Potholes at Entrance to Car Park on the Esplanade Reported

Constituents have complained to me about the very uneven surface at the entrance to the car park located midway along The Esplanade. As can be seen in the picture, a number of potholes have developed and are getting worse. 

This is a well used free car park which offers visitors and residents alike a good place to park with easy access to the beach and the grassy margin between the dunes and The Esplanade.

I have asked the Environment Department to arrange for the potholes to be filled in and a more even surface restored.

Trip Hazard on Beach Steps - Watch Your Step

On Wednesday a constituent brought to my attention a defect at the top of the set of concrete steps between the Esplanade and the Beach.

As you can see, one of the tiles at the top of the steps has become detached and is sitting at a crooked angle. The seating of some of the tiles in the same row has also become exposed.

As these steps are relatively new, I hope that the original contractor can be deployed to refix these tiles during what would amount to the defects liability period.

I trust that now that I have reported this, whomsoever is responsible can remove this potential trip hazard speedily. 

In the meanwhile, please watch your step!

Public Consultation - Reshaping the Dunes BFerry Beach - Drop In Wed 21 January 2 - 8 pm Castle Green Centre

Click on plan to enlarge

On Wednesday 21 January Broughty Ferry residents and traders have the opportunity to find out more about the City Council's planning application to alter the shape and reinforce the base of the dunes at Broughty Ferry beach. This is one of a series of coastal protection measures the Council is bringing forward to minimize the risk of flooding along the Dundee City coastline. 

There will be a drop-in Consultation Event at the Castle Green Leisure Centre, St Vincent Street, Broughty Ferry between 2-8pm on Wednesday 21 January 2015. The event will provide residents and other interested parties an opportunity to look through drawings and details associated with the proposals as well as the opportunity to ask questions on the day.  

The public consultation period for the application is to be extended until Wednesday 4 February at 5pm to allow for any further comments after this event.

The full details of the planning application are as follows:
Reshaping, increased height, planting and formation of access points on the existing Dune system at the Esplanade, Broughty Ferry. Works to include for screened defence works at base of dunes on seaward side. Planning Application Ref: 14/00761/FULL
Link to Planning Application Documents and Plans

Unfortunate Timing of Maintenance of Wastewater Pumping Station and Storage Tank Beneath Car Park at Bferry Beach

On Thursday 5 June 2014, Scottish Water circulated an email advising that from Sunday 8 June they would be undertaking some major maintenance work on the wastewater pumping station and storage tank sitting below the car park at Broughty Ferry Beach. As the map show this is located below ground level in Windmill Car Park at the beginning of the Esplanade.

The pumping station and storage tank, which is invisible at ground level has an underlying structure which is around 26 metres in diameter and 10 meters deep. In the interests of protecting their staff, the public and the environment during this work and to maintain safe working areas and allow access for plant and equipment, they will set up 2 small compounds within the car park which will unfortunately restrict parking for a short period of time. Details are shown in the aeriel view above. 

Scottish Water wrote:"The work can be summarised as emptying, cleaning and maintaining the storage tank. The work will commence Sunday 8th June 2014 and is expected to take around 6-7 days to complete. The work won’t affect drainage of the Broughty Ferry sewer network and won’t cause any harm to the water environment. With open manhole covers and cleaning units being used, there may be some localised odour from time to time but this will be monitored and mitigated wherever possible. There will be some overnight working to empty the storage tank but this will be done using specialist low noise pumps." 

"We appreciate that this work will cause a short term disruption to the car park so are keen to let as many people and organisations know of the activity and that it is being carefully planned and managed. We are aware of the planning that goes into the Broughty Ferry Gala Week so are aiming to have all work completed as soon as possible. In addition to nearby residents, we have also advised Dundee City Council Ward Councillors, City Engineer, Roads, Parks & Leisure, Environmental Health and Beach Management teams. We have also notified SEPA, Broughty Ferry Community Council, Broughty Ferry Traders Association, Broughty Ferry Beach Management Group, Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association, a local fitness group who regularly use the beach and operators of the new tourist Land Train."

While Scottish Water are aware of the forthcoming Gala they do not seem to be aware that their major maintenance work will overlap with the official start of the bathing season on Saturday 14 June 2014 which will not be enhanced by what they euphemistically refer to as, "some localised odour".

If you require any further information then please call Scottish Water’s 24hr Customer Helpline on 0845 601 8855 or email customer.services@scottishwater.co.uk

Successful Litter Pick on Broughty Ferry Beach

At lunch time today I joined a group of volunteers undertaking a litter pick on the Broughty Ferry sandy beach. We focused our attention on the stretch of beach running from the Dighty Burn towards Broughty Ferry Castle.

Whilst the volume of rubbish we collected over a period of an hour looks considerable, some of the waste materials appeared to have come from the weather damaged sand dunes. When the Esplanade was widened many years ago, some of the rubble that was deposited apparently contained rubbish.

Other rubbish collected included glass and plastic drinks bottles which had been carelessly left on the beach or thrown iinto the water and washed up on our beach.

Planning Application for Glass Pavilion Flats Refused

Click on image to enlarge

At the Development Management Committee last night, the committee considered a number of Planning Applications. 

Amongst these was an application for planning permission and listed building consent for the Glass Pavilion on The Esplanade. 

Consent was sought "for works to substantially extend the single storey Glass Pavilion Restaurant by constructing two storeys of residential accommodation above, to the rear and partly to the sides of the existing extended Listed Building."

Following objections from the Community Council and residents, the Committee refused the planning application. 

I hope this decision to refuse permission for this development means that we can continue to enjoy using and admiring the existing elegant and iconic Glass Pavilion building on The Esplanade.

Responses From The Council to Broughty Ferry Issues: Some Positive News

Flowerbed weeded at Douglas Terrace open space
and re-seeded area the near the road
Click on image to enlarge

Over the four weeks, I have reported a number of environmental issues that had been raised with me by constituents. Many have had a satisfactory outcome while others are progressing towards a solution.

For example, I reported to the Environment Department attention was required at the triangle of open space at the end of Douglas Terrace. Part of this area had been used as a site compound by the contractor when they worked on the upgrading of the adjacent coastal pathway. As a first step, the flower beds have been weeded and the rutted 'grass' area re-surfaced and re-seeded.

At the end of May, two residents from dispersed sheltered housing in Anton Drive and Nursery Road asked me to request the removal of a steel container. This had apparently been left by the Council contractor that had been working on the kitchen and bathroom replacements in their houses. The residents wanted this shifted as the work had been finished for some time. Several days later the Housing Department arranged for the container to be uplifted.

On Wednesday this week, I reported a large patch of giant hogweed on the embankment next to a lay by on the eastbound stretch of the A92 between the East Balgillo Road and Panmurefield roundabouts. On Thursday the area was sprayed by the Council.

Last month, along with the Community Council, I commented on the very poor state of the fencing on the dunes beside the The Esplanade. This picket fencing had previously been put in to help stabilise the dunes and funnel members of the public to a few well demarcated crossing points onto the beach. Following storm force winds the fencing had been broken and the crossing points buried under accumulations of sand. I asked for a solution but none is yet forthcoming. As a constituent said to me this week, what are those scrappy bits of fencing doing?  I have written again to the Environment Department.

Sunday Afternoon Bandstand at Barnhill Rock Garden - Sunday 16 June 2-3 pm

Between 2 and 3 pm on Sunday 16 June 2013, Tayport Instrumental Band will be playing at Barnhill Rock Garden at the end of the Esplanade.

Those who enjoy brass band music should be in for an afternoon of great music in the sun at this free concert.

Enjoy!

Dundee Festival of Volunteering 1-7 June 2013 - Including Events in Broughty Ferry

Saturday 1st June is officially the start of summer. It is also the beginning of the one week Festival of Volunteering in Dundee - 1-7 June 2013. 

This is a celebration of the sterling work undertaken by our citizens week in, week out, on behalf of our community.

In Broughty Ferry there are two specific events to join in which are identified in the programme:

On Saturday 1st June beginning at 1:30 pm, Broughty Ferry in Bloom has organised a beach litter pick up. Litter picks, gloves and waste bags will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes. The event will last approximately 2 hours. Please meet in the car park at the bottom of Bridge Street/end of The Esplanade.

On Tuesday 4 June, there are opportunities to go on Volunteer Insight Tour at the Brae Riding Centre for the Disabled one in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you want insight into the work of Brae and are interested in volunteering with them contact Emma Bollan, their Volunteer Co-ordinator, to book a place. NB You need to pre-book participation in this event - you can't just turn up on the day.
Emma Bollan Volunteer Co-ordinator The Brae Riding for Disabled
email volunteercoordinator@brae.org.uk
telephone 01382 776880 | 07885851881

Read/download the full Festival of Volunteering Programme of Events

Broughty Beach Litter Pick Sat 1st June 2013 1:30-3:30pm

Beach Litter Pick Up
Saturday, June 01, 2013
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Broughty Ferry Beach, Esplanade

As part of Dundee's festival of Volunteering, Broughty Ferry in Bloom has organised a beach litter pick up.

Litter picks, gloves and waste bags will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes. The event will last approximately 2 hours. Please meet in the car park at the bottom of Bridge Street.

Demolished Beach Shelter Opens Up Magnificent Views of Broughty Castle

Residents in The Ferry and regular holiday visitors alike will notice that the derelict beach shelter on The Esplanade has been demolished.  They will be delighted to see the back of this blot on the landscape. 


Residents will be relieved that in time this area will be sensitively redeveloped as part of the Castle Green Masterplan. 


In the meanwhile, the cleared area will provide more parking spaces at the beach and of course its demolition opens up magnificent unobstructed view of Broughty Castle.

Derelict Beach Shelter on the Esplanade Demolished

Residents in The Ferry and regular visitors alike will notice that the derelict beach shelter on The Esplanade has been demolished.

Many folk will be surprised to learn that the demolition of such an eyesore needed approval from Historic Scotland, but the flat roofed building is in a conservation area. Now that that permission has been granted, the City Council has awarded a contract to demolish the building. The granting of this contract will be reported to the City Development Committee on Monday 27 June.

I think most Ferry folk will be delighted to see the back of this blot on the landscape and relieved that in time it will be redeveloped as part of the Castle Green Masterplan. In the meanwhile, it will provide more parking spaces at the beach.