Portlethen Community Ambulance is to receive grants totalling £3000 towards the £24,000 cost of replacing the vehicle. The funding is coming from Portlethen community council. The group has also written to 60 businesses in Badentoy, however so far none has replied.

The “ambulance” – in reality an adapted minibus – is used primarily to take people to and from the medical centre. It is also available for private use and taking pensioners to lunch clubs.

Run Porty Run – which has more than 80 members – was also awarded £600 by the community council.

Other issues discussed tonight included a broken sign in the woodland park; the lack of grit bins; school rolls at Hillside (soaring); Fishermoss (steady, but below capacity) and Portlethen (falling and below capacity); doubts over the gala (only three people at the last committee meeting); litter; Hillside House fire; planning; the splendid Christmas tree, and much more.