Buses: Some buses on the St Michael’s Road and St Ternan’s Road route have only been picking up passengers at the stop outside the school. Stagecoach has confirmed it is a Hail and Ride service, and that the bus should stop when requested. Drivers have been informed.

Brave: Three showings of the Disney Pixar film at the Bettridge – and its North East premiere as well! Great entertainment. Just shows what can be done to make things happen in our village. 

Weeds: The rose bed on Old Mill Road outside Quoiter’s is no longer being maintained by Aberdeenshire Council. A check has shown the land is not owned by the council. It is unclear who the owner is. The local action group NEAT is considering tackling the weeds. 

School: The new head teacher at Newtonhill primary is Jonathan Revell. He told me he is very much looking forward to the challenge. 

Benches: Aberdeenshire Council’s landscape services hopes to replace benches in the play area north of the Courts and at Murray Road as soon as possible.

Poo: Some dog owners are failing to clear up after their pets. The dog bins are emptied once weekly, and if overflowing, the waste operative who empties them advises his supervisor, and they are emptied more frequently. A rusty dog bin in Hillhead Road is not to be replaced by the council as this is on a private road. There is another (plastic) dog bin within 100 yards. 

Litter: Volunteers from the action group NEAT have been picking up rubbish around the village. Who keeps chucking drink cans on to the grass on the A90 slip road towards Aberdeen? Meanwhile Aberdeen Journals has apologised for the mess being left by staff at the bus shelter opposite St Crispin’s Road. The council has been asked to review the bin situation at the refurbished tennis courts now back in use – and the chip van is there most nights as well. By the way, maybe people who drop chewing gum in the tennis courts might use a litter bin? 

Unkempt: The ground in front of the electricity sub station in Crollshillock Place has become overgrown. I have written twice to Scottish Hydro and await a response.

Danger: Some drivers are overshooting the turning from St Ternan’s Road into St Crispin’s Road. There is a dotted white line and a cul-de-sac sign but still there are near misses. Council officials take the view that “anyone who is flying past a junction is driving without due care given the limited visibility at many junctions within this estate.” 

Village shop: Scotmid Co-op transfers ownership of its Newtonhill store on August 31 to Aberdeen-based Sky Convenience Stores. The implications at not yet clear, at the time of writing. 

Wi-Fi: Partnership working between Aberdeenshire Council and Stagecoach is expanding the availability of free Wi-Fi on buses. Stonehaven routes will get the service in the autumn, meaning all mainline commercial bus services between Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen will have free Wi-Fi.