Commenting on Shared Use Cycle and Pedestrian Pathway on Coupar Angus Road

I have received a detailed briefing about this proposal which has attracted matched funding from Sustrans.

This is a very positive development which will lead to the creation of an additional cycling route alongside the Coupar Angus Road from the Kingsway north to the boundary with Angus. I think it is well thought through and will provide links with cycle routes in the south at the Lochee Transport Hub and in the north with Muirhead and Birkhill. In fact, when Angus Council realise their aspiration for an off road cycletrack on a long stretch of the bed of the former Newtyle railway, there should be opportunities for a cycling route all the way to Newtyle.

This development will therefore see another shared use pathway for cycling and walking. In this instance, I hope that the relatively light current use by pedestrians will mean there should be less potential for future conflict between walkers and cyclists sharing the pathway. Recently, I was admiring the new signs at the beginning of the shared use coastal pathway between Douglas Terrace and the Stannergate. These signs urge all users to show consideration to each other. I assume that some of these will be deployed on this new shared use pathway.

Successful Cycling Engagement Event

Last night after attending Council Committee meetings in the main Council Chambers, I joined the latter part of the Cycling engagement event held in the Council's Committee rooms.

In the first event of its kind, close to seventy folk with an interest in cycling attended the event and took part in lively discussions in a round robin of three groups.


From this meeting, it is hoped a regular Cycling Forum will be formed. Participants were informed by staff from the Transportation Department that feedback from the initial event and subsequent meetings of the Cycling Forum will help inform future plans for cycling in our city.

On the basis of the turn out last night, I am optimistic that many of the interested individuals and organizations represented will want to sustain and develop their engagement with the Council's transportation department through participation in a Cycling Forum. 

Those folk who were not able to attend the meeting last night may send in their views or indicate their interest in being involved in future meetings of the Cycling Forum by emailing cycling@dundeecity.gov.uk

Job Done! Replacement Sign Post for Grassy Beach

Council staff in the Transportation and Environment Departments are to be commended for a speedy replacement of the rusted and leaning sign pole beside the coastal pathway at Grassy Beach.

The new pole with the warning signs and the Dog Poo Bin attached is pictured.

Redundant Road Sign Reported for Removal

A constituent complained to me that it was time the "School" traffic warning sign on Camphill Road at the corner of Dick Street was removed. 

The School to which this referred was Eastern Primary School on Whinny Brae and the school moved to the refurbished 'old' Grove Academy buildings on Camperdown Street just over two years ago.

I have asked the Transportation Department to arrange for the removal of this sign which is unnecessarily cluttering this corner of Camphill Road.

Rusted Sign Post on Grassy Beach Needs Replacement

Out dog walking last week, I spotted this sign post on Grassy Beach beside the coastal pathway. 

The post carries a road safety notice warning cyclists and pedestrians that they are sharing the same route and urging 'Cyclists Show Respect (for) Other Users'. It also carries a dog poo bin. 

As you can see from the two pictures, the post, for these signs and the bin, is badly corroded and needs replacement.

As the post carries items for the Transportation and the Environment Departments, this may need some collaborative interdepartmental working to get it replaced.

I have written to both departments and the Roads Maintenance Partnership and asked them to arrange for a replacement. In the meanwhile, I recommend you don't walk too close to this pole.

Breeding Bollards - A Helpful Answer and Solution

Earlier in this week, I wrote to the Council about the apparent duplication of bollards installed at the beginning of the coastal pathway at the Douglas Terrace end.

I have received a very helpful and detailed response to my email about this addressed to the Transportation Department: 

"There is a Prohibition of Driving Order 1992 for Douglas Terrace to Grassy Beach Walkway, Broughty Ferry with Article 2 of the order states no person shall drive any motor vehicle in or upon the length of the Douglas Terrace to Grassy Beach Walkway, Broughty Ferry, with exemptions for emergency services, maintenance by DCC Parks Department and HM Coastguard.

There has been reported incidents of other vehicles driving along a section of Grassy Beach and therefore there is the requirement for a removable bollard to be placed. 

The bollard nearest Douglas Terrace was damaged and there is evidence of vehicle over run on the grassed area adjacent to the footway of vehicles driving past the bollard.

To prevent vehicles driving down to Grassy Beach a new bollard was installed further south between the small walls without the temporary removal of the bollard."

The Transportation Department have also confirmed that unfortunately the Contractor did not remove the old existing bollard as instructed and arrangements have been made for the Contractor to remove the damaged 'original' bollard and reinstate the surface.

Bollards Breeding in Broughty Ferry?

Additional new bollard in the foreground
Click on image to enlarge

A second bollard has been inserted on the coastal pathway near the Douglas Terrace end. A bollard is required to block motorised traffic entering the pathway but quite why we need two in a row is beyond me.

A couple of months ago, I pointed out to the Transportation Department that there was a missing bollard at the Grassy Beach end of the upgraded section of the pathway but I was not aware of any reason why we should need to replace or duplicate the one at the Douglas Terrace end. 

I have written to the Transportation Department to ask for an explanation.

Dundee Road West Road Traffic Sign Concealed by Shrubs and Trees

Unsuspecting drivers approaching The Ferry driving along Dundee Road West will find that it is easy to miss the road sign warning of the 'hidden accesses' just over the rise in the road ahead.

As you can see its well concealed behind overgrown shrubs and trees. 

I have contacted the Environment and Transportation Department to draw attention to this and to request some early pruning by the householder or the Council.

Official Opening of the Upgraded Coastal Pathway in Broughty Ferry - Good Job!

On Wednesday I attended the official opening of the upgraded section of the coastal pathway that runs between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace. This marks the final stage of a ten year project to refurbish and improve the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry. This has local and wider significance.

For local people, this pathway is valued for walking, cycling and dog walking while folk enjoy the pleasures of river views and segregation from motor traffic. It is also a part of the Dundee green circular and a route into the city centre for those commuting by bike. Additionally, the extra width of this latest section of the pathway will make it easier for the sailors to manoeuvre their sailing craft on their trailers between the roadway at Douglas Terrace and their boat sheds and slipways at Grassy Beach.

Our coastal pathway is also an integral part of the National Cycling Route One between Dover in Kent and Shetland. These onward connections mean that cyclists can for example ride most of the way to Arbroath off road and on quiet back roads.

Interestingly, in this centenary year of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee, one of the promised benefits from this merger was an improvement in roads and paths between Broughty Ferry and Dundee which led to the original raised pathway being built along the shore. That this was a possibility was also testament to the foresight of the former Broughty Ferry Town Council that in 1901 secured the foreshore at the Grassy Beach in West Ferry for an annual feu of £25.

Hopefully the public investment in the upgrading work from one end to the other, will have secured this important community asset for many years to come.

Thanks are deserved to Sustrans the national sustainable transport charity that were major funders and the Council's Transportation staff. The work force of Kilmac, the contractors, also deserve praise for ingeniously keeping the pathway open while they undertook the upgrading work apart from a few days when a period of temporary closure could not be avoided.

Good job!

Forthill Drive Walkabout March 2013

Last month, on a bitterly cold afternoon, I took part in the annual walkabout around Forthill Drive and the surrounding streets. 

This was arranged by the Housing Department who had invited representatives from council and other services to walk round the estate with members of the Forthill Tenants' Association.

During the walk we were all able to identify housing and other environmental issues that needed attention.

In Forthill Place for example we identified that the road sign was hanging down and on closer inspection looked as though it had been hit by a reversing car. We also met residents who told us about their frustration with parents and carers who try to drive down Forthill Place to the side gate for Forthill Primary School and then find it difficult to turn or reverse all the way back to Forthill Drive. Forthill Place is the narrowest street on the Estate and has no pavements.

The drooping street sign and the issue of restricting access to Forthill Place has been reported to the Transportation Department. 

Commitment to New Bus Shelter in Balgillo Road

Constituents in Balgillo Road have complained to me about the lack of a bus shelter at the stop beside the corner shop close to the junction with Forthill Road. They would like some protection from the wind and rain while they wait for a bus. They would also appreciate access to 'real time' information about the upcoming buses on the route.

I first passed on these concerns and requests in 2011 just after the bus timetables and routes were altered. At that time, I was informed then that decisions to move bus shelters or install additional ones would be taken once things had settled down on the new routes. 

Following renewed representations from constituents, I approached the Transportation Department again at the end of last month. This time there was a thumbs up; an agreement that a new Bus Shelter would be provided. 

This is positive news for my constituents who were hopeful, when informed of this, that the installation of 'their' bus shelter will be sooner rather than later.

Residents in Albany Road Complain About Pavements

Residents who live on the stretch of Albany Road between Ralston Road and  Fairfield Road are fed up with their muddy pavements. On both sides of the street the pavements are unadopted. Slowly this road is rising up the list of priorities for bringing up to standard and then adoption by the City Council. But that can't be fast enough for residents who walk along this street.

My picture above shows, a stretch of footway on the south side of the road close to a construction site for a new build house with a portacabin site office on the road and a muddy section of pavement in between.

On the same stretch of the road, but on the north side, the second photo shows the tyre tracks of a heavy vehicle which has churned up the surface of the footway. Also in shot is the overhanging foliage from a resident's garden that is obstructing the footway.

I have written to the Transportation Department to request that they inspect the footway and re-prioritise it on the list of unadopted pavements.

Missing Double Yellow Lines Near Forthill School Need Repainting

Click on image to enlarge

Parents, with children at Forthill School, have complained to me about the missing stretch of yellow lines on Forthill Road between the bus stop and the corner of Fintry Place.

This has created a 'legal' parking spot just handy for dropping off children near the school which some parents and carers have been tempted to use. But this creates a road safety hazard by blocking the view of drivers turning into or out of Fintry Drive. The parents who contacted me thought this opportunistic parking should be stopped by the Council repainting  the yellow lines. In the meanwhile, they appealed to other parents and carers not to use this 'parking spot' when dropping off or picking up their children from Forthill School.

I have written to the Head of Transportation at the Council to ask for the reinstatement of these yellow lines as a matter of priority.

Missing Bus Timetable Requested for Stop at Campfield Square Shops

Residents in Barnhill have complained to me about the lack of a bus timetable at the 'new' bus stop on the south side of Nursery Road close to the Campfield Square Shopping Centre. They are glad that the bus stop has been replaced but puzzled why the Timetable space has remained blank.

I have written to the transportation department to request a timetable is inserted as soon as possible.

I shall be watching this space!

Balgillo Road East Potholes - Council Action Required

Residents in Balgillo have complained to me about the poholes on Balgillo Road East. 

Balgillo Road East is the busy road that runs between Balgillo Road and the main A92 Arbroath Road. It runs down the western side of the Sandy Park.

From my observations the potholes are worst on the stretch of the road from its junction with Balgillo Road going north as far as the junction with Rossie Avenue. 

Potholes are more than a nuisance to drivers who experience a bumpy ride and worry about their suspension; they can be a real danger especially to cyclists and other road users with two wheels.

At this specific location, many cyclists are crossing the road while using the Dundee Green Circular route for part of their journey.

I have written to the Transportation Department to request an inspection of this stretch of road and early action to fill in these potholes.