Councillors need to familiarise themselves with the meaning of “improvement”

Sir, – Hugh Macrae asks if Dundee Council have a vision for the waterfront (Tourists would flock to this museum, Letters, May 22). I would ask if they have any vision at all.

Some years ago, the council set about “improving” Lochee High Street. This improvement involved narrowing the road to increase congestion, placing bus stops at the narrow points to ensure traffic can’t get past while a bus is at the stop, using three sets of traffic lights to control one junction at the south end of the High Street (a move which has the bonus of encouraging traffic away from the High Street and on to Grays Lane, a narrow street with a primary school).

Traffic on the by-pass between the South Road roundabout and the three-light junction is delayed due to the bus lane which runs there, so adding further to the congestion and delaying any traffic exiting High Street.

By way of improvement, there are a few less shops in Lochee’s High Street, a few trees in buckets and a lot more junkies.

The taxi ranks have been relocated, but not the taxis.

Parking in a taxi rank will result in the driver being fined but taxis are apparently allowed to park in disabled bays and on the pavement.

It’s hardly surprising the council seems to have bailed out before installing the promised secure entry systems to closes.

I would like to suggest that, before the council spends any more money on any more improvements, they invest in some dictionaries and familiarise themselves with the definition of the word “improve”. John Stenhouse. Lochee High Street, Dundee.