Money Map – an update from Dundee Citizens’ Advice Bureau


Dundee CAB has advised councillors of a very useful online ‘Money Map’ tool from Citizens’ Advice Scotland.

It advises :

“The tool is hosted at www.moneymap.scot  and brings together all the options for how people can improve their incomes and cut their living costs through areas such as housing, benefits, grants and energy bills and directs them to online sites where they can access these options. 

The strength of the tool is that it gathers in all the best online sources of help, because we know that people can get frustrated searching endlessly online for information and often end up in the wrong place.

In Dundee we’ve seen people struggle with money, often not knowing what they are entitled to, and we know the pandemic has exacerbated this problem for many people. 

Polling by YouGov shows the extent to which the pandemic has had an impact on household budgets. Almost half of people have run out of money before payday since restrictions began, and of those people 30 per cent have seen their financial situations worsen during restrictions.

While this is a digital option for people who can self-help, please also be aware that at Dundee CAB we have been providing advice throughout this crisis by telephone, email and face to face appointments in essential circumstances. 

We want to help people in Dundee through this crisis and plan to be there to help them afterwards.” 



Fire safety and home fire safety visits

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has advised that there has been a concerning increase in the number of people who have been injured and have sadly died due to fires within the home. This has been the case in Dundee where there have been 2 fatal fires this year. Over the previous 3 years, there were not any fatal fires in Dundee.


The service has identified that the key common factors are people over 50 who smoke and have mobility issues or live alone or use medical oxygen.   Therefore the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is targeting its focus on people who meet these criteria in addition to its broader home fire safety visit checks. 

Further to this, you can access here a useful guide and self-assessment about fire safety in the home – this also advises how you can book a home fire safety visit as does the above poster.


Dundee Libraries – an update


Dundee Libraries has a new Pressreader service which is an excellent service.

Library users can now access the latest local, national and international newspapers from home.

Find out more here.



Getting things done – Balgay Hill #dundeewestend

In the past few months, many residents have expressed concern to me about unofficial bike trails that have been created on Balgay Hill.

Leaving aside their unauthorised nature and damage to the hill, the other concern is the health and safety of mountain bikers using these.

I have raised this with the council’s environment team who are tackling the issue and have recently placed some sensible signage about these and suggesting better and safer places where mountain bike skills can be practiced.



Improvements to the Green Circular route in the West End #dundeewestend

I am pleased to advise that the City Council has confirmed to me that it is looking at improvements to where the Green Circular route crosses the Perth Road.     

Currently at this location cyclists and pedestrians use the existing carriageway junction cross as there is no footpath provision at this point.    The proposed works will include a new footpath creating a safer crossing as the images indicate :

There are also a couple of locations along Riverside Avenue where vegetation will be cutback to effectively widen the useable footpath/cycleway.