Free Guided Tours of the Old Steeple in Dundee Saturdays and Wednesdays in July and August 2016

This summer’s programme of public access to one of Dundee’s unique historical buildings is not to be missed! 

This is a great opportunity to see the fascinating collection of Medieval Gravestones or discover the history of the building by pre-booking an informative Guided tour of The Steeple itself.

Saturdays 2, 9 and 30 July and 6 and 27 August 2016
 
Wednesdays 13 and 20 July and 10 and 17 August 2016

Ground Floor open from 10am-3pm
 
Guide Tours of The Old Steeple start at 10.30am and 1pm and last approx. 1 hour.

Please note that Guided Tours are strenuous and are not suitable for children under 5 or visitors with restricted mobility. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission FREE, but booking essential on 01382 307200

The Old Steeple, St Mary's Tower, Overgate, Dundee, DD1 4DG

John Swinney Announces Step Towards End of Council Responsibility for Schools

Earlier today the Cabinet Secretary for Education, John Swinney MSP launched the Scottish Government's new plan, Delivering Excellence and Equity in Scottish Education.

In his plan John Swinney takes a further step towards removing the role of local councils in our schools by announching a consultation in the early Autumn:

 "We will launch a Governance Review alongside the Programme for Government in September 2016. 

This review will examine the system changes required to deliver our commitments to empower schools, decentralise management and the support through the encouragement of school clusters and creation of new educational regions. 

The reforms are designed to ensure that parents, colleges, universities and local employers can better support efforts to raise attainment and ensure that young people progress intopositive destinations. Our clear objective is to devolve decision making and funding to schools and communities. This process will run in parallel with the review of the impactof the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 by the National Parent Forum of Scotland."

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.

Waterfest Saturday 2nd July 2016 - Broughty Ferry Harbour 10am to 4pm

Come and experience a variety of watersports and activity displays.  A great day out for all the family!

Ancrum Outdoor Centre has teamed up with local watersport clubs & organisations including Dundee Sailing Club, The Royal Tay Yacht Club, The Dundee Sub Aqua Club, Tayside Sea Kayakers, Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, RNLIA, Outdoor Explore and other organisations to offer a range of activities you can come and try for FREE.

Come and get a taster in sailing, sea kayaking, powerboating and see some water displays.  Bring a towel and a sense of adventure!

Flood Risk Managment Plan for Dundee and Broughty Ferry Published

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 required the relevant responsible authorities to work together to produce a Flood Risk Management Plan for their respective Local Plan Districts with the aim of reducing overall risk of flooding from whatever source.

Dundee is contained within the Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District and, as the appointed lead local authority, Angus Council are responsible for publishing our Plan.

The finalised "Local Flood Risk Management Plan: Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District" has now been published and is available to read or download from the link below:-

http://www.angus.gov.uk/downloads/file/2396/tay_estuary_and_montrose_basin_local_flood_risk_management_plan

Dundee Armed Forces Day Parade Saturday 25 June 2016

Yesterday I attended the Armed Forces' Day Parade in the City Square in Dundee.

The main focus of the event, was a military parade made up of contingents from local reserve forces, veteran associations and cadets, who marched from Dundee High School at 12.30 via Reform Street to City Square.

It was an opportunity to acknowledge, past and current members of the armed forces and to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Updated and Improved National Entitlement Card for Older People Due to be Introduced Autumn 2016

Click on image to enlarge

If you are over 60 years old and your card has the OneScotland logo, a new style card will automatically be sent to your registered address before your current one expires. You don’t need to do anything.

Your current card may not be due to expire for several months however, new cards are being sent to everyone in advance of this and you should destroy any old bus passes now to avoid confusion.

The new style card has the mygovscot logo – replacing the One Scotland logo - see illustrations

You will notice that the new style over 60s card no longer has a valid to date. This means it is now a card for life. Cards issued on the grounds of disability will continue to display a “valid to” date.

If your current card has the mygovscot logo, then you already have the new card and will not need a replacement.

Card replacements
Please check that the photograph and personal details on your new card are correct.  If any are not, or if this card is for someone who is no longer at the address, telephone the number on the back of the card to report this. When you receive your new card you need to start using it immediately and destroy any old cards you have.

Overhanging Shrubs Reported on Path Between Beach Lane and Grassy Beach

Earlier in the week, a constituent contacted me to complain about the overgrown hedges and overhanging shrubs on the path connecting Beach Lane and Grassy Beach in The Ferry.

When I walked this stretch of pathway on Wednesday afternoon, I took some photos. Subsequently, I contacted staff in the Environment Department to ask that these shrubs and the hedging are cut back. 

On Thursday morning I received a positive reply to let me know that the cutting back would be scheduled in next week.

Baldragon Summer Concert Showcases Talented Pupils and Fine Quality of Instrumental Tuition

Last night I attended the Summer Concert at Baldragon Academy. This is always an entertaining evening, and last night was no exception.

A range of groups made music from a wide variety of genres; from the String Ensemble playing a movement from Dvořák's New World Symphony to the Soul Band's rendition of Jess Glynne's 'Hold My Hand'.  

Interspersed with the bands and groups, senior pupils played their Higher and Advanced Higher Music solo performance pieces.

The stand out solo performance for me was TJ Douglas Welsh's moving rendition of the song 'Defying Gravity' from the musical Wicked. TJ will be performing this later in the summer with Dundee Schools' Music Theatre.

It was also good to hear younger pupils performing including pupils from Baldragon's cluster Primary Schools. I was very impressed with the Trombone Solo from S1 pupil Natasha Borsch and the enthusiasm and pounding rhythms from the P7 Samba Percussion Group from Sidlaw View Primary School. 

Once again this concert demonstrated the strength of the Music Department at Baldragon Academy and the fine support from the peripatetic instrumental tutors and city wide bands and orchestras. They are clearly very effective at nurturing musicality amongst the pupils at Baldragon and its cluster primary schools.

Visit to VandA Dundee Construction Site

Earlier today, I took the opportunity to visit the VandA Dundee construction site with a group of City Councillors. This seemed important for three key reasons.

Firstly, when I was first elected in May 2007, I was an enthusiast for bringing the VandA Design Museum to Dundee when this idea was broached. I was therefore keen to see how the construction of this iconic building was progressing.

Secondly, this design museum, and it future role as the 'anchor project at the redeveloped Dundee Waterfront, embodies many of our hopes for a brighter economic and cultural future for our City. 

Thirdly, on Monday evening the Policy and Resources Committee of the Council will be considering a progress report on the VandA Dundee and the opportunity for a site visit brought this report to life and helped me prepare for the meeting. 

What I could see and was shown was the emergence of the Kengo Kuma and Associates' designed building. Appropriately, it is rising phoenix like with its foundations built using the recycled crushed rubble from the unloved Tayside House that was demolished on the other side of the waterfront site.

Dundee: One City, Many Discoveries.

Temporary Road Closure for Gas Main Renewal Forthill Road and Fort Street for Eight Weeks from 4 July 2016

Dundee City Council (Forthill Road and Fort Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee) (Temporary Prohibition of Driving) Order 2016

Dundee City Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating gas main renewal works.  The Order is expected to be in force for eight weeks from 4 July 2016.  Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in (Phase 1) Forthill Road from Fintry Place to Nursery Road and (Phase 2) Forthill Road from Nursery Road to Fort Street and Fort Street from Forthill Road to Queen Street.

Phase 2 will follow the completion of Phase 1 and both phases are likely to last for 4 weeks.

An alternative route will be available via Balgillo Road, Ballinard Road, Claypotts Road, Queen Street, Fort Street and Forthill Road.

Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to Mark Cobb, Network Management Team, City Development Department, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee  DD1 1LS, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date.  If you have any queries please contact Mr Cobb on 01382 433082.

Second Ferry Food Fayre Sunday 14 August 2016 Best Western Woodlands Hotel 12-4:30pm

The second Ferry Food Fayre has just been confirmed for 12-4:30pm on Sunday 14 August 2016, the last weekend of the school summer holidays.

After the great success of the initial Fayre, this year promises to be bigger and bettter with more space for the public to 'See, Do, Eat and Drink'.

Certainly a great afternoon out to put in the diary - more details to follow.

Broughty Ferry Flood Protection Scheme - Exhibition Material Available Online

Click on map to enlarge

If you missed the Drop-In Consultation day in Broughty Ferry, you can still find out more about the Council's initial proposals for Flood Protection Measures in Broughty Ferry (Grassy Beach to the Esplanade).

The Council's presentation to the community council meeting on 7th June and the exhibition material from the drop-in consultation on 1st June are currently on display at the foyer of Dundee House,50 North Lindsay Street Dundee DD1 1QE . The exhibition material will be on display until Friday 24th June. Any person wishing to view the material and requires further explanation should ask for Gavin Smith or Michael Sandeman at reception.

Staff have also uploaded a video of the 3D animation to YouTube at the following link: https://youtu.be/GDcCvSrCVxw

They have also created a webpage on Dundee city Council's website where more detailed drawings can be viewed:
https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/BroughtyFerryFloodProtection

Forthill Out of School Club Celebrates 20 Successful Years

On Monday I visited the Forthill Out of School Club at Forthill Primary School. I held off writing about this until today to coincide with the Club's 20th anniversary. 

My meeting was with the enthusiastic and capable Manager of the Club. Margot Bruce, whose employment at the Club stretches back 19 years. 

The Club has consistently received some of the highest gradings available in their external assessments by the Care Commission. In the conclusion to their most recent report, the Inspector wrote: 
"The Out of School Club offered exceptional opportunities for children to learn and play in a safe and nurturing environment. The staff cared for each child as an individual, promoting a culture of friendship and respect for others. The children we spoke to said the club was 'fantastic', parents/carers also confirmed that the staff in the club were committed, conscientious practitioners. There was a wide range of learning and play experiences available to the children, which stimulated their imagination and creativity. The staff promoted the children's confidence by encouraging them to assess risks for themselves. Activities and resources were continually assessed by staff to ensure each child's interests were supported."

Clearly, the Forthill Out of School Cate Club provides exceptionally good quality pre-school, after school, and holiday services. Their 'wrap around' and quality child care and learning services are obviously appreciated and relied upon by many parents and carers. 

Best wishes to the Club for the next 20 years.

Nine Pavements in The Ferry to be Upgraded and Adopted in 2016-17

I am pleased to announce that the Council's £0.5m programme of adopting footpaths is continuing for financial year 2016-17 and that the following pavements in The Ferry will be upgraded and then adopted at no cost to residents in these streets.

Stewart Street,
Hill Road,
Strathmore Street (63 Strathmore Street to Rosedale Crescent and Rosedale Crescent to Ellie Avenue),
Collingwood Street (south side),
Holly Road,
Lindsay Street,
Ardmore Avenue and
Kerrington Crescent (south side)

It is expected that the work will commence on these schemes on a phased basis starting approximately one month from now once the actual programming of the works has been discussed and agreed with Tayside Contracts as part of the Roads Maintenance Partnership.

I know that the residents in these streets will be particularly pleased when their pavements are brought up to standard. This will not only improve the underfoot conditions on the pavements concerned but also mean pedestrians are not tempted to walk in the road when the pavements are like a quagmire.