Currently, the Green Circular walking/cycling route has to veer north, away from the river, immediately west of the Bridgeview Station Restaurant as the path along the front comes to an end just west of there (see photo).   This is because of the airport site to the west where there is no path access through at the south end of the airport next to the river.

I contacted the airport manager who advises :

‘The airport has never considered including a path as that area is out with the airport boundary and I believe it sits with the council.

In principle we would consider this provided that there is a security plan included within that.

I think the bigger concern would be the safety when in this area and it would need some hefty protective measures.

I know the council engineers who were dealing with the flood protection works were looking at the area to the west and north of the airport.’

“I have exchanged emails with City Development colleagues. Dundee City Council Engineers have carried out some initial investigation of where a path could go and what would be required to be engineered. 

Flood defence work may be required here in the future and it is hoped that this will give an opportunity for funding and provide an area for any path to be constructed.    No further design or investigation work is underway at the moment.”

I have asked the council to engage with the airport on this as I would hope that a properly secured access could be built in to future flood defence works to improve the public access along this stretch of the riverline along Riverside Drive.

I have written to Lorna Birse-Stewart, Chair of Tayside Health Board, and Grant Archibald, Chief Executive of NHS Tayside seeking clarification of the Health Board’s commitment to the 5 400 Dundee patients affected by the proposed closure of the Ryehill Health Centre and saying it should do all it can to keep the practice open.

NHS Tayside needs to be much clearer as to how it will support the patients at Ryehill and he has asked for assurances that the Health Board has discussed all the options and will consider taking over the running of the health centre rather than see it closed and the patients disbursed to other GP practices.

The Health Board and the Health and Social Care Partnership have to be clear as to how it is tackling the Ryehill medical practice’s decision to relinquish its contract with the Health Board and supporting the thousands of patients involved to have access to GP services locally.    

I cannot accept that, after so many years of service to the community, the approach of the Health Board is to simply accept it closes.    It must look at the option of running the practice itself to keep it open.   NHS Tayside already directly runs four GP practices across Tayside including the Maryfield Health Centre.   If it can be done there, it can be done at Ryehill Health Centre and I am seeking assurances that this will be actively considered by the Health Board.

It strikes me as infinitely preferable that the health board keeps the practice open under NHS Tayside management than closes it which would mean thousands of people having to be found a new GP.      

Adding 5400 people across the other GP practices in Dundee will simply add to the pressure on these practices and the quality of service and I don’t see that as in any way the best outcome.

I recently received residents’ complaints about some potholes on the road surface of Rockfield Crescent.

I raised this with the City Council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership and have had the following helpful feedback :

“An order has been raised for the repair of two potholes.”