Good news about the bottle bank at Asda. Council officers have been in discussion with the company they have agreed that the bottle bank can remain in their car park; however, the mixed dry bins will be removed as planned later this month.

Council officers are looking at other sites for bottle banks in Portlethen. For a town with a population of 8200 there are plainly not enough bottle banks. Suggestions would be welcome.

I have asked council officers to investigate the landslip above Newtonhill beach. It is threatening the path down from the Braehead. As I watched in the pouring rain this afternoon more soil was slipping down the cliff. And why has someone thrown rubbish down the landslip? That doesn’t help.

The sign at the Asda recycling bins

I am disappointed that all the recycling bins are being removed from the Asda car park in Portlethen. I can understand why the paper, cardboard and so on bins would be removed now that the Badentoy recycling centre is open, but why not keep the bottle bank? 

Council officers tell me the recycling point is to be removed at Asda’s request due to the persistent problem of fly tipping there. The fly tipping continues despite the household waste and recycling centre at Badentoy now being open.

That is disappointing, but I can see Asda’s point of view. It is such a shame that the majority have to lose out because of the actions of a minority.

At first council officers planned to relocate the glass recycling bins to Bourtree Community Centre … but there already is a bottle bank there. Other sites are being considered as a town the size of Portlethen needs more than one bottle bank.

I have suggested to council officers that the site of the former community centre on Cookston Road could be a possibility.

This need to be addressed as after all, you can’t put glass in the recycling bin. There is a danger people will put glass in the landfill bin.

Good news! After months of trying to get a pothole in Portlethen filled, I have been promised that the work will be undertaken shortly, for public safety reasons.

The great difficulty has been in finding out who is responsible for the little car park opposite the Co-op, takeaway, and bookies on Cookston Road at Burnside Gardens (where the post box and phone box are). The car park is not part of the council’s adopted road network. However it could be that hidden in some dusty file it actually is the council’s responsibility, shrouded in the mists of time. Meanwhile the pothole gets bigger.

So I am grateful that the work is to be done, without admitting any liability or responsibility. That pothole is a stonker, right at the entrance. It could be a danger to pedestrians too!

The car park at the shops also has a number of craters, however there is no doubt over who is responsible for maintenance there – the shops. I am hopeful that something will be done there shortly.

BT work on the B979 Netherley Road have been brought forward and will now take place on Wednesday 8 March for one day. This will mean a 30mph restriction and two-way traffic lights between 9.30am and 3.30pm. This work takes place at the junction with the road leading to the former Maryculter West school and Cockley Cottages.

I was so sorry to hear that Scott Annand had died yesterday. I had the pleasure of knowing him for many years, and working with him on projects around the village. He made a difference and got things done. My thoughts are with the family.

The funeral is on Wednesday at 11.30 at Crathes crematorium.

I had two questions raised with me about the average speed cameras on the A90. Firstly, why is there no exit camera on the A956 (Wellington Road) heading north, and secondly, is it true the average speed cameras are being extended from the city boundary to Stonehaven (as was reported in the Press and Journal). This afternoon I received the answers from the AWPR team.

1) Wellington Road – “The average speed camera is located to monitor traffic moving along the A90 and does not monitor traffic exiting the A90 via the C5K/A956 slip road. The system of average speed cameras in place on the A90 at Charleston has been installed in accordance with the approved design, following consultation with Police Scotland and Transport Scotland. The system is reviewed regularly, however I can confirm that there are no planned alterations to the layout at this time.”

2) Stonehaven – “Regarding the average speed cameras to be installed on the A90 at Stonehaven, these are expected to be installed in the next few days. This system will only cover the temporary traffic management at Stonehaven and will not extend further.

“Once the cameras have been installed they will undergo testing prior to going live. The decision as to the ‘go-live’ date for these cameras rests with both Police Scotland and the North Safety Camera Unit. When going live, the test signs for the cameras will be removed and the ‘go live’ date will be published on the Transport Scotland website (www.transport.gov.scot/…/aberdeen-western-peripheral-route-…).

“As you know, there are existing average speed cameras at Charleston, so once the cameras at Stonehaven are installed there will be a gap between both of these systems.”

Good.

In Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen there are 1,315 more people out of work now than at this time in 2016. The figures show an increase of 27% with the total number of unemployed people reaching 6,145 or 1.9%.

Monthly statistics for the North East released by Mackay Consultants also show that unemployment has risen by 31.8% for the Aberdeen Travel to Work Area over the same period.

Overall our unemployment remains low compared to many parts of the country but coupled with the fall in wages in recent years it means a lot less money going into our economy.