A scheme to support small businesses in their first stages of growth is being reintroduced in Aberdeenshire.
The first employee grant scheme offers £1000 to businesses taking on their first employee and aims to help employers through the recruitment process. It is now open to applications. There is more information at https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsid=4837
Before and after pictures from Newtonhill. The original sign was weather-beaten and faded. Another job done.
There must have been about 50 people tonight at the second session discussing what’s good and what’s not-so-good about Portlethen, hosted by the community council and Aberdeenshire Council.
Key priorities are transport, a town centre, and connectivity. The biggest positive is that the town is seen as being a safe place to live.
At the event it was mentioned that Stagecoach is seeking comments on changes to its timetable starting on 8 January. The consultation is open until 17 November. This link to the company’s webpage has all proposed timetables as well as route maps for services if an alteration to the route has been proposed. http://stge.co/JIzw30gmnqf
Warning of another road closure – this time just east of Cookney.
The C24K country road is being closed because of AWPR work from Friday 17 November at 8pm to Monday 20 November at 6am.
Site notices will be erected in due course indicating the temporary restriction to traffic and the diversion route via C13K – Rothnick and B979 – Netherley.
A well-attended meeting tonight of the Sportlethen Community Sports Hub, with representatives of various sports such as football, archery, Jazzercise, badminton, Rebel PT, running, and underwater hockey.
The group covered a lot of issues such as the replacement astro pitch at the academy, training courses (including first aid), an edible trail, a 5k or 10k run at the gala, the Hillside pitch, and much more.
More sports clubs – or individuals – would be made most welcome at the next meeting which is pencilled in for Wednesday 10 January, in the academy.
Not a lot of ward issues on the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee agenda today. Here are some snippets:
– Councillors voiced opposition to officers’ proposals to charge communities for electricity when they put festive lights on street lighting. As the meeting heard, this would only invite “Scrooge-like” comments. Indeed. Festive lights can be put on steel columns (these are usually on high footfall areas), but not on aluminium columns (which crumple in accidents, and so are less likely to cause injury/death). In terms of electricity consumption, the top three festive displays in K&M are Stonehaven, Newtonhill and Drumlithie. A final decision will be made by the infrastructure committee.
– The Fire & Rescue Service will hold a road safety event for S4 pupils at Portlethen Academy in the spring. This is to contact pupils who might leave at the end of the year and thereby miss the annual Safe Drive Stay Alive event for older pupils. In liaison with Police Scotland, paramedics and others, this will highlight dangers for not only drivers but also passengers. Mearns and Mackie S4 pupils too will have such events.
– Stonehaven Business Association is to receive £1000 towards festive lights, as some are needing replaced. The area committee has some £42,000 still to disburse, to be spent this financial year. Local organisations who need support should get in touch with the council’s area office in Stonehaven. Here is a link to the application form: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/21015/2017_2018-kirkardine-and-mearns_area-committee-budget-application-form.pdf
– The local review body has dismissed an appeal against refusal of planning permission for the demolition of a farm steading and erection of three houses at Blackhills of Cairnrobin (north east of Portlethen). The proposals could not be supported as the site is in the green belt. Unfortunately the steading has already been demolished.
I was sorry to hear that Paul Gill will be leaving his post as head teacher of Banchory Devenick School on 3 December. Paul has been in post for just over two years, having come from Fetlar in Shetland. He has enjoyed his time in Aberdeenshire but has been looking for an opportunity to return to Shetland.
Aberdeenshire Council will now be looking for a replacement.
For more about the school, click here: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/as/2017bdevterm1/
Stagecoach is seeking feedback on new bus timetable proposals, due to commence on 8 January.
The company summarises the key local proposals: “Following customer feedback, Stagecoach North Scotland X7 journeys between Aberdeen and Stonehaven will be renumbered X6. An additional morning journey is proposed to be added to service 4 in Stonehaven to provide an earlier arrival in Stonehaven in response to local requests. There are no proposed changes to the Stagecoach East Scotland X7 service between Aberdeen and Perth. There is also a proposal to reduce the number of evening journeys between Portlethen and Stonehaven to reflect the current level of usage. It is proposed that there will be a two-hourly service, rather than the current hourly service. Portlethen to Aberdeen will remain an hourly service in the evenings. On Sundays this section of route will reduce slightly in frequency to hourly.”
There are other minor timing revisions.
Stagecoach will hold consultation events throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to give customers the opportunity to speak to local staff about the proposals. Events include:
Monday 6 November – Aberdeen bus station, 3pm – 8pm
Wednesday 8 November – Portlethen Asda, 3pm – 8pm
Thursday 9 November – Stonehaven Market Square, 3pm – 8pm
The proposed timetables and network maps are now available at stagecoachbus.com, and all feedback is welcomed to nscotmarketing@stagecoachbus.com. Here is a link to the website: http://stge.co/JIzw30gmnqf The company says comments received by 17 November will be considered ahead of plans being finalised.
The new road bridge over the AWPR at Burnhead opened last night after white lines were painted on the road. The road that it carries has been closed from many weeks while work was on-going.
A new Neighbourhood Alert services has been launched which allows the police to send email messages about local crime trends and containing crime prevention advice quickly and effectively to people. This can be targeted to particular streets or communities.
Anyone can sign-up to receive these email messages, either for themselves or their community group, and the sign-up process allows you to choose the types of information that you receive. The service is coordinated by Neighbourhood Watch Scotland which works with other public sector organisations to provide information not just on crime but also on community safety and resilience.
These messages are intended to keep people informed and provide information which will assist them in keeping themselves, their families and their property safe.
There is no requirement to join or set up a Neighbourhood Watch, simply register for these emails and decide which information providers you would like to receive Alerts from.
Find out more at https://www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk