Completion of Improvements at Broughty Ferry Station

I am pleased to be notified that the improvements at the Railway Station in Broughty Ferry are coming to an end and the vacant space on the down platform is now ready to let to a restaurant business.

This bring to a close a series of improvements that many residents in Broughty Ferry have come to appreciate. The historic former signal box has been restored and erected next to the down platform and the former unused waiting rooms remodeled to make space for a restaurant at the station. Thanks in no small part should go to David Hewick of the Community Council, who so persistently kept asking about the future of the old signal box after it had been dismantled. 

But the improvements have not just been about making the station look good. Importantly the number of stopping train services have increased, including services on Sundays, a special timetable has been issued and distributed in Broughty Ferry and passenger information screens have been erected on the platforms. More recently, following MSP Jenny Marra's Tay Train Tax campaign, which the Courier championed, some ticket prices from our station have been reduced too. Not surprisingly, this has meant that many more folk are letting the Broughty Ferry train take the strain.

Looking to the future, I think we deserve an hourly stopping service. I hope the Scottish Government will have included that in the forthcoming new rail franchise. We also need an automated ticket vending machine.

National Football Academy Campaign Comes to The Ferry

At lunchtime today I was out in Brook Street in The Ferry with Jenny Marra MSP. We were collecting signatures in support of the campaign Jenny has led to Bring the National Football Academy to Dundee. 
Over 50 people signed our petition including residents and Grove Academy senior pupils and their teachers out on their lunch break. Most of these busy shoppers had already heard about the proposed National Football Academy and they were all pleased to have an opportunity to show their support and help ensure that this national centre comes to Dundee rather than the usual suspects Edinburgh and Glasgow.
In our conversations on Brook Street, it was clear that most folk we met recognised the advantages that Dundee could offer to such a centre, especially our enduring passion for playing and watching football, Sports Science expertise at the University of Dundee, and good communications with the rest of Scotland. For the city, it would obviously facilitate home growing more of our professional footballers of the future as well as boosting jobs in Dundee. 
If you would like to join the thousands of Dundonians who have already signed the petition you can do this online:
Bring the National Football Academy to Dundee Website or Facebook

Support Dundee Born and Read

The Evening Telegraph is running a great campaign,

Dundee Born and Read

They are trying to collect over 5000 books for school children in Dundee.

Too many children in our city are growing up in homes with few if any books. This is important. We know that children who grow up in households where books are plentiful go further in school than those children growing up without books. Developing good reading habits at home, which starts with being read to, helps children get ready for school and not start school at a disadvantage. Having books at home helps enhance literacy and learning.

I want to not only congratulate D C Thomson on this public spirited initiative but to also to urge Ferry folk to generously support it.

Donations of new or second hand books suitable for youngsters aged 3 to 12 are wanted. Please deposit these in the drop off boxes at our Branch Library in Queen Street. Schools in the city will then distribute the books.

Jenny Marra MSP is also supporting the campaign and drawing attention to it in the Scottish Parliament. 

Jenny Marra MSP Recently Travelled to St John's High School on the No. 26 Bus to Highlight Concerns Over Recent Bus Changes in Dundee

I share Jenny Marra's concerns about the elongated school day for West End pupils who now have to take the No 26 bus on its circuitous route to St John's High School. The more direct bus route to the school has unfortunately been withdrawn.