Request for Additional Rubbish Bin to Close the Gap

Readers of my blog know that I often enjoy a walk along the coastal pathway between Douglas Terrace and the Stannergate.

Earlier this week, some other regular dog walkers asked me to try to get another rubbish bin installed. I think they have some sound reasoning to support their proposal. 

Between the rubbish bin at the Stannergate end of the path (top picture) and the two bins beside the sailing clubs (bottom two pictures), you pass three dog poo bins but no general rubbish bins which is a gap of at least half a mile. While they don't think the lack of a bin excuses littering, they do think some folk might be more inclined to bin their rubbish if one were nearer to hand. 

More specifically, they recommend that an additional bin is installed close to the Sea Eagles sculptures and the group of wooden benches beside the interpretation board close to the flight of contrete steps that run down to the river. 

I have passed on this request to the very helpful staff at the Environment Department.

Please contact me if there is a 'missing bin' in the vicinity of your home or on your favourite walk.

Broken Step Reported and to be Reparied

Earlier this week, I was contacted by a constituent who was concerned about the potential dangers from a broken step. She had noticed that there was a loose concrete slab on the flight of steps that connect the Stannergate bridge with the coastal pathway that runs along to Douglas Terrace.

On the way to a meeting, I stopped by and took a picture of the step which I then sent on to the Roads Maintenance Partnership with my observation that the loose concrete 'tread' on the steps represented a trip hazard which merited a rapid response. 

I am pleased to report that I have been notified that the repair is to be undertaken today, Wednesday 1 July.

Clean Sweep Along Coastal Path

Earlier this week, staff from Dundee's Environment Department deployed one of their smaller mechanical sweepers on the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace. This has cleared up accumulated debris on both sides of the path. 

I am sure regular users of the path, including dog walkers and cyclists, will notice the difference.

Well done to the Environment Department to whom I had made a request. I have also suggested that this stretch of pathway is regularly scheduled for a clean sweep, perhaps once every one or two months.

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.

Slippery Underfoot Conditions on Broughty Ferry Roads and Pathways

Click on image to enlarge

The snow and freezing conditions in Broughty Ferry yesterday, left stretches of untreated roads and pavements deceptively slippery.

When I went out to Church on Sunday morning, the overnight snow was beginning to melt.  In the late afternoon, I ventured out for a dog walk along to the Stannergate on the coastal pathway. At this time, I felt the significant drop in temperature and noticed that this had led to icy patches on side roads and pavements. Many of these slippery sections of roads or paths did not at first glance appear to be hazardous. It was only when one got up close that it was apparent that there was a thin layer of icing on a section of road or path to catch out the unwary and send them sprawling.

These slippery underfoot conditions are particularly hazardous for older people. I have written to the Council to ask that the pavement gritter is sent to Broughty Ferry on Monday morning.

Dog Poo Issues at Grassy Beach

Click on image to enlarge

Dog walkers on Grassy Beach have drawn my attention to a damaged lid on a dog poo bin located beside the coastal pathway between Douglas Terrace and Grassy Beach.  This particular bin is close to the foot of the steps up to the footbridge over the railway which connects with the pathway that leads to Beach Lane.

It looks as though the lid has been eaten away by rust. Whatever the cause, the gaping lid does not do its job.

While I have drawn this to the attention of the Environment Department, I also want to appeal to all dog owners to clean up after their dogs and use the bins. Within three metres of this bin, there are six dog poos left on the grass and one filled dog poo bag carelessly dumped on the ground.

Public Access is Maintained as Work Progresses on Upgrading Coastal Pathway

Earlier in the week, I noticed that work is progressing on the last section of the upgrading of the coastal pathway running between the Stannergate to Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry. This major contract has been jointly funded by Dundee City Council and SUSTRANS. This particular section of the pathway runs between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace.

I think that many of the regular walkers and cyclists who make use of the pathway will be relieved to know that public access will be maintained while the extensive work is undertaken. This should ensure that dog walkers, leisure and commuting cyclists and other users can continue to use the pathway day by day.

Judging by the reduced width of a short section of available pathway, it will require some patience and good sense at busy times when folk coming in opposite directions meet in the 'narrows'. In the long run, I think constituents will accept that our temporary inconvenience will be worthwhile when they can enjoy using the complete upgraded pathway in the Spring.

Work Begins on Coastal Pathway Improvements

Earlier yesterday members of staff from Tayside Contracts were making a start to the work to upgrade the last unimproved section of the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace. I was pleased to see the work beginning, which will focus on strengthening and widening the section of the raised coastal pathway between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace.

While I have previously expressed my concerns about the process to approve this contract, I am now satisfied that the formalities have been properly undertaken and of course Councillors unanimously approved the contract on Monday 26 November. 

While the building work is being undertaken there will inevitably be some disruption for those who travel along the coastal pathway on foot or bicycle. I have received assurances that every effort will be made to maintain access along the pathway as the building works progress. I can however reassure constituents that, as this is part of my regular dog walk, I shall be paying particular attention as I walk past very day.

Weather permitting, I think we should be able to look forward to a completed coastal pathway by the early Spring.

Cyclists and Pedestrians Need to Show Mutual Consideration on Shared Coastal Pathway

Diverse traffic on the coastal pathway
 at Grassy Beach - click to enlarge

I think many of my constituents are aware that I enjoy walking along the coastal pathway between Douglas Terrace and the Stannergate. Most days I take our dog Milli for a walk along this pathway. Milli enjoys chasing a ball on the beach and a swim off the slipway at Grassy Beach. On my walks, I usually encounter other dog walkers, joggers, folk out with children in the buggy, walkers, drivers of mobility scooters and of course cyclists; all of whom have the right to use this pathway.

Some walkers I have encountered resent the presence of cyclist using the pathway. I usually point out that it was the charity Sustainable Transport (Sustrans) which made substantial grants towards the upgrading of each of the sections of the pathway so that that it could remain open. The walkers accept that if this was the price of retaining the pathway so be it. 

But several walkers have expressed their concern that the mixed modes of human traffic sharing this pathway is 
"an accident waiting to happen". 
They point out how frightening it can be when a cyclists comes up behind them and passes them at speed. But it's not just the cyclists who may offend other path users. I sometimes witness dogs running out of control and in front of cyclists. I have also seen walkers and joggers engrossed in their music and unaware of other traffic on the route.

So the issue I want to raise is the need for all those who use this pathway to show more consideration to each other. This means cyclists ensuring they have a bell or other warning device and make use of this as they approach pedestrians up ahead. It also means that they should moderate their speed when approaching walkers especially when the pedestrians are blind sided.  For walkers it means their avoiding getting engrossed with their music or their conversation so that they don't step out in front of an approaching bike. Dog walkers should also try to keep their dogs under control and clear up their dog's mess and dispose of this in the bins provided.

I have also written to the Head of Transportation to see whether the walkway hard surface might be divided into two lanes; one for pedestrians and one for cyclists. I am hoping this may be possible when the final section of the pathway is rebuilt later this financial year and the pathway has a more uniform width.

Drainage Improvements Completed on Coastal Pathway

New drainage channel to catch water
seeping from the wall.

Yesterday afternoon, I walked along the coastal pathway from Douglas Terrace to the Stannergate. 

Just beyond the Grassy Beach Centre, on the raised section of the pathway, the building work to create better underfoot conditions has been completed.

A new drainage channel has been installed which catches the water seeping from the wall above and then takes this to a new drain.

Further down the slope on the seaward side of the path, a additional drain has also been installed so that any surface rain water does not collect and form a pool.

New drain to disperse surface water.

I trust this satisfactorily reduces the likelihood of poor underfoot conditions at this spot, which some of my constituents had complained about at the end of July.

I think this represents a comprehensive and very satisfactory response from the Environment Department, whom I first approached about this.

Broughty Ferry Community Council September Meeting

Last night I attended the September meeting of the Broughty Ferry Community Council who meet in the Broughty Ferry Library.

One of the regular items on the agenda is reports from elected members.

Here are some extracts from my report, which I read out at the meeting of the Community Council: 

• I have been working with the Environment Department on issues raised about the coastal walkway/cyclepath between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrrace.
• Work is well advanced to improve the drainage on the raised sections of the path west of the Dundee Sailing Club Centre and beneath Ravenscraig. This should ensure that the slime does not grow back and spread across the path again.
• The brambles and nettles have been cut back on Beach Lane. There is a commitment to improve the surface of the path where it is currently muddy. This is important because this path will become the main access route to Grassy Beach from central Broughty Ferry when the final section of the unimproved raised section of the coastal pathway is closed for upgrading.
• A quarterly cleaning of the coastal pathway has been programmed. It will be undertaken by a small mechanical sweeper from the Stannergate end as far as the steps up to the footbridge over the railway  This will be extended as far as Douglas Terrace when the last unimproved section of the coastal pathway is upgraded.
• I have been very concerned about the recent decision of the Development Management Committee of the Council with regard to relaxing the planning conditions on Sainsburys and the admission by the Director of City Development that no routine checks had been made on developers such as large retailers to see whether they had been complying with planning conditions.

One of the Community Councillors, Ken Anderson, reminded me and the meeting that I had also been taking up the issue of traffic calming measures in the narrower section of Camphill Road and he endorsed what I had been promoting along with the residents.

Broughty Ferry Waterfront from the Stannergate to the Dighty

I was in Tayport this morning. Standing on the harbour wall provides an uninterrupted view point across the estuary towards Broughty Ferry. It was here that I shot this short video, on my hand held Panasonic TZ10 camera. 

The video begins its sweep at the the western, Stannergate, end of The Ferry coastline and pans slowly to Balmossie Station and the Dighty at the eastern boundary. Apologies for the camera shake.

Its a fine coastline, I am sure you will agree. As a former Ferry Councillor used to say, 

'Broughty Ferry is the jewel in the Dundee crown'.

Support for Granting Planning Permission for the Final Section of the Coastal Path Between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace

On Monday evening 13 August, at the Development Management meeting, the Committee approved the planning permission for:

'The refurbishment of a multispan structure which carries a public footpath and will include the removal of an existing parapet, installation of a new post and rail barrier, infilling under the structure and surfacing in asphalt and' on land adjacent to Douglas Terrace.'

The committee report from the Director of City Development recommended approval.

At the Committee, I sought assurances that the Council as developer would ensure that the building works were phased in the manner which would reduce restrictions on public access to the cyclepath and footpath throughout the contract period. In particular that access was maintained where practicable via Beach Lane over the footbridge which joins the coastal path just adjacent to western end of the final section of the raised section of the coastal walkway that remains to be upgraded.

I emphasised the value of this existing right of way to walkers and cyclists using National Cycling Route 1 and this section of the Dundee Green Circular whether for fun, fitness or commuting. I also requested clear signage for the diversionary routes that would need to be in place for cyclists and pedestrians. 

I was pleased to receive a comprehensive reassurance from the Director of City Development, Mike Galloway, that maintaining access to the remaining section of the coastal pathway during the upgrading works and signalling diversionary routes would be undertaken.

Notwithstanding these temporary difficulties, I also emphasised that we should not lose sight of the prize of an upgraded coastal pathway all they way between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace which should enhance the experience of walking and cycling along the river safely segregated from motorised road traffic. This pathway and the southerly views it affords over the river to Tayport and Tentsmuir Forest and to the East towards Douglas Terrace and Broughty Castle is one of the veritable jewels in the Broughty Ferry Crown. 

I also said that I trusted that this planning permission would trigger the subsequent contract to undertake the construction work and that I hoped to see the upgraded coastal pathway completed and open to mark the centenary of the annexation of Broughty Ferry in 2013.

Comprehensive Response by Council to Potential Underfoot Hazard on Coastal Walkway/Cyclepath

On Sunday 29 July I wrote to the Council about my concerns about the very slippery underfoot conditions (see photo) on a stretch of the coastal cyclepath/walkway midway between the Stannergate and Grassy Beach. 


On Monday 30 July I received a positive and detailed response from the Environment Department. They undertook to send in staff to remove all the vegetation along the southern side of the walkway which would be followed up by a mechanical sweeper.


They had also undertaken to clarify the responsibility for the cleaning of the small drains on this section of the walkway/cyclepath which they agreed were blocked and needed to be flushed out.


On Friday 3 August, I received a further update from the Environment Department confirming that the footpath had had the weeds removed from the Stannergate through to Douglas Terrace on Friday 6 August, the sweeping machine had been programmed for Monday 6 August prior to new drains being installed on Tuesday 7 August.


Well done to the staff at the Environment Department for a prompt and comprehensive response.

Slippery Hazard on Coastal Walkway/Cyclepath Between Stannergate and the Grassybeach

Water running over the coastal footpath/cyclepath running between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace has created what I think is a hazard, especially for walkers. 


Over the weekend, I could see that there was a short but very slippery stretch of green slime stretching across the path just beneath Ravenscraig Gardens. Water is usually oozing out of a cleft in the wall beneath the railway line at this  point. The unusually high levels of rainfall in June and July have presumably led to a greater volume of water running over the path. This in turn has created the conditions for a more extensive area of green fungal slime. This has created very slippery under foot conditions which for an unsuspecting person might lead to a serious slip or fall.


On Sunday, I wrote to the Environment Department to notify them about what I think is a potential hazard and ask that they clean off the surface of the path at the point I have indicated as well as unblock the drains on the seaward side of the path so that running water drains away more efficiently.