Free Beachie Heritage Walk in Broughty Ferry starting from St James Church Friday 1 November 2013

As part of the series of community events to mark the centenary of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee, Broughty Ferry Churches have organised a number of events this week called the The Broughty Ferry Centenary Church Trail. 

On Friday 1 November 2013 (tomorrow) there will be a free Beachie Heritage Walk conducted by, knowledgeable local resident and former Councillor, Charlie Webster.

2.00-2.45: Beachie Heritage Walk starting from St James Church, followed by refreshments. Free but booking required. Any donations to RNLI. Broughty Ferry St James (Church of Scotland)
5 Fort St, DD5 2AD

To book or for information please contact Charlie Webster
Telephone 079414 85502 Email charliewebster16c@gmail.com

Link to full programme of the complete programme of events in The Broughty Ferry Centenary Church Trail

Unfortunately Douglas Terrace DD5 is NOT About to be Resurfaced

Earlier this month I was delighted to announce that Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry was about to be resurfaced starting on Monday 21 October 2013. 

I had previously drawn attention to the Roads Maintenance Partnership about potholes in this street and the pavements.

When I noticed that no work had started over the last week, I contacted the Transportation Department to inquire about the reasons for the delay. Unfortunately I was informed that the original notice about the temporary closure of the road while the road works were going on had been wrongly sent to Ferry Councillors. I for my part must put my hand up and say I should have read all of the details in an attachment that would have alerted me to the fact that The Douglas Terrace to be resurfaced was in DD3 and not DD5.

Bearing in mind the condition of this stretch of the road along the beachfront, I have written to ask for a date when our Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry will be resurfaced.

Open this Afternoon from 1pm - Our Lady of Good Counsel Church as Part of Broughty Ferry Centenary Church Trail

Tuesday 29 October
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Roman Catholic Church

Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry DD5 1ED

Programme for afternoon

1.00-3.00: Guided tour, refreshments and music

1.15-2.15: Welcome by Fr McCarthy and guided talk on key features: the tabernacle, altar of reservation, centenary wall hanging and stained glass windows

2.15-3.00: Light refreshments, organ music and bells


Link to full programme of the complete programme of events in The Broughty Ferry Centenary Church Trail

Temporary Closure of Long Lane West of Gray Street Beginning on Thursday 31 October for 5 Working Days

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1)

The Dundee City Council as Traffic Authority being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of SSE cabling works being carried out hereby prohibit the driving of any vehicle in Long Lane (from its junction with Gray Street to approx. 30metres west), Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Thursday 31 October 2013 for 5 working days.

The one-way order relating to this section of Long Lane will be revoked for the duration of these works.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Union Street/King Street.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

Mike P Galloway, Director of City Development, Dundee City Council

Dundee Free Fireworks Displays 5 November 2013

Dundee's free firework displays will take place as usual on Tuesday 5 November 2013 in Lochee Park and Baxter Park.

The programme for both venues is as follows:

6pm - Radio Tay roadshow
6.15pm - Lighting of the bonfire
7pm  - Firework display begins
7.25pm - Finish

In the interests of safety please DO NOT bring Fireworks, Sparklers or Chinese Lanterns to the Displays.

No Parking in both parks. Free admission.

Volunteer with Brae Riding for Disabled Awarded Sunday Mail Community Champion 2013

Harry helping to muck out at the stables

Congratulations to ninety one year old Harry Nunn who last night was awarded Sunday Mail Community Champion 2013 at an awards ceremony in Glasgow. 

Harry, Scotland’s oldest volunteer, spends three days a weeks helping children and adults with learning difficulties at The Brae Riding for the Disabled in The Ferry.

Harry was voted for by thousands of customers of Lidl and of course supporters from Brae.

Harry is a wonderful demonstration that it's never too late to volunteer.

The Brae Riding for the Disabled
1 Linlathen Grove
Dundee DD5 3GL

Telephone: 01382 776880

Dundee Partnership Conference on Drugs and Alcohol - Supporting Recovery

This morning I attended the 'Dundee Partnership Conference on Drugs and Alcohol' which was held in the Central Baptist Church in Ward Road in Dundee.

Also present from The Ferry were representatives from Forthill and North Barnhill Tenants' groups as well as our Communities Officer, Carole Jenkins.

One of the themes of the morning was how routes to recovery could be improved and the role of families and communities might play in supporting that process.

This was a most worthwhile opportunity to listen to community members from across the city exchange their experiences of neighbourhoods dealing with lives blighted by the negative effects of drug and alcohol addictions. The feedback received will be used to help inform the revision to the strategy and plans of the Drugs and Alcohol Partnership in the city.

Broughty Ferry Centenary Church Trail and Ecumenical Service

Click on image to enlarge

Tuesday 29 October
Our Lady of Good Counsel (Roman Catholic) 
Westfield Road, DD5 1ED
1.00-3.00: Guided tour, refreshments and music.
1.15-2.15: Welcome by Fr McCarthy and guided talk on key features: the tabernacle, altar of reservation, centenary wall hanging and stained glass windows.
2.15-3.00: Light refreshments, organ music and bells.

Friday 1 November
Broughty Ferry St James (Church of Scotland)
5 Fort St, DD5 2AD
2.00-2.45: Beachie Heritage Walk starting from St James Church, followed by refreshments. Free but booking required. Any donations to RNLI. To book or for information please contact Charlie Webster Telephone 079414 85502 Email charliewebster16c@gmail.com

Saturday 2 November
St Stephen and West (Church of Scotland)
96 Dundee Road, DD5 1DW
10.00 - 4.00: Church open to visitors with displays including stained glass windows, overseas Meru project in Kenya and its links with Broughty Ferry community groups, our recent journey to linkage with St Mary’s Parish Church, Dundee. Refreshments available.

Saturday 2 November
St Luke’s and Queen Street (Church of Scotland)
5 West Queen Street, DD5 1AU
10.00 - 12.00: Church open for visitors. Display of youth handwork on the theme ‘Our Church’. Organ music and refreshments.

Saturday 2 November
Barnhill St Margaret’s Church (Church of Scotland)
10, Invermark Terrace DD5 2QU
10.00 - 4.00: Church open to visitors
10.00-12.00: Guild coffee morning, to which all are welcome. Displays of work locally with schools, Starter Packs, Dundee Foodbank and overseas with Mary’s Meals and orphanage and feeding programme in the Phillippines.

Saturday 2 November
St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church
Queen Street, DD5 1AJ
10.30-4.00: church open to visitors, displaying the work of Mothers’ Union (only branch in the diocese of Brechin)
St Mary’s Home and Overseas Support Project and Balgillo Nursery. 11.00: Demonstration of ‘Sing and Sign’ communication technique with small babies. 2.30-3.00: Talk by Mr Chris Davey, historian, former lecturer Dundee
University, co author of ‘The Memory of Broughty Ferry’ written to mark the incorporation of Broughty Ferry into Dundee.
3.00-3.30: Organ recital by Mr Gordon Foster, organist from the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

Sunday 3 November
Broughty Ferry New Kirk (Church of Scotland)
370 Queen Street, DD5 2HQ
Ecumenical Service with joint churches’ choir and pupils from Grove Academy, followed by refreshments. Displays of work locally and overseas including 65th and 81st Dundee Guides and 44th Dundee company of the Boys Brigade, Broughty Ferry’s only BB company.
Winner of the School Poetry Competition will be announced and entries will also be on display.

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.

Were Junction Improvements on Broughty Ferry Road a Good Investment?

Drivers heading from The Ferry to the Dundee City centre must wonder for whom the new right turn on Broughty Ferry Road was introduced?

This new turn with filter traffic lights leads onto Greendykes Road leading up to the Kingsway at the 'Scott-Fyffe' roundabout. It seems it's a junction where few drivers travelling west choose to use the new opportunity to turn right at the lights.

It wouldn't be such an issue if the bill for the junction 'upgrading' had not been so substantial. The upgrading of the road and junction was part of a £2+ million contract to upgrade the bridge into the docks at the Stannergate and improve links to the Kingsway for new green energy manufacturing. This was approved, with rather scant detail, at the City Development Committtee on 27 June 2011.

Significantly, when wind turbines were recently landed at Dundee Port and transportation arranged to Aberdeenshire, new direct lanes were engineered straight through the middle of the Stannergate roundabout for the articulated trucks to go directly up Strips of Craigie Drive. So much for the new enhanced junction on Broughty Ferry Road; it's dog leg corner which would clearly defeat lesser loads negotiating the corner.

I now have doubts about whether this part of the contract was a wise investment of public funds.

Clementine of Broughty Ferry Win Another Prestigious Award

Congratulations to our innovative retailers Jan McTaggart and Carole Sommerville, the joint proprietors of Clementine of Broughty Ferry.

Their shop is included in the list of Winners of the prestigious Observer Food Monthly Awards 2013 for best independent retailer - runners up. These businesses, from around the UK,  were chosen by OFM readers and announced in The Observer this Sunday, 20 October 2013.

Click on extract from Observer to enlarge

"Dundee grocer famed for its Soup in bag, everything you need to make their soup of the week."

Clementine of Broughty Ferry

103 Gray Street DD5 2DN 01382 738939

Open Mon – Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm

www.clementineofbroughtyferry.com  

The people of Tayside: Save YOUR Tayside Fire Control

FIVE of Scotland’s eight fire control rooms are set to be closed following the creation of a single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board on 26th September in Aberdeen agreed in principle - by a single vote - to retain only three of the current control centres serving the country as part of a major rationalisation plan.

Under the proposals, which will now go out to public consultation, the control room at Johnstone in Renfrewshire is almost certain to be retained and two other control centres will be kept from a four strong list of centres at Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Sign the online petition to keep our local fire and Rescue control centre in Dundee

Consultation on Review of Statement Of Licensing Policy 2013-2016

In terms of Section 6 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, the Licensing Board of Dundee City Council is obliged to review its Statement of Licensing Policy by the end of 2013.
The Board has already reviewed its policy on licensing hours for each premises in the city. At its meeting on 19th September 2013, it decided that premises which operate as traditional “public houses” or bars will be allowed to open until 0100 Friday/Saturday, premises with “substantial entertainment” (which shall not include karaoke or recorded music) can open until 0200 Friday/Saturday, and purpose-built nightclubs and other dedicated entertainment premises are allowed to open until 0300 Friday/Saturday.
 
Insofar as the remainder of the Board’s policy statement is concerned, the Board is pleased to receive any comments on the contents thereof. The statement can be found on the licensing pages of the Dundee City Council website or a copy can be inspected at the Licensing Office at 18 City Square, Dundee. In particular, the Board would welcome comments on the following,
 

• are there any areas of the city which may be overprovided with licensed premises (either generally or of a specific type, e.g., off-sales) and, if so, which areas are these?
• in light of the Board’s new policy on licensing hours set out above, should the Board continue with its current policy of allowing an additional hour over and above these closing times at trade holidays, Christmas, etc.?

A report summarising responses to this consultation will be submitted to the Board at its meeting on 14th November 2013. The consultation period runs until Thursday 31st October 2013. Responses can be sent to the Clerk to the Licensing Board, 21 City Square, Dundee DD1 3BY or by e-mail to licensing.board@dundeecity.go.uk
 

New Street Signs Help Locate Hidden Streets

Two new street signs have been erected to help direct folk to a row of cottages in one of the hidden wee roads in Broughty Ferry.
Residents in Constable Lane live in cottages that lie close to the Dundee Aberdeen railway line and parallel with the main Dundee Road on the other side. Some of the residents requested better signage to help taxi drivers, emergency services and visitors to their front doors. 
They also wanted a sign to help people along the way to Constable Lane via St Roque's Place, another street name that had gone missing from recent published maps.

The City Development Department have obliged with two smart new signs.

United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Today is United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “The massive and growing gap between the richest and poorest in Scotland is damaging society as a whole. It doesn’t have to be like that. Poverty is created by the decisions we make as a society."

The reality of poverty in Scotland

The wealthiest households in Scotland are 273 times richer than the poorest households. This gap looks set to get bigger in coming years

Nearly 200,000 children in Scotland are living in poverty. UK welfare changes will push at least another 50,000 children into poverty by 2020 if they go through as planned.

In Glasgow, one out of three children live in poverty. In Dundee, West Dunbartonshire and North Ayrshire it is around one in four. Across the country the figure is nearly one in five.

A boy born in the most deprived 10% of areas has a life expectancy of 68: 8 years below the national average and 14 years below boys born in the least deprived areas.

Since 2008, the number of people in poverty who are working has risen from 255,000 to 280,000.

Since 2008, the number of under-25s who are unemployed has almost doubled to 90,000.

The number of people working part-time, who want a full-time job, has risen from 70,000 in 2008 to 120,000 in 2012.

For every full-time vacancy at Jobcentres in Scotland, there are eight claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance in Scotland. In West Dunbartonshire there are 40 claimants for every full-time vacancy.
(Source: Third Force News)