Dundee active travel plans take step forward as St Mary’s work proposed.

A proposal of application notice has been filed with the local government, explaining the engineering work that will be performed.

Ambitious ambitions to establish an active travel network in Dundee’s St Mary’s neighbourhood have progressed.

A proposal of application notice (PAN) has been filed with the local government outlining the engineering work that will be performed there.

A PAN is not a planning application, but rather a notification to the council outlining how the developer intends to engage with the community over their proposal.

The PAN provides little information beyond the fact that the work is related to “sustainable drainage infrastructure, active travel route upgrades, landscaping, and public realm improvements.”

It is known that the work is related to the larger sustainable drainage strategy being designed to combat frequent flooding in the St Leonard Park region. The project is being carried out by Dundee City Council, Scottish Water, Sustrans, and Transport Scotland.

An application form lodged with the PAN states that two public meetings would be scheduled to give communities the opportunity to learn more about the projects.

These will be place at St Leonard’s and St Fergus Church on Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, November 12.

What has been proposed?

Images were released last December demonstrating how the region could be altered under the ideas. One plan is to close St Leonard Place to traffic outside St Andrews RC Primary School.

According to Dundee City Council, this would create a “pleasant public space” where parents and children may come and play.

A two-way cycle track through the greenspace on St Leonard Road has also been planned. Improvements to the Strathmartine Road roundabout are also planned, following a number of complaints raised.

Two possibilities have been presented. Option one would modify the roundabout to a signal-controlled junction. The local council feels that with the correct design, the junction can still absorb the existing level of traffic with minimal impact on flow.

Option two involves redesigning the roundabout such that vehicles depart at a slower speed.

Controlled crossings would also be installed to provide a safer route for walkers and bikes through the park and to adjacent schools and sports organisations.

St Leonard Park regeneration

The local government is also hoping to alleviate recurrent flooding at St Leonard Park by restoring the ancient Back Burn, which now runs beneath it. This would result in an open watercourse that runs through the park and continues into the greenspaces at Baldragon Academy.

It is envisaged that the plans will provide an opportunity to upgrade the church parking lot and improve the church grounds with new paving and planting to make it more welcoming.

Also planned is the building of a route connecting St Leonard’s and St Fergus Churches and Lidl.

This would establish a new gateway to St Leonard Park off Macalpine Road, as well as a new active transport route into and through the park.

A cycle skills course (pump track) is also being planned for the Baldragon green space to encourage more children to ride their bikes to school.

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