Getting things done – Pennycook Lane #dundeewestend


In recent weeks, I have had a lot of complaints from residents about the overflowing bins and recycling area at Pennycook Lane – see photo.

I have raised this with environment management to ensure this is tackled.



Getting things done – Perth Road/Ryehill Lane corner site #dundeewestend

Residents have highlighted to me that Perth Road/Ryehill Lane corner site and seating area is again looking very unkempt.

This was in the ownership of JC Decaux who owned the original advertising hoardings at the rear of the site. My understanding is that the company was some time ago wishing to sell the site but I have written to a contact at JC Decaux to ascertain current ownership to get the area tidied.

I had hoped that a substantive improvement of the site could have been achieved through the Spaces for People funding in relation to district shopping centres but unfortunately this was not achieved. It is important, however, that the area is improved as it looks very neglected at present.



Getting things done – weeds at road edges #dundeewestend

In the past couple of weeks, I have had many complaints about weed growth at road edges in numerous streets in the West End – Peddie Street and Hillcrest Road being two examples amongst many.


I contacted our local environment manager about this and have been advised as follows :

“The street spraying in the West End has not started yet.    For various reasons the start of the operation had been delayed and then the quad operator had to self isolate.

We should be able to start some time this week, weather permitting, and I should have another quad freed up within the next week or so which will we will use to help us catch up.”


I was interested to read recently that North Lanarkshire Council officials are trialling a new type of weedkiller following a decision earlier this month to extend the local authority’s existing ban on products containing glyphosate. Options including hot foam and steam are being tested, and now a different weedkiller product is being tried out.

I contacted Dundee City Council’s Head of Environment about this sensible initiative by North Lanarkshire Council and he has responded as follows :

“Yes, I can confirm that officers are considering viable alternatives. I am unaware, however, of the alternative herbicide mentioned and we will contact North Lanarkshire to learn more.”



Friends of Wighton – latest update

From Sheena Wellington :


Wednesday 7th July

1.15pm – 1.45pm
Lunchtime Recital with Rosa Michaelson, fiddle

For the Friends of Wighton July Lunchtime Recital, we are delighted to welcome well known musician and researcher Rosa Michaelson.

Rosa will give us an illustrated talk about James S. Kerr, who published the popular fiddle collections of Merry Melodies. In the past 12 months she has been doing research on musical life in Scotland in the second half of the 19th century, focusing on Kerr and dance music. She presented this at the online North-Atlantic Fiddle Convention at the end of June.

Rosa Michaelson was taught the violin at primary school in Edinburgh in the 1960s using the Eta Cohen method, with its repertoire of folk tunes. In secondary school, her violin teacher gave her a copy of Kerr’s Merry Melodies to study, and she played for ceilidhs and in several orchestras. 

Rosa joined the Edinburgh Shetland Fiddlers in the 1970s and was a founder member of the first all-female Scottish traditional music group, Sprangeen. She has been in several ceilidh/dance bands, including the Loose Moose Ceilidh Band. 

She regularly contributes to sessions in Edinburgh and Fife. Rosa is an Honorary SL at the University of Dundee; she works part time in the School of Computer Science, St Andrews University.

Sheena Wellington is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81102543294?pwd=empTQ094bDlvd1h0SWloVmVQdUMyZz09

Meeting ID: 811 0254 3294
Passcode: 400695


Getting things done – Paton’s Lane #dundeewestend


I have recently assisted with a couple of issues in Paton’s Lane :

+ Last week an elderly resident slipped on grit on the pavement near to the Paton’s Lane Abertay Housing Association retirement housing.    She was thankfully not badly hurt but I asked the council’s environment management to have the pavement swept and the grit removed.

+ The pathway that runs from towards the top of Paton’s Lane to Perth Road, slightly west of the main road junction, is well used by residents but is overgrown and has litter in it.   Again I asked the City Council to have it tidied.