Dundee SNP

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie today called on Monifieth residents to get involved in the plans for a community hall by filling in a users’ questionnaire.

The questionnaire, organised by Monifieth Community Centre Steering Group has already been sent to numerous local organisations. Copies for potential users are available at the House of Memories in the High Street. 

Stewart said: “The questionnaire is for all residents of all ages and includes questions about the use of facilities.

“The Steering Group want to find out what facilities would be best used so that they can focus on what would be popular. Everyone supports the idea of a multi-purpose community centre but local residents need to get involved to make that happen.

“Filling out a questionnaire will help and I hope that as many residents as possible will respond to the questionnaire and help to move forward the case for the community facility.”

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie whose constituency includes Monifieth, has warmly welcomed the announcement that the burgh is to get a petrol filling station by the end of the summer.

Tesco are to take over the site of the former Monifieth Filling Station at 42 High Street which closed some years ago.

It is understood that the move will create new jobs.

Stewart Hosie said: “I’m delighted that Monifieth is to get a petrol station again. The burgh has greatly missed such a facility and it will help to pump new life into the High Street.

“I’m sure everyone in the area and local businesses will welcome the news and the new jobs which this will bring.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, while expressing disappointment at reports that the new First ScotRail timetable will not improve the low numbers of trains stopping at Broughty Ferry, referred to ongoing discussions with other key rail bodies on improving the service at Broughty Ferry and remains optimistic that improvements will be implemented.

Shona Robison said: “I have had considerable involvement, along with other local politicians, over many years, in the campaign for more trains to and from Broughty Ferry and this has had little success to date.

“Part of the difficulties we face in getting specific service improvements is that there are a number of organisations involved – First ScotRail, Network Rail, Transport Scotland and regional transport partnerships such as TACTRAN, all of whom have to be lobbied.

“First Scotrail operate rail services in line with their obligations but Transport Scotland review the timetables strategically and they informed me in July that they are of the opinion that demand at Broughty Ferry is low. They point out that when there were more trains calling at Broughty Ferry, passenger numbers were very low. In their letter they state: ‘It was apparent that the more frequent bus service was preferred by the majority of bus users’. I am convinced however that if there were more trains at suitable times, they would be used by many people.

“Most recently, I was in correspondence with TACTRANS (Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership) about proposals for a Tay Estuary Rail Service (TERS) which have been gestating for five years and which aims to offer the ‘opportunity to enhance service levels at stations along the line of route, including Broughty Ferry.’

“TACTRANS had allocated £120,000 to take forward detailed appraisal of the TERS proposal and was in discussions with Transport Scotland, First ScotRail and Network Rail about commissioning a study on the Tay Estuary Rail Service, which was to report by the end of this year.

“They hoped to be able to improve local/regional services and improve commuting possibilities and in particular to ‘improve service levels at existing, poorly served stations such as Broughty Ferry and Monifieth.

“However, it now seems, that while First ScotRail services between Edinburgh and Dundee will double in frequency to a half-hourly service, there will be no extra trains stopping at Broughty Ferry or Monifieth – because of the aim of reducing journey times overall by 10 minutes between Aberdeen/Edinburgh and having to stop at the new Laurencekirk station.

“I have today contacted TACTRANS to confirm that their report is still on target for the end of the year. The fight for better rail services at Broughty Ferry is by no means lost. I have every hope that the Tayside Estuary Rail Service proposals will transfer existing lightly-used halts onto the proposed hourly semi-fast local service giving much improved service levels at Broughty Ferry and Monifieth without impacting adversely on the core inter-city network.”

Stewart at Balmossie Fire Station

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has met the Tayside Firemaster and his Deputy to discuss the proposals regarding the service provided by Balmossie fire station.

Stewart Hosie said: “I had received a number of representations from both firefighters and local people. It was clear to me there was very deep anxiety concerning people in the area covered by Balmossie.

“At our meeting, I impressed upon the Firemaster the deep anxiety felt, particularly on the proposal to have nightwatch cover provided only by retained men.

“The Firemaster is aware of the concern in Broughty Ferry and Monifieth and surrounding areas and I’m delighted he is now engaging in an extended consultation with these local communities.

“I am therefore urging anyone in the area covered by the Balmossie station who is anxious about the proposals to write to the Firemaster explaining their anxieties directly to him.”