Some local issues of note which came before today’s infrastructure services committee …

HILLSIDE SCHOOL – Bay markings at Hillside School, Portlethen, and Hanover Street, Fraserburgh, will be rectified by repainting the green bay markings with the correct black and white markings in early 2022.

CYCLE ROUTES – Design work is now almost complete for three integrated travel town cycle routes in Portlethen. Once completed the three routes will be tendered as a single package for construction this summer.

Design works for the Aberdeen South route from Portlethen to Wellington Road have been progressed as far as possible and title searches will commence early 2022 with a view to approaching landowners early spring 2022.

I have asked that the four North Kincardine ward councillors have sight of what is proposed. I would normally have asked that Portlethen Community Council be included, however it collapsed last year due to a lack of interest.

RAIL – The committee was updated on the Aberdeen to Laurencekirk multi-modal study – including case for new railway stations.

The first phase of the study, referred at as the “Case for Change” has now been completed and agreed by Transport Scotland (as funder through the Rail Development Fund). Nestrans is the lead partner with consultants AECOM commissioned to undertake the work.

The second phase of the study which will look at the potential options to address the issues raised is now underway with a public consultation recently completed with a high response of 1,104 online surveys received. Officers confirmed there is demand for additional rail infrastructure along the corridor, particularly. from Cove and Newtonhill.

I am told by Nestrans there are a number of stages that need to be completed to ensure that the correct option for the area is identified and that the option identified has a robust business case for it.