Update on AWPR progress
An interesting briefing in the Aberdeen Town House for parliamentarians and councillors this afternoon about the Aberdeen bypass. The end is in sight, but as to when that will be …
The joint venture building the road say they are now laying the top surface, 35mm of tar on a base including concrete. However the temperature needs to above 3C to 5C to do that. Thicker tar, such as on side roads, can be laid in temperatures as low as zero, apparently.
That’s why there is such hesitancy about saying how long it will take to finish the road and open it to traffic. It all depends on the weather. And the cold blast heading our way from Siberia does not help.
In the meanwhile other works are progressing, such as the planting of 1.8 million trees and installing street lights where required.
Currently there is a workforce of about 1600, down from the peak for roughly 2500. It is currently the longest road building project in the UK.
Once it opens the new road will become the A90 and the existing road will be the A92. Responsibility for the current A90 from Charleston to Blackdog will transfer in due course from Transport Scotland to Aberdeen City Council. The Stonehaven to Charleston road will remain a trunk road (i.e. Transport Scotland).
I also raised two local issues – the hammering taken by our country roads from AWPR traffic and pollution of our burns and streams. Agreement has still to be finalised with the councils over repairs to the country roads. In the meantime Aberdeenshire Council is trying to keep these roads safe. They are certainly not in the state anyone would want them to be. Regarding pollution, the contractors are confident that they have resolved that issue. They work closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Finally, their safety record has overall been good, with one million man hours (that’s how it was described) completed without an injury accident. However last week there was a minor accident which is still be investigated.
By the way, we heard from a former transport minister that it was in 2003 that the project was announced by the then first minister. Fifteen years later it will be a reality.
Grants available
The Aberdeenshire Council Excel Fund supports individuals or groups to develop skills, or to take part at national or international sporting or cultural events such as dance competitions, sports events and training.
A total fund of £12,000 is available in 2018/19, with awards to individuals to a maximum amount of £500, and awards to groups up to a maximum of £1,000. First round deadline is 23 March.
There is more information at http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/leisure-sport-and-culture/capacity-grants/capacity-grants-excel-fund/
Boost for ambulance
Portlethen and District Community Ambulance Association’s application to the Tesco Bags of Help Grant Scheme in Newtonhill has been successful.
The project will be put forward to a customer vote during March and April 2018.
They will be one of three groups who have reached this stage as they push to raise funds for a new ambulance. The more people who vote the bigger the grant they shall receive.
Country road to close for 20 days
Owing to BT replacing a telegraph pole it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to close the C25K country road near Cookney on Monday 19 March.
The following day, as AWPR contractors will be removing a temporary barrier and verge, and carrying out carriageway tie-in works, it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to close the C25K country road at North Cookney for 15 days.
This closure will be commencing on Tuesday 20 March.
In both cases emergency and pedestrian access to be maintained. Vehicular access to affected properties to be maintained whenever possible.
More Bookbug sessions
Good news about Bookbug sessions in the Portlethen and Newtonhill library network.
Librarian Carol Mitchell tells me there will be even more sessions, once a new member of staff is trained up.
Carol is a huge advocate of the Bookbug sessions: from two weekly at present in Portlethen up to three weekly when a new rota starts on 5 March and then four weekly when her new colleague is Bookbug-trained in April. The new rota will see the library offer a new weekly Saturday session, which she hopes is an opportunity for working mums and dads to participate for maybe the first time.
Come April – coupled with two weekly Bookbug sessions at Newtonhill Library – this will bring the total number of Bookbug sessions being delivered in the network to six per week.
I know how valued these sessions are to parents – and their children
Minor injury units being reviewed
Primary to be inspected
Hillside Primary School and nursery class are to be inspected during the week beginning 12 March by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate.
More information for parents/carers, staff and pupils will follow from the school, including invitations to take part in an online survey prior to the inspection.
Concerns over light pollution
I have asked council officers to investigate light pollution coming from the Badentoy industrial estate area in Portlethen.
A local resident ask me if new developments had planning conditions added to reduce the light pollution caused by street or business lighting.
The concern was with Badentoy and in particular the new Badentoy North part. A resident told me that all the lighting is high intensity LED white light. The concern was the towering plume of white light up into the night sky. It can be seen for miles, from Denside of Durris and Catterline.