Councillors Paul Melling and Ian Mollison are to stand again for the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the North Kincardine ward in May’s council elections.
Paul Melling has been a councillor since 2003. Before that he was active in the community, particularly as chairman of Portlethen and District Community Council. He now works full-time as a councillor, after running his own engineering consultancy in the oil industry in the past.
Since 2007 he has also been chairman of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee, and is a member of the council’s policy resources committee. He serves on a number of other organisations, and is closely involved in a Befriend a Child and Cornerstone project at the Green.
Ian Mollison, who lives in Newtonhill, was elected in 2007 after also playing a full role in his community.
He was chairman of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council, and had a leading role in the building of the village’s community centre, now the Bettridge Centre.
He works for North East MSP Alison McInnes, after a career with Royal Mail and newspapers such as the Evening Express, Daily Record and Scotland on Sunday.
The two candidates today pledged to continue to work hard for the area.
Paul said: “There have been a number of fantastic developments in recent years such as our new academy, investment in the local primary schools, the building of two underpasses on the A90, and the provision of more homes and jobs for our residents.”
Paul continued: “It has been a privilege to represent this area. I enjoy helping constituents with a wide range of concerns. I am proud to have been a member of the council’s administration, which has continued to do much in spite of difficult financial circumstances. We will need to be very focused in the coming years to deliver the services we have become used to.”
Ian said: “We need to ensure that we provide the very best of facilities. More homes are being built in Newtonhill and Portlethen and so the task is to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place.
“The development of the new town at Chapelton of Elsick – assuming that the Scottish Government approves the plans – will have a big impact, as will the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
“There are many challenges ahead, not least trying to persuade government to invest in railway services so that more trains stop in Portlethen, we get a station at Newtonhill and a Crossrail suburban commuter service.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed representing my local community for these last five years, working on issues on behalf of residents with successes that include improving local facilities, tackling road safety concerns, and championing local environmental improvements.
“Portlethen and Newtonhill are great places to live and bring up families, with the benefit of being in the countryside but close to the city.
“As well as being a member of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee, I sit on the council’s infrastructure services committee. I have also served on the board of Enterprise North East Trust, and the Aberdeen International Youth Festival Trust.”
Both councillors regularly attend local groups including the ward’s three community councils (Newtonhill, Muchalls & Cammachmore, Portlethen & District, and North Kincardine Rural).
Commenting on the announcement, North East MSP Alison McInnes said: “Paul Melling and Ian Mollison are well known as hard-working campaigners who put local people first and get things done. They are excellent representatives for this area on Aberdeenshire Council.”
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Robert Smith added: “I am delighted that Paul and Ian have been selected as candidates. Alison and I will work with them as a team to make sure that this area’s interests are put first at all levels of government.”
The North Kincardine ward covers the Portlethen, Newtonhill, Muchalls, Netherley, Maryculter and Banchory Devenick area. The election is on Thursday 3 May.