Coastal Pathway Improvements Nearing Completion

Works started on the upgrading of the Coastal Pathway near Douglas Terrace just before Christmas and it's now nearing completion. 

Kilmac, the contractors, have kept to the contract period, despite contending with many periods of poor weather and a narrow period of time to work on the beach between the tides. 

The picture shows the row of new railings going up on the upgraded section of the walkway which begins just beyond the lifebuoy ring. 

Working from the Douglas Terrace end, gradually the extended width of the pathway is being opened up as the safety railings are erected.  I am advised however that there may be one further period of closure when tarmac is put down over the concrete along the full length and breadth of the upgraded section of the pathway.

I am sure walkers, dog walkers and cyclists will all appreciate the additional width of the upgraded path when it is completed in the next couple of weeks. 

Hazardous Dropped Bollard in Dawson Park Reported

Click on image to enlarge

A constituent, who is a regular dog walker in Dawson Park, contacted me to complain about a dropped bollard in Dawson Park.

They were worried that it meant that vehicles that would otherwise be prevented by the barrier from driving into the park might now take a wrong turn into the grassed area. 

Click on image to enlarge

Additionally, they thought that the barrier lying prostrate on the ground presented a trip hazard.


I of course decided not to model my response on Bob Servant Independent, who infamously proposed to ban dogs from Dawson Park.

I have requested that Staff from the Environment Department secure the bollard with a padlock.

  

Update on Dog Fouling in The Ferry - Not the Bob Servant Solution

My recent press coverage about shortages in the supply of the Council's free dog poo bags resulted in many follow up conversations with folk in Broughty Ferry and beyond. For some responsible dog owners, it's the shortage of dog bins in certain locations such as Ferryfields and Central Broughty Ferry which is the issue. I have taken this up with the Environment Department. For others, it is concern about the irresponsible dog owners who, despite the bags and bins from the Council, don't clean up after their dogs. 

Dog owners can be reassured that I am not about to take the approach adopted by Bob Servant the Independent Candidate in the Broughty Ferry parliamentary by-election. By the way it's screening on BBC4 and BBC2 Scotland from later this week. In a telephone phone-in on the local radio station, he advocates banning all dogs from Dawson Park.

But seriously, I would like to see some fixed penalty fines being issued to errant owners who don't clean up after their dogs. The Council has these powers, but rarely seems to make use of these. This might make dog walkers think twice about not cleaning up after their dogs.

On a more positive note, I was notified about Dog Training Classes that run at the Brooksbank Community Centre on Pitairlie Road. They provide dog training to around 80 dog owners and their dogs every week. Monday night 6 - 7pm is for Puppies and 7 - 8pm is for Adult Dogs. These classes are repeated on Saturday mornings 10 - 11am and 11 - 12am £5 per week Concessions £3.  Brooksbank Centre, Pitairlie Road, Dundee DD4 8DG. Phone:  01382 432450

Council's Dog Poop Bags in Short Supply in Broughty Ferry

A  number of constituents have approached me to complain about the short supply of the Council's Dog Poop bags. Earlier this month these constituents tried the Library and their vets and they were both out of stock. When they returned a few days later to the Library on Queen Street, they were limited to one bundle of poop bags even though they own more than one dog.

I have written to the Director of Environmental Services, Ken Laing, and the Convener of the Environment Committee, Councillor Craig Melville, to enquire why Broughty Ferry residents are losing out and for reassurance that these shortages will be sorted out without further delay. I have also asked for reassurance that  they will not contemplate phasing out supplying these bags in their next round of budget cuts.  When this latter issue was raised with Ken Laing, about a years ago, he was quoted as saying:

'As a department we are looking at all opportunities for future savings and I am aware that this possible option (of phasing out the provision of free dog poop bags) has been discussed internally. I can confirm that we have no plans to remove this provision at present.'

I think that the supply of these bags, along with the provision of more than 1300 dog waste bins throughout the city, contributes to much cleaner streets. It would be a step in the wrong direction to remove the supply of the bags, which clearly many Ferry dog owners have come to rely on.

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.