A wide range of issues were discussed tonight at the North Kincardine Rural Community Council meeting in Lairhillock primary school, with more than a dozen members of the public present.

The new local police inspector Sheila McDerment touched on local matters including rural crime (including hare coursing), acquisitive crime especially shoplifting and farm thefts, and traffic problems. She also promised robust action on illegal encampments. The community council will receive quarterly tailored reports from the police. She was asked about temporary 30mph speed limits on local roads in the vicinity of the AWPR, and speeding in general. She also advised that if residents had questions or concerns they can email stonehavenlowerdeesidecpt@scotland.pnn.police.uk. Of course emergency calls should be made to 999, and non-emergency calls to 101.

The AWPR prompted much discussion, after vice chairman Henry Irvine-Fortescue reported on a meeting with council and police officers. Problems continue with heavy vehicles on local roads, noise from machinery during the night, road closures, and signs not tallying with public notices.

The meeting also heard from a local farmer who has applied for planning permission for a house in the greenbelt for an essential farm worker.

A report from Aberdeenshire Council area manager Willie Munro had been received but the contents will be considered and discussed more fully at the next meeting, particularly in relation to the Blairs development.

The Royal Bank no longer issues cheque books for the account the community council has, so the account is to be closed and business taken to the Bank of Scotland.

No volunteers have come forward to take up the post of secretary. The community council is considering making this a paid post.

The noticeboards have been removed from the Corbie Hall, and from outside the former schools at East and West Maryculter. A new noticeboard will be purchased for the Corbie Hall, and also for Lairhillock School.

The meeting heard that there is a £200,000 deficit in meeting the cost of renovating Maryculter church. We were also told that St Ternan’s Church at Muchalls has wet rot in two areas which requires attention. A letter of support will be provided by the community council when grants are sought at Muchalls.

Community council planning officer Colin Pike said he was standing down as he will be a candidate in the forthcoming Aberdeenshire Council elections. Should he not be successful he hoped the community council would have him back.

Some 500 trees were planted by volunteers at the Maryculter Woodland.

The annual plant sale and coffee morning will be held on 20 May in the Corbie Hall. The event is run jointly by the community council and the South Deeside View community newsletter, thus a decision on the recipient/s of the money raised needs to be jointly decided on or before the next NKRCC meeting. The agreed recipient/s will be asked to help staff the event – particularly the coffee morning.