten to remove all their building materials and equipment. This heap of planks, ladders and a metal fencing panel has been left on the beach.

I have emailed The contractors to ask them to remove what I assume is their residual 'stuff' inadvertently left on site after they removed most of their equipment a few weeks ago.

Bollards Breeding in Broughty Ferry?

Additional new bollard in the foreground
Click on image to enlarge

A second bollard has been inserted on the coastal pathway near the Douglas Terrace end. A bollard is required to block motorised traffic entering the pathway but quite why we need two in a row is beyond me.

A couple of months ago, I pointed out to the Transportation Department that there was a missing bollard at the Grassy Beach end of the upgraded section of the pathway but I was not aware of any reason why we should need to replace or duplicate the one at the Douglas Terrace end. 

I have written to the Transportation Department to ask for an explanation.

Official Opening of the Upgraded Coastal Pathway in Broughty Ferry - Good Job!

On Wednesday I attended the official opening of the upgraded section of the coastal pathway that runs between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace. This marks the final stage of a ten year project to refurbish and improve the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry. This has local and wider significance.

For local people, this pathway is valued for walking, cycling and dog walking while folk enjoy the pleasures of river views and segregation from motor traffic. It is also a part of the Dundee green circular and a route into the city centre for those commuting by bike. Additionally, the extra width of this latest section of the pathway will make it easier for the sailors to manoeuvre their sailing craft on their trailers between the roadway at Douglas Terrace and their boat sheds and slipways at Grassy Beach.

Our coastal pathway is also an integral part of the National Cycling Route One between Dover in Kent and Shetland. These onward connections mean that cyclists can for example ride most of the way to Arbroath off road and on quiet back roads.

Interestingly, in this centenary year of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee, one of the promised benefits from this merger was an improvement in roads and paths between Broughty Ferry and Dundee which led to the original raised pathway being built along the shore. That this was a possibility was also testament to the foresight of the former Broughty Ferry Town Council that in 1901 secured the foreshore at the Grassy Beach in West Ferry for an annual feu of £25.

Hopefully the public investment in the upgrading work from one end to the other, will have secured this important community asset for many years to come.

Thanks are deserved to Sustrans the national sustainable transport charity that were major funders and the Council's Transportation staff. The work force of Kilmac, the contractors, also deserve praise for ingeniously keeping the pathway open while they undertook the upgrading work apart from a few days when a period of temporary closure could not be avoided.

Good job!

Kilmac Put Finishing Touches to Coastal Pathway Improvements

Yesterday, Kilmac staff were putting the finishing touches to the upgrading of the coastal pathway. 

In the picture you can see they were installing the last set of safety railings at the Grassy Beach end.

Kilmac staff began the contract just before Christmas and hope to have finished on site by Friday of this week.

Dundee Sailing Club Open Day at Grassy Beach Centre

The burger and refreshment stall

Earlier today, 12 Noon until 4pm, Dundee Sailing Club held a successful open day at their club house and boat storage area at the Grassy Beach in The Ferry.

They offered an opportunity to have a go at sailing in a dinghy. Their offer helpfully included lending waterproofs and safety equipment.

Refreshments and burgers were also available and the sun shone on the sailors.

Further details:
email
sailing@dundeesailingclub.org.uk
website
www.dundeesailingclub.org.uk/

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.

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.

Wintry Day Views From Footbridge at Grassy Beach

Railtrack Warning Should be Taken to Heart in Broughty Ferry

This is Railtrack's TV advert which aims to persuade people that they need to be as careful crossing railway tracks as they would be on a busy road.

Railtrack have recently spent £130 million to improve safety at crossings. They warn that 46 people have been killed on railway crossings in the past five years.

In the Ferry we have two level crossings. The one at Gray Street is for vehicles and pedestrians and has automatic barriers and warning lights and sounds. There is also the added safety feature of the pedestrian underpass. Despite all these safety features, this has not been without incident with drivers and pedestrians trying to beat the closing barriers and British Transport Police having to monitor the crossing.

Perhaps less well known is the level crossing at Grassy Beach which is much more like the crossing featured in the TV advert. There are no warning bells nor barriers just warning signs, and gates with a simple catch. Usually train drivers sound a warning as they approach but trains not due to stop in The Ferry can flash by at speeds up to 100 mph.

I therefore hope folk who use this crossing take note of the advert's important and sombre message.

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.