Broughty Ferry Beach is Awarded 2016 Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful

Broughty Ferry beach has received external recognition for the 13th year in a row!

For the 2016 bathing season, our beach has been awarded the Keep Scotland Beautiful 'Seaside Award' and an “excellent” EU Bathing Waters classification.

It is good news that the bathing water quality there has been designated ‘Excellent’ under the stringent EU Bathing Water Classification.

To qualify for the Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful, 25 conditions need to be met including: community, access and facilities; information and education; environment management and safety. These criteria cover the provision of facilities, such as toilets, first aid, information boards and parking as well as appropriate safety management, community involvement and excellent standards of cleanliness.

The beach is a huge asset for The Ferry, the wider Dundee area. and of course the visitors from further afield.

Broughty Ferry is a designated, “bathing water” monitored by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) between June and September and is given its EU classification based on four years of data. 

The bathing season at Broughty Ferry runs from now until Sunday September 4.

Consultation on Stannergate to Broughty Ferry Harbour Coastal Protection Measures Wed 1st June 10:00 - 20:00

Click on map to enlarge

A drop-in consultation about the proposed coastal protection measures between the Stannergate and Broughty Ferry harbour has been scheduled between 10am and 8pm on Wednesday 1st June 2016 at Broughty Castle Bowling Club, 439 King Street, Broughty Ferry DD5 2HA 

You and your friends and neighbours may want to take advantage of the opportunity to see the proposals at the drop-in exhibition and make up your minds how you wish to respond to the Council's enhanced sea defences.

The need for raised coastal defences follow the publication by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) of  enhanced definition maps of flood risks in Scotland.

These maps show that both banks of the Tay estuary are rated as 'high risk' for potential coastal flooding as is the Dighty as it flows through the Ferry Ward.

Residents who live in Fisher Street and Beach Crescent have already had water lapping almost to the top of the rows of sandbags last year. The residents of Balmossie Mill in Panmurefield know to their cost the threat that the Dighty in spate can pose to their homes.

Click on this link to go to the online flood maps.

New Flood Risk Maps Available Online

Click on image to enlarge

Earlier this week, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) announced that it had made available on its website enhanced definition maps of flood risks in Scotland.

These maps show that both banks of the Tay estuary are rated as 'high risk' for potential coastal flooding as is the Dighty as it flows through the Ferry Ward.

Residents who live in Fisher Street and Beach Crescent have already had water lapping almost to the top of the rows of sandbags this year. The residents of Balmossie Mill in Panmurefield know to their cost the threat that the Dighty in spate can pose to their homes.

Last year Councillors received a report from the City Engineer about flood risk and prevention in Dundee and how plans to mitigate these risks would be submitted to the Scottish Government for funding.

Click on this link to go to the online flood maps

Fracking in Dundee and The Ferry

Several constituents have written to me voicing concerns about the potential negative effects of Hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking' in Dundee. 

The publicity surrounding the public protest to the test drilling by Cuadrilla at Balcombe in Sussex and the application by Dart Energy for exploratory drilling in Airth near Stirling seems to aroused many conversations about fracking and the environmental costs and benefits of this.

My constituents' concerns focus on the environmental effects triggered by the fracking process. Firstly, they commented on the earth tremors and the effects of these on private and public property. Secondly the potential for pollution of water supplies from the chemicals introduced to help release the gas trapped in the shale beds underground. Finally they wanted know whether the City Council would have a say in granting licenses for exploratory drilling and subsequent extraction of shale gas on land in the City.

On the last matter, I wrote to the Planning Department of the City Council. 

In their response my attention was drawn to a useful Frequently Asked Question on the website of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) http://www.sepa.org.uk/customer_information/energy_industry/unconventional_gas/frequently_asked_questions.aspx

FAQ Who else regulates this industry?

The other regulators (other than SEPA) involved in the control of these operations include:

• The Department of Energy and Climate Change - responsible for issuing a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence.
• The Local Planning Authority - Responsible for granting planning permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for surface works associated with borehole construction, fracturing operations and wellhead development.
• The Health and Safety Executive - The Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995.
• The Coal Authority - Any activity which intersects, disturbs or enters coal seams.

The City Planner also confirmed that:
"we have had no applications or indeed enquiries about surface works associated with borehole construction, fracturing operations and wellhead development. I am not aware of any licences having been granted for Dundee (by the Department of Energy and Climate Change)."

Scottish Water Updates on Responding to Foul Water Leaks on the Stony Beach

In response to representations I made to Scottish Water in early August about foul water leaking onto the Stony Beach, a spokesperson for Scottish Water confirmed the ongoing actions they had and were taking:

Temporary pumping had been continued at the end of Douglas Terrace. Due to local concerns about noise, Scottish Water's operators, Veolia, have stopped using a diesel generator and installed an electric pump to support flow transfer through the pumping station.

Work to fix the leak at the Douglas Terrace manhole was completed over the weekend of 10 August. The temporary pumping mentioned above has also been successful in stopping any further leaks from the walkway manhole.

With regards to the permanent repair of the walkway manhole, it’s anticipated that a contractor will be appointed by the end of September, early October.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have continued to inspect the area and no further concerns or issues have been raised.

I previously reported similar leaks to Scottish Water in November 2012.