East End Ward

Some updates on ongoing projects / issues in the ward,

The building work at the new Claypotts Castle Primary School is on schedule and has a provisional completion date around April 2008. The newly merged Rowantree Primary School in Mid Craigie is operating from the Mid Craigie Primary School site. Work on the new building is expected to start soon.

Craigie High School hosted the Annual Review Meeting of NHS Tayside. This was attended by the Scottish government Minister, Shona Robison and the Chief Executive of NHS Tayside. Staff are being encouraged to car share and pupils encouraged to cycle or walk to school. This fits well with the Health Promoting School ethos as well as easing traffic problems in the area. The school is looking at ways of improving attendance at parent contact evenings by having one in the local community centre.

Staff in the Hub Library and Learning Centre are awaiting a start date for the work which will transform the building.

Douglas Community & Library Centre continues to play host to a variety of opportunities for people in the area. A Christmas Coffee Morning is to be held on 8 December. The art group have been asked to do another mosaic - this time in the City Chambers. Next year is to be the Centre's 40th Birthday so a series of celebratory events are planned.

The CRF funded skatepark (Finlathen Park) is now complete and used extensively by young people with bikes, skateboards and other blades. Discussions are being held regarding safety improvements.is now complete and used extensively by young people with bikes, skateboards and other blades. Discussions are being held regarding safety improvements.

Community Safety. A major review is underway and a report is being prepared on its findings. So far, the overwhelming response by those surveyed is "that people believe wardens make a difference to their communities and in particular their high visibility presence on the street offers reassurance." Statistics also show that the Wardens are much in demand and involved in improving many aspects of community life.

Currently reporting more and more potholes on the roads within the ward and am becoming increasingly concerned about the state of many of the roads. The roads currently being looked at are Balunie Street, Balbeggie Street, Baluniefield Road and Balantrae Terrace just to name a few.

I will be asking for assurance that these repairs are done in a timely fashion and that the repairs last for more than a few days.

Street signs have also been an issue recently. I have reported a number of different street signs that need replacing or repaired such as Balcarres Terrace and Balmoral Gardens. These have mostly been vandalised but many in the ward are faded and require replacing due to old age.

Glad to report that the housing department have placed work orders to have the back court areas of some of the tenements on Balbeggie Street cleaned up and internal stair lighting repaired.