Bank axes Portlethen from schedules

The Royal Bank of Scotland’s mobile branch is no longer visiting Portlethen due to a lack of customers. Instead the mobile branch will be in Stonehaven twice a week, where the local branch is closing on Monday, 2 October. Staff will be relocating to other branches.
The mobile branch will be sited in the Co-op car park on David Street on Mondays from 12.30-1.30pm, and Thursdays from 12.15-1.15.
I tried to find out more about the ceasing of the service in Portlethen, which had a bank branch for 20 years. When it closed, the mobile service was put in place. It used to be found on Mondays in the railway station car park.
I emailed the bank’s customer services and this is what they told me: “I have investigated your query and would like to inform that I am unable to assist you from this office regarding Mobile Banking.” They advised that I call their telephone banking service. Not impressed.
I enlisted the help of North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles who contacted the bank’s communications team. A more professional response arrived today: “We review our whole mobile branch network on a regular basis to ensure that we are serving customers in the right way. After analysing our mobile branch service in Portlethen we decided to redeploy the van because just one customer a week was turning up and on some occasions, we did not serve anyone at all. With this in mind, we took the decision to redeploy the resource so the mobile branch could be of benefit to a greater number of customers, with multiple stops at Westhill and Stonehaven each week.
“We always notify customers in advance of mobile branch timetable changes. In this instance, both our Customer Service Manager on the mobile branch and the Inverurie Branch Manager (the mobile branch base), proactively spoke to the customer to talk through the other ways in which they can bank locally and have offered support. I understand the customer is comfortable with these alternatives.”
With only one customer a week I can understand why the decision was made.
The bank’s website shows timings for the mobile bank, not including Portlethen: http://personal.rbs.co.uk/personal/ways-to-bank/mobile-branch/inverurie.html

Problems with academy pitch

Last night I heard that use of the “all-weather” pitch at Portlethen Academy had been cancelled recently because of rain. Which seems rather strange. So I followed this up with Robertsons, the private company responsible for the academy and the surrounding area.

I have now been told that the pitch at Portlethen “is an astro pitch, not all-weather pitch hence not playable in all types of weather conditions.

“During periods of extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, frost, ice and snow, our site staff monitor the surface of the pitch and if necessary due to health & safety reasons cancel any usage until such times as it is safe to reuse.

“I can advise that the pitch has recently been surveyed and has been recommended for replacement in 2018. The work will take approximately six weeks to complete and we will be liaising with school management in the near future on best possible time to schedule the work.”

Robertsons plan to replace the pitch on a like-for-like basis, however the construction of all-weather pitches has moved on since the sand filled carpet (artificial grass) installation at Portlethen Academy.

Council officers tell me that it would be advisable to look at betterment for the future installation as the present surface will not be conducive to all sports in all-weather conditions. There will be a cost implication, but the council has some good data as it is currently undertaking similar projects at both Mintlaw and Turriff.

The council would have to meet the cost of the betterment only. Early days, but fingers crossed.

Road stays shut for now

Due to AWPR works not being completed on time, the C5K country road at Burnhead has been unable to re-open.

Council officers tell me that this road will remain closed until 16 October, and diversions will remain in place (see map for the recommended routes).

Furthermore, due to the amount of closures in the area, extra signs have been put up by AWPR to make as many people aware of the diversions as possible.

Positive report for playgroup

An inspection report for Bourtree Pre-school Playgroup & Rising Threes has now been published on the Education Scotland website.

It can be viewed here: https://education.gov.scot/inspection…/aberdeenshire/5213118

The inspector writes that they “are confident that the setting has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection.”

Report highlights A90 dangers

The A90 is a dangerous road, according to a report in the Press and Journal today. Well indeed it is.
What I find strange is that the report doesn’t mention the building of the Aberdeen bypass and the dualling of the Balmedie to Tipperty section. That should cut down on injury/fatal accidents on the A90.
The existing A90 route from Stonehaven north will become the A92 once the Aberdeen bypass and the fastlink from Stonehaven has opened.
North East MSP Mike Rumbles highlighted the dangers – he is the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson in the Scottish Parliament – after receiving the statistics through a freedom of information request. See more at https://perthlibdems.org.uk/cy/article/2016/1174571/scottish-liberal-democrats-reveal-the-most-dangerous-trunk-roads-in-scotland.

Cash for a good cause at AGM

The Kincardineshire Development Partnership AGM will take place in the Bettridge Centre, Newtonhill, on Thursday 26 October at 7pm.

A special £500 Community Cash award will be made on the night! Groups and organisations across Kincardine and Mearns will be invited to register in advance (officesupport@kincardineshiredp.org), then come along and give a short presentation. All those present at the AGM will vote on which group should receive the £500.

http://www.kincardineshiredp.org/

Spotlight on Newtonhill area

Tonight was spent at a lively meeting of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council in the Skateraw Hall. About a dozen members of the public attended.

Here are some of the issues discussed.

– Costings are to be drawn up for new play equipment in Newtonhill Park. Proposals will be put to the community in due course. The village association has started fund raising.

– Aberdeenshire Council will be asked to trim, not remove, eight trees in Newtonhill Park which border Cliff View.

– The new siting for the grey cabinet at the Braehead was welcomed. It is necessary for the Scottish Water pumping station.

– Planning permission for industrial units at Gillybrands Farm, Cammachmore, was noted.

– There was a lengthy discussion about Barratts proposals for housing south of Newtonhill, including reference to a site visit by Aberdeenshire councillors who are considering the developer’s proposed masterplan.

– No further action is to be taken by the community council regarding the display of cars for sale at Tesco.

– The meeting discussed whether the underpass beneath the A90 could be used by pedestrians going between Newtonhill and Cammachmore. Previous appeals to Transport Scotland have come to nought so far.

– Various bus-related topics were discussed, including the two-hour gap in afternoons when returning from Aberdeen, and problems getting off bus services at Muchalls in particular when the A90 was being resurfaced. The next Kincardine and Mearns Bus Forum is on Thursday 28 September in Mackie Academy, at 7.30pm. The public are welcome to attend to raise concerns directly with Stagecoach and Aberdeenshire Council.

Memorable opening

Pupils from Hillside School stole the limelight this morning with their singing of the school song at the dedication service for the new Portlethen Funeralcare office at the shopping unit on Hillside Road.
Also attending were local ministers, residents, staff, Police Scotland, councillors, the community ambulance, and so on.
 
Unfortunately the fire alarm also went off (though not during the singing): a false alarm. A car had broken down outside as well, so it was memorable for many reasons!

New statistics released

Councillors have been sent some interesting local statistics (though not for everyone I know!).

The average household income in 2017:
Aberdeenshire – £36,983
Portlethen – £43,453
Newtonhill – £50,895

The average unemployment rate in 2016:
Aberdeenshire – 1.4%
Portlethen – 1.4%
Newtonhill – 1.4%

Of Portlethen residents in employment:
Work in Portlethen – 9%
Work elsewhere in Aberdeenshire – 15%
Work outwith Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire – 20%
Work in Aberdeen – 56%

Of Newtonhill residents in employment:
Work in Newtonhill – 3%
Work elsewhere in Aberdeenshire – 20%
Work outwith Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire – 26%
Work in Aberdeen – 51%

Housing stock:
In Portlethen in 2011 – 2884
In Portlethen in 2016 – 3495 (up by 19.9%)
In Newtonhill in 2011 – 1182
In Newtonhill in 2016 – 1251 (up by 5.8%)

Average house price in 2015:
Aberdeenshire – £235,471
Portlethen – £239,807
Newtonhill – £254,072

Population in 2016:
Portlethen – 8622 (7271 in 2011)
Newtonhill – 3144, (2982 in 2011)