Four planning applications for supermarkets in Stonehaven dominated today’s Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee. One application only won the backing of councillors – for a 3750 sq metre supermarket with a 50-bedroom hotel and restaurant at Ury Estate, near to the recycling centre. These views will now go to a meeting of the full Aberdeenshire Council for decision. The meeting in the Bettridge Centre in Newtonhill was well attended for these items.
Local items of note:
Landscape services have the following in their plans for this year
– Pointing, repairs, cleaning and re-lettering Portlethen war memorial (£2750).
– Resurface the footpath at Newtonhill bowling club £5000).
– Replace bridge between Boswell and Portlethen Moss (£12,000).
– Install new fence at Burnside Park (£5000).
– Plant bulbs in the Burnside and Nicol parks in Portlethen (£2000).
– Tree and shrub planting in Burnside Park (£3000).
– Wildflower area in Nicol Park (£1000).
– Resurface footpaths in Banchory Devenick burial ground (£3000).
– Play equipment at Viking Place (£19,000) and Marsh Place (£11,000) in Portlethen.
– Raised planting area at the Green, Portlethen (£15,000).
Chris Mennie Walk in Hillside is being adopted by the council. That means the council takes over responsibility for maintenance.
Community councils will receive the following annual grants: Portlethen £1375 (electorate of 7424), Newtonhill £660 (electorate of 2977) and North Kincardine Rural £475 (electorate 1733).
A public consultation is being held into a proposed Aberdeenshire Special Landscape Areas guidance which would support the local development plan. This includes the coastal strip from the Aberdeen boundary to Stonehaven, between the railway line and the sea. This would set controls on further development. The outcome will be presented to the infrastructure services committee possibly in August.
Five primary schools in Kincardine and Mearns at December 2015 were over the 100% capacity. The roll at Portlethen Primary will fall back when the new Hillside Primary becomes operational. The new school is under construction, and an interim parent council met last night.