In normal times Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council would be meeting tonight in the Skateraw Hall. But instead the community council is now relying on the internet.

The following is an update from the community council about progress with the Barratt development on the moor.

Work is now progressing at pace on several aspects of the project. The basic structures for the houses are being erected at the rate of two or three each week with the work progressing inwards from the Park Place and Cairnhill Way site access points.

Work has begun joining the new site road access to Park Place and is scheduled to be completed by late February. Work is also scheduled to start soon connecting the new foul sewer pipe to the existing sewer on Cairnhill Drive, followed shortly afterwards with the new road link to Cairnhill Way.

The main road through the site linking Park Place to Cairnhill Way will however not be completed until approximately 100 of the 121 houses have been completed.

Work has also begun alongside the railway track laying the first of two new storm drains which will discharge into the Pheppie Burn.

Excavation requiring rock breaking still continues with the long overdue muffler finally fitted to the hydraulic breaker which has made a small reduction to the noise.

Discussions are ongoing with Barratt concerning landscaping at the Park Place / wildlife park areas with the goal that these areas will be restored to be as natural as possible.

The first new residents are expected to move in during mid-April.