Chapelton of Elsick was the main topic discussed on Thursday evening when about 40 people turned up for the North Kincardineshire Community Forum at Portlethen Academy. The public meeting heard that:

• Chapelton of Elsick will be bigger than Stonehaven when completed.
• Houses are expected to be in demand once construction starts. Hillside was the fastest selling housing development in the UK.
• The council’s area manager Willie Munro said the first primary school will open its doors when the 300th house is under construction. The second primary follows after 1200 houses and the third after 2700 houses. At that stage a secondary school will also be provided as the potential roll should by then be around 600. In the meantime secondary pupils will go to Mackie or Portlethen academies. The schools will be designed and built by Aberdeenshire Council but will be paid for in due course by the developer.
• Stagecoach’s commercial manager Bob Hall said he would not expect bus services in Chapelton of Elsick to be provided at the expense of either Portlethen or Newtonhill. There were questions raised about express buses on the A90 stopping at a new interchange beside the Newtonhill flyover. Concerns were also raised about the capacity of the Newtonhill flyover and surrounding roads to accommodate the first stages of development, until a second access could be provided at the Bruntland Road junction at Portlethen.
• The challenge of funding medical services at Chapelton of Elsick continues to concern NHS Grampian. Property planning manager John Gill said NHS Grampian had no funds available to provide facilities there. The developer has stated a retail unit will be available for rent in the first phase and land made available once the town grows. Mr Gill said there was no expectation on money from the developer. He said that at this stage “it was impossible to know where we will get funding.” Approaches to the Scottish Government had not been successful so far. Some £6m to £9m is needed for a new medical centre.
• Dr Ewan Clark from Portlethen Health Centre said they could probably cope with the extra patients from the first 800 houses. A new health centre would be needed after 2400 houses are occupied.
• An agreement between the developer and the council regarding conditions and planning gain (roads, sewage, education and so on) is close to being signed. Once that process is completed, work can begin on the ground.
• A Chapelton liaison committee is being set up which will include the developer, representatives from the community councils, the local ward councillors and others.
• A founding ceremony will take place on Wednesday 2 October at Elsick House to mark the start of the new town development.
• There are moves afoot to start up a Men’s Shed in Portlethen. This is a facility for older men who want to get together, share and learn new skills. It is an Australian idea, and allows a man to socialise while carrying out tasks, such as restoring furniture or fixing lawn mowers. The first in Scotland opened this year in Westhill.