A lively meeting tonight of North Kincardine Rural Community Council with the focus on the state of local roads caused by the construction work on the Aberdeen bypass (AWPR). More than 30 residents were there to hear Aberdeenshire Council’s area roads manager Philip Leiper.
He told the meeting that responsibility for repairing the damage done to local roads by AWPR construction traffic is expected to transfer within weeks from the council to the contractors. This is the arrangement already in place in the northern part of the AWPR. At present in North Kincardine the council does the work and charges the AWPR contractors.
Mr Leiper described it as the AWPR taking responsibility to mitigate the damage caused to the local roads network.
He emphasised that the public should report any defects such as potholes or collapsed verges. He added that the deterioration has been extraordinary. “We cannot cope with the level of work coming in.”
Mr Leiper answered many questions from the public in a session lasting 80 minutes. He told one resident that for a claim for damage from a pothole to be successful, it must already have been reported and more than a day since that had happened. It also has to be two inches deep.
AWPR managing agent John Wilson is due to attend the meeting on 16 May.
Among the other issues discussed were:
– The lack of broadband in the area.
– the Corbie Hall which was badly flooded earlier this year, now has new walls and flooring, plus electricity. It is due to to be painted and have a kitchen fitted. However voting for the forthcoming Scottish election on 5 May will take place in a Portakabin at the hall, though it is expected to be ready for the annual plant sale and coffee morning on 14 May.
– Tools were stolen in a break-in the area.
– £100 is being donated by the community council to the Maryculter Woods for 10,000 native bluebells.
– The community council is to be object to a planning application to convert stables at Alhamra at Blairs into tourist accommodation. The meeting also heard of plans for two polytunnels and a shed for growing fruit and vegetables, off the Netherley road.