Pipeline drama in spotlight

About a dozen members of the public attended tonight’s North Kincardine Rural Community Council meeting when two representatives from INEOS talked about the Forties oil pipeline drama over the winter at Netherley.

They outlined what had caused the problem – the pipeline had acquired a dent from resting on a large granite boulder causing some seepage. A 10ft long 2 1/2 tonne sleeve has been wrapped round the section. They apologised for the disruption caused to residents, and donations had been made to the Cookney Hall and Lairhillock School.

The community council also had a presentation from a local police officer which covered a wide range of issues from unlicensed cars, to opportunistic car thefts and the drugs trade.

The profits from the annual community council / South Deeside View plant sale and coffee morning will be split between the Mucky Boots nature kindergarten and Maryculter Driving for the Disabled. It takes place on Saturday 19 May at the Corbie Hall at Maryculter.

Plans for roads maintenance

On Tuesday Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee will discuss the roads service’s maintenance plans for this financial year. The map below (click on it and the image will be clearer) shows the schemes they have planned. This is separate from on-going repairs and from work arising from AWPR over-use.
 
Here are some of the other proposals in Portlethen:
  • Resurface Asda roundabout – £40,000
  • Renew high friction surfacing at the pedestrian crossings on Cookston Road – £11,500
  • Slurry seal preparation on Muirend Road from the A90 roundabout to Cookston Road – £5500
The full lists can be found at http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=8&meetid=18844. Scroll down to Item 6 on the agenda.

Confusion over recycling

A poll of 2,000 people across the UK has identified widespread confusion about what items can and cannot be put in household recycling bins.

The survey commissioned by the British Science Association found the most common mistake, made by 66% of people, is thinking that used kitchen foil and foil trays should not be put in the recycle bin, while 58% did not know that empty deodorant aerosols and hairspray can be recycled.

The study also found that younger people are less likely to recycle than older generations. Among those aged 25 to 34, 22% said that they found recycling too time-consuming and were not in the habit of it, while only 6% of over-55s said this was the case.

We have a big problem in Aberdeenshire with material which could be recycled going to landfill. Less than 50% of household rubbish is recycled. Some 60% of stuff going to landfill could be recycled, and that is costing the council £3.5m a year. The easiest change would be food waste as only 32% of that is currently recycled.

Council officers are working on how this can be improved.

There is more information about what happens to our waste when it goes to landfill at https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/waste/landfill/

Firm makes £44m loss on AWPR

I’ve just stumbled across this coverage of Balfour Beatty’s results, with comments about the Aberdeen bypass. The report says the firm suffered a loss of £44m on the AWPR contract as a result of Carillion’s liquidation.
Balfour Beatty and its remaining partner on the project, Galliford Try, are obliged to complete work on the bypass. However, chief executive Leo Quinn said Balfour had also benefited from Carillion’s failure, as it had removed a “major competitor from the market that was underpricing us all”.
There is more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43397797

Aiming to hit the top notes

Portlethen Academy Concert Band is one of three Aberdeenshire schools performing in a national final of the Scottish Concert Band Festival on Saturday (17 March).

Portlethen Academy Concert Band received a Gold Award at the Aberdeen Regional Festival last November, while the South Central Aberdeenshire Music Centre Youth Band and Mackie Academy Concert Band were awarded Gold Plus Awards.

Mackie and Portlethen will be conducted by Sarah Gove while Bruce Wallace will lead South Central when the schools compete for the national title in Perth.

The schools will be judged on rhythm, melody, tuning and intonation, articulation, dynamics, communication, musicality and interpretation and choice and balance of programme.

Tesco seeking good causes

Tesco Newtonhill is looking for local groups to apply for its Bags of Help Fund. Amazingly, the store has been undersubscribed, so groups in Kincardineshire are being encouraged to apply.

Constituted groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding of between £1000 and £4000 for projects that bring benefits to the community. The on-line application can be accessed via http://bit.ly/bagsofhelp4

Eligible projects include – but are not limited to – activity in outdoor spaces; purchase of items such as sports kit, camping equipment or specialised medical equipment; improvements to community buildings; seasonal events, volunteer expenses and training.

Following a public vote in Tesco stores every two months, three projects will receive a grant with first place receiving up to £4000, second place up to £2000 and third place £1000. For further information contact 01786 849757 or email the local enabler onmailto:rita.callander@greenspacescotland.org.uk

Summer opening for AWPR

Well, I for one am not surprised that it will be later this year before the Aberdeen bypass opens. The weather hasn’t been great this winter and the collapse of Carillion won’t have helped. However maintaining for such a long time that it would open in the winter of 2017/18 wasn’t credible.
Today the Press and Journal reported that it will be this summer before the AWPR opens: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1434670/completion-long-awaited-aberdeen-bypass-delayed-summer/
 
Meantime some of our local roads continue to be badly affected. Stephen Archer, Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services director, confirmed to me that the council is continuing to carry out emergency repairs to the local road network which has sustained damage as a direct result of construction traffic associated with the AWPR. He adds that unfortunately the recent winter weather may exacerbate the situation.
 
He says: “To date we have carried out more substantial repairs utilising an external contractor, mainly in the North Kincardine area of Aberdeenshire, whilst our own teams have also carried out repairs in K&M and the Formartine area.
 
“As the AWPR project is approaching the stage of works where we should now see the amount of construction traffic greatly reduce, council officers are collating the require information to address the more permanent works required to address the condition of the local road network as the project draws to a close.
 
“We are actively in communication with the Construction Joint Venture to recoup the associated costs so that we can return the network to the conditions it was in prior to the project starting.
 
“Should you notice any issues on our network then they can be reported online, or by phone, and the relevant link can be found here: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/roads/contact-us/“

Views sought on bank closures

The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee is conducting an inquiry into the impact of bank closures, prompted by the closure of a third of Scotland’s bank branches between 2010 and 2017.
The committee wants to hear from as many people as possible, whether community council members, business owners or individuals. More information is available as follows:
a) Impact on local businesses, consumers and the Scottish economy: http://parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/107957.aspx
b) The Call for Views (no requirement to answer every question) http://parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/107960.aspx
c) Survey of individuals and businesses
http://bit.ly/bankclosures
Locally we have of course seen the closure of the Royal Bank branch in Stonehaven and the removal of the RBS mobile branch from Portlethen.
Please email economyjobsandfairwork@parliament.scot with any queries.