A very worthwhile day today going round the North Kincardine ward with Aberdeenshire Council’s chief executive Jim Savege. He offered to spend time with the four ward councillors to hear about the issues in the area.

My colleague Colin Pike did the driving, taking the three of us round the ward starting with the Men’s Shed in Portlethen. After four years of hard work it is due to open next month. Remarkable effort.

We drove over many of the country roads and discussed how badly they have been affected by AWPR construction traffic. The aim is to get them repaired once the bypass is open. In the meantime the challenge is keeping the roads safe. No easy task given the combination of AWPR traffic and winter weather. Please help by reporting potholes.

We called at the Devenick Dairy’s Tin Coo (pictured). What a great success that has been, now employing 20 people.

Other topics discussed included flooding, future housing policies, urban sprawl, the economic downturn, farming, sports provision, the Blairs and Chapelton developments, and schooling. We visited Lairhillock, Banchory Devenick, and Hillside primary schools.

After going to Old Portlethen the tour concluded back in Portlethen.

It was a great opportunity to show the chief executive the challenges and opportunities facing the residents of North Kincardine.

At the Devenick Dairy