As ever a wide range of topics were covered at tonight’s meeting of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council.

– PC Neil Fraser said there had been 135 incidents reported to the police in the Portlethen/Newtonhill area since the previous meeting in August, but none had resulted in any crime reports in the community council area. He went on to say that there was an alert that another ATM in the area may be a target of thieves. Beware!

– Aberdeenshire Council is pursuing BT and its contractor to repair the trench developing near the railway bridge on Newtonhill Road. White lines are to be painted at the St Crispin’s Road / St Ternan’s Road junction shortly. Plans are in hand for a “No through road” sign on Cairnhill Walk.

– The design of the X7 bus came in for discussion with complaints about the height of the steps. Some passengers would rather travel on other services and take longer to reach their destination.

– There was a lengthy discussion about Aberdeenshire Council’s proposals to transfer the enhanced provision service from Newtonhill primary school to Portlethen primary school. The community council is to respond to the local authority’s public consultation by arguing that the facility should remain until current pupils leave the primary.

– A licence application for the new owners of the Muchalls Bistro was under the spotlight. The new owner plans to open from Wednesday to Sunday.

– The community council is to contact Aberdeenshire Council to ask that the steps and path from Newtonhill beach to Cran Hill be repaired, and that those undertaking community service be employed.

Other issues were discussed as well by the community councillors. Also present were two Aberdeenshire councillors, but no members of the public or press.