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City Centre Street Guide - Overgate to Wellgate

City Centre Pedestrian Zone, High Street, Dundee, DD1 1SD

Access Guide

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Introduction

City Centre Pedestrian Zone Overview

  • The Dundee City Centre pedestrian zone extends from the Overgate Shopping Centre at the west end to the Wellgate Shopping Centre at the east end.
  • It begins at Nethergate and runs along High Street (Section 1) with City Square (Section 1a) and Reform Street, up to Bank Street (Section 1b), and continues up to Commercial Street (Section 2).
  • The next section runs up Murraygate to the Wellgate Shopping Centre (Section 3), including Cowgate and Panmure Street (Section 3a) from St Andrew's Street to Meadowside.
  • The distance from Nethergate / Overgate Shopping Centre to the Wellgate Shopping Centre is approximately 425m (1,394 feet).
  • No vehicles are permitted, except for Blue Badge drop off and loading, after 16:00 and before 11:00 Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday.
  • Parking is not permitted at any time.
  • Buses and taxis only are permitted across the zone at Commercial Street, local buses at all times, taxis after 18:00 and before 08:00 Monday to Saturday and all-day Sunday.
  • The detailed guides below and associated lists of related guides are divided into three sections.
  • The numbers in brackets relate to the photograph numbers in each section.

Getting Here

  • The numbers in brackets refer to the associated photographs.
  • BUS
  • Seagate Bus Station (1) is located in Seagate at the corner of Trades Lane, 120m from the end of Panmure Street via St Andrew's Street or 160m from Murraygate via Peter Street.
  • Peter Street is steep with cobbled paving.
  • https://www.accessable.co.uk/dundee-city-council/access-guides/seagate-bus-station
  • There are bus stops within 150m of the pedestrian zone in Nethergate (2), Crichton Street (3) and Whitehall Street (4) near the Overgate Centre.
  • There are further bus stops on Commercial Street (5) where the buses cross the pedestrian zone.
  • TAXI
  • There are official taxi ranks in St Andrew's Street at the junction with Cowgate. Further taxi ranks may be found in Seagate, Nethergate and at the train station.
  • TRAIN
  • The nearest railway station is Dundee (6), about 500m from the Nethergate end of High Street.
  • https://www.accessable.co.uk/dundee-city-council/access-guides/dundee-station
  • BICYCLE
  • There is a Bike & Go pre-registered bike hire scheme (7) allowing passengers to pick up pre-hired bikes at the station.
  • In Cowgate and other locations around the city there is a similar local scheme, "Next Bike" (8) by NaviGogo, where bikes can be hired by smartphone application. The scheme requires pre-registration. Details may be found athttps://navigogo.co.uk/ orhttp://www.nextbike.co.uk/en/ or telephone 020 5164 9851.

Parking

  • BLUE BADGE PARKING
  • There are on street Blue Badge bays in the following locations. They are approximately 520cm wide by 240cm deep:-
  • 1. Reform Street - 8 Blue Badge bays.
  • 2. Bank Street - 2 Blue Badge bays.
  • 3. St Andrew's Street - 3 Blue Badge bays.
  • 4. Commercial Street - 2 Blue Badge bays;
  • There are additional Blue Badge bays in Crichton Street, Whitehall Street and Castle Street.
  • PUBLIC PARKING
  • There are 2 council car parks with Blue Badge bays within 150m of the pedestrian zone. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders in council controlled car parks (5, 6).
  • Shore Terrace Car Park - south of High Street between Castle Street and Crichton Street - Blue Badge bays
  • (7, 8).
  • Gellatly Street Multi-storey Car Park - south of High Street and Murraygate off Seagate - 10+ Blue Badge bays.
  • There are three NCP car parks within 150m of the pedestrian zone and shopping centres. Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders in NCP multi-storey car parks.
  • (9, 10). Wellgate Shopping Centre Multi-storey Car Park - 10+ Blue Badge bays.
  • (11, 12). Overgate Shopping Centre Multi-storey Car Park - 10+ Blue Badge bays.
  • (13, 14). West Marketgait Multi-storey Car Park is CLOSED for the foreseeable future.
  • Additional NCP pay and display parking is available in North Lindsay Street behind the Overgate Shopping Centre. There are no Blue Badge bays here.
  • Shopmobility is located at the end of North Lindsay Street behind the Overgate Shopping Centre.
  • ON STREET PARKING
  • There are pay and display standard on street parking bays in most streets around the pedestrian zone, including Reform Street, Bank Street, Crichton Street, Whitehall Street, Castle Street and Commercial Street. There is a maximum 1 hour time limit for these standard bays.
  • Parking is free in these bays for those displaying a valid Blue Badge.

Section 1. Nethergate to Reform Street / City Square

  • The length of this section from Nethergate to "Desperate Dan" at the High Street /Reform Street junction is approximately 75m.
  • The section begins (1) at the junction of Nethergate and Crichton Street to the right. The entrance to the Overgate Shopping Centre is to the left (2).
  • Looking east from Nethergate, Reform Street (Section 1b) is on the left (north) and City Square (Section 1a) to the right (south). The section is pedestrianised during the day and is one way for loading east to west from Castle Street to Reform Street.
  • The High Street has an easy slope up towards Reform Street.
  • Lighting is provided by tall centrally located lamp posts on low kerbed plinths (3, 16).
  • High Street has three main paved areas without kerbs, with uneven granite cobbles in the middle (3), with grey stone slab pavements to the left and the right (4). There are no kerbs.
  • To the north, in front of the entrance to the Overgate Shopping Centre is a raised seating area (5-9), with three medium steps without handrails to the shopping centre end tapering up to level access at the east end. The area is edged on all sides by uneven red block paving.
  • The greystone paving (4) runs past this raised area and marks a clear path along High Street to the left (north). This continues through the next section all the way to Commercial Street. Similarly to the right the greystone pavement continues through but ends at the Castle Street turn.
  • On the left of the central cobbled area there is a line of street furniture (10) including trees, telephone kiosks and an information board (11) showing bus information.
  • Similarly, on the right there is a line of street furniture including benches (12) and black bins (13), with an information board (14) with street maps. Beyond this is an arc of wooden benches (15) that look onto the City Square (Section 1b).
  • Moving east past the lampposts (16), there are curved bicycle railings (17), 100cm high bollards (18), architectural posts (19) and statues of "Desperate Dan" (20) and other cartoon characters.
  • The greystone pavement curves around to the left (north) of these features across the end of Reform Street (Section 1a).

Related Access Guides (Section 1 - Nethergate to Reform Street / City Square)

Section 1a. City Square

  • This sub-section lies south of High Street and is bounded by High Street and a horseshoe of buildings, with restaurants to the east, the Caird Hall to the south and the Town Hall to the west (1, 2).
  • The area is paved with granite tiles and is level throughout. There is an arched area of uneven block paving in front of a row of wooden benches (3) and 120cm tall iron bollards.
  • To each side, a few metres in from the buildings there are 100cm high timber planters (4, 5, 6) with matching waste bins, planted with shrubs and trees.
  • In the centre square there are picnic benches (7) placed around the area.
  • In front of the town hall to the right (west) side there are two octagonal fountain pools (8, 9) with stone seating on all sides.
  • There is a large information sign (10) with local and city-wide street maps on a concrete plinth at the edge of the grey stone pavement that runs through the front of the City Square.
  • On the west side in front of the town hall and registrar's office there is an arched walkway (11) with large stone pillars. The clear space between pillars is over 150cm.
  • On the east side in front of the restaurants there is street cafe seating (12) at the side and timber benches in front of the timber planters.

Related Access Guides (Section 1a - City Square)

Section 1b. Reform Street to Bank Street

  • This sub-section lies north of High Street and stretches from High Street (by Desperate Dan) to Bank Street where the pedestrian zone finishes (1, 2).
  • The street is one way from High Street to Bank Street going north when vehicles are permitted to the zone for loading overnight.
  • The street is cobbled and uneven with shallow kerbs to each side with pavements to each side with grey stone paving slabs (3, 4) and raised planters with seats along the length (see below). The street is level along its length. The grey stone pavements have a central gutter (5).
  • At the kerb side to the left looking north there is a telephone kiosk (6) outside Boots.
  • Along both kerbs there is a line of black litter bins (7, 8).
  • On the left (west) pavement street cafe seating (9) reduces the width of the pavement outside The Pancake Place and similarly on the right (east) pavement outside McDonald's (10).
  • At Bank Street the pedestrian zone finishes and the one way street becomes two way. The central cobbles are replaced by tarmac (11, 12) on the west side, outside the Old Bank Bar.
  • (13, 14) New planters and seats have been added to the main roadway.

Related Access Guides (Section 1b - Reform Street to Bank Street)

Section 2. Reform Street to Commercial Street

  • The section begins at the junction of High Street and Reform Street on the left (north) and City Square on the right (south), at the Desperate Dan statue (1). The length of this section is approximately 170m.
  • The High Street pedestrian zone continues east until Castle Street where High Street splits (2, 3). The pedestrian zone continues to the left bearing north, while the central cobbled area stops at the junction with Castle Street where it is tarmacked (3). There is a change of paving colour to mark this point.
  • This section is pedestrianised during the day and is one way for loading east to west from Castle Street to Reform Street. From the Castle Street junction to Commercial Street the left hand pavement continues as pedestrian only.
  • The High Street is level to the Castle Street junction then continues as an easy slope down to Commercial Street where the section finishes.
  • Lighting is provided by tall centrally located lamp posts on low kerbed plinths (2, 6).
  • Up to Castle Street continues with main paved areas without kerbs, with uneven granite cobbles in the middle (3), with grey stone slab pavements to the left and the right (4, 5).
  • The left-hand (north) greystone pavement continues all the way to Commercial Street. The right greystone pavement ends at the Castle Street turn.
  • On either side of the central cobbled area there is a line of street furniture (7, 8, 9, 10) including benches, trees, litter bins, planters and telephone kiosks that mark the edge of the pavements.
  • At Castle Street the end of the pavement is marked by bollards (11).
  • The central cobbled area also ramps down to tarmac and shallow kerbs mark the edge (12).
  • The pedestrian area then bears to the left (north east )up to Commercial Street (13).
  • At this fork, to the right there is a pelican crossing. High Street at this point is two way and there is a traffic island in the centre of the crossing. The crossing is marked by block paving (14). Cross at this point and turn left for the Cathedral.
  • The crossing has no audio signal but there are tactile indicators on the boxes.
  • Continuing on the pedestrian zone the greystone pavement is wide and relatively clear to the left (15), but to the right, marked by a change in paving (16), there is a seating area with trees and a central bronze statue of a dragon (17, 18, 19).
  • The paving at this area is uneven, with old tramrails retained as a fixture (continues in the next section).
  • At the end of the seating area there is an advertising hoarding (20) next to a "tramcar" (21) that has been converted to a food takeaway stand.
  • The end of the section at Commercial Street is marked by tactile paving (22).

Related Access Guides (Section 2. Reform Street to Commercial Street)

Commercial Street - Temporary Crossing

  • At the time of guide update in October 2023 there were roadworks ongoing installing a new crossing over Commercial Street.
  • The road was closed to traffic at this time and a pedestrian diversion was in place. The temporary route across Commercial Street is to the south side of the construction fencing. The north side could not be used to bypass the works.
  • The block paving is level with the tarmac road surface at the temporary crossing. There are some bollards and benches to be aware of near the crossing.

Section 3. Commercial Street to Wellgate Shopping Centre

  • The section begins at the junction of the start of Murraygate and Commercial Street at the south end.
  • It finishes at the entrance to the Wellgate Shopping Centre at the junction of Murraygate, Cowgate and the end of Panmure Street at the north end.
  • The length of this section is approximately 210m.
  • This section is pedestrianised during the day and is one way for loading west to east from Commercial Street to Panmure Street.
  • Murraygate slopes down from Commercial Street with a moderate to easy slope for half its length, then levels to an easy slope up to the entrance to the Wellgate Shopping Centre. There is an easy camber from left (west) to right (east) looking from Commercial Street looking east toward the Wellgate Shopping Centre (1).
  • Lighting again is provided by tall centrally located lamp posts on low kerbed plinths (1, 4).
  • The pedestrianised zone continues with the greystone slab paving to the left (2), block paving centrally with the old tramway tracks making an uneven surface (3) and concrete slabs to the right. There are no kerbs between the sections.
  • The left-hand (west) greystone pavement continues around an arch seating area (3, 6).
  • On either side of the central there is street furniture (5, 6, 7) including benches, litter bins and advertising hoardings.
  • There is street cafe seating outside Costa Coffee on the right shortly at the start of the section which reduces the width adjacent to the benches on the right.
  • Halfway down the section, the paving changes from the grey stone paving to concrete slabs that are more uneven (8, 9), like the paving on the right (10).
  • There are benches and advertising hoardings on the left outside Deichmann (11).
  • There is street cafe seating outside Caffè Nero on the left at the point that the grey stone paving restarts (12). The paving similarly changes on the right at Horse Wynd (13). The central block paving continues right through to Panmure Street (14).
  • The street continues in a similar way with the block paving centrally with the tram tracks centrally, with lamp posts on plinths and concrete slabs to either side and bench seating, litter bins and 100cm high bollards outside Tesco Metro (15, 16, 17).
  • Beyond here the road narrows, the tram tracks end (18) and the end of the road is marked by a lamppost on the left pavement (19, 20 looking west).
  • The block paving finishes at the end of Murraygate. There is a band of tarmac then the road is cobbled in front of the entrance (21). The cobbles are uneven, and care should be taken upon crossing.
  • The Wellgate Shopping Centre entrance to shopping level 1 is opposite the end of Murraygate across Panmure Street (22). There is no marked crossing, and all kerbs are level.

Related Access Guides (Section 3 - West Parade)

Related Access Guides (Section 3 - East Parade)

Section 3a. Cowgate and Panmure Street

  • Cowgate and Panmure Street meet Murraygate in front of the Wellgate Shopping Centre. The street is one way east / west from St Andrew's Street for loading through to Meadowside outside pedestrian zone hours (before 11:00 and after 16:00).
  • Panmure Street runs 130m west from the end of Murraygate / Wellgate Shopping Centre (1). The pedestrian zone finishes at the junction with Meadowside.
  • The road is cobbled and ramps to shallow kerbs to each side (2, 3, 4). Architectural railings mark the road end and ramp.
  • The left (south) pavement is tarmacked and there are benches, litter bins and a telephone kiosk (5).
  • The right (north) pavement has concrete slab paving (6). There are bicycle stand rails in the centre of the path, bench and litter bin (7).
  • The road continues with uneven cobbles to the road and uneven concrete slabs to each pavement. (8, 9, 10). There is a loading area which reduces the right pavement, and a lamppost which reduces it further to less than 120cm (10).
  • The end of the road at Meadowside is marked by a pelican crossing with dropped kerbs to each side, tactile paving on the pavement and block paving to mark the crossing (11).
  • Cowgate runs 60m east from the end from the end of Murraygate / Wellgate Shopping Centre (12). The pedestrian zone finishes at the junction with St Andrew's Street.
  • The road is cobbled for its length (13) with channel gutters at the edge to concrete slabs on the pavements. There are no kerbs.
  • There is a street guide (15) for the city centre on the right (south) side looking east outside Greggs.
  • Street cafe seating reduces the pavement width (16).
  • The edge of the pavement has a line of lamp posts, benches, bins and decorative cobbles at the edge of the pavement (17, 18).
  • The end of the street is marked by architectural railings to either side of the cobbled road which ramps down to tarmac at St Andrew's Street (19).
  • The north pavement is lined by lamp posts and railings (20, 21).
  • At the St Andrew's Street end there are bike rails and the NavaGogo bike hire bicycles (22).

Related Access Guides (Section 3a)

Toilets