More and more residents are moving into Newtonhill’s newest street which has been named after a local resident who died last year. 

Local branches of Lloyds TSB are among the 632 branches to be sold to the Co-operative Group in a deal worth up to £750 million.

The part-nationalised bank, which is offloading the branches to meet European Union rules on state aid following its UK Government bailout, hopes to complete the sale by the end of November next year.

This means the accounts of 4.8 million customers including 3.1 million personal current account customers will transfer to the Co-op.

In the North-east this will affect nine Lloyds TSB branches in Aberdeen, and those in Alford, Banchory, Banff, Brechin, Buckie, Culter, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Insch, Inverurie, Keith, Montrose, Peterhead, Stonehaven, and Turriff. Cheltenham and Gloucester branches, including 148 Union Street, Aberdeen, will also transfer.

Stonehaven councillor Peter Bellarby commented: “This will be unsettling for local customers at first as many people stay with the same bank for years. However the extra competition can only be beneficial in the long-run.

“Although some Stonehaven residents may be concerned at the number of businesses operated by the Co-operative Group in Stonehaven, in the banking sector there will be healthy competition with four different banks having offices in Stonehaven.”

North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison added: “A strong banking sector relies on diverse banks competing for customers. This deal will help throw open the retail banking market, and will help the industry move back to responsible banking.

“Furthermore the mutual approach to business gives people a proper stake in the places they work, spreading wealth through society.”

A Lloyds spokeswoman said the affected branches will be rebranded to TSB from spring 2013 and will transfer to the Co-operative at completion under that brand.

The TSB business would operate separately for a period ahead of integration with the existing Co-operative Banking Group.

Co-operative Group chief executive Peter Marks said: “It would be a great deal for customers because it would make the services of our member-owned, customer-led, ethically-driven, bank available to millions of people we’ve not been able to serve up until now.”

Following the acquisition, the Co-op will have around 7% of the personal current account market. With almost 1,000 branches the combined entity will have around 10% of all UK bank branches and will be similar in size to Nationwide.

The affected Lloyds TSB branches include: Aberdeen: 435 Great Northern Road, 8 Holburn Street, 499 Great Western Road, 5 Kincorth Shopping Centre, 33 Queens Road, 99 Rosehill Drive, 70 Victoria Road, 226 Union Street, and 19 Union Terrace. Alford: 32 Main Street. Banchory: 82 High Street. Banff: 12 Castle Street. Brechin: 10 Mary Street. Buckie: 5 Cluny Square. Culter: 241 North Deeside Road. Ellon: 36 Bridge Street. Fraserburgh: 70 Broad Street. Insch: 11 High Street. Inverurie: 32 West High Street. Keith: 151 Mid Street. Montrose: 14 Castle Place. Peterhead: 14 Queen Street. Stonehaven: 8 Evan Street. Turriff: 12 Main Street.

A number of Newtonhill residents have raised their concerns about the safety of a new path from Cairnhill Road through the park to Newtonhill Road.

Councillor Ian Mollison said: “I have been told that a few drivers have gone down the path, mistakenly thinking it is a road. Other residents are concerned that the path could be used by vehicles to access the park.

“I have contacted council officials and as a result a temprorary barrier has been put in place.

“The path was constructed to meet conditions imposed by the council on the developers of Michael Tunstall Terrace and Cairnhill Road. It is needed to provide a safe route to school and the centre of the village for the new residents.

“Council officials understand the sense of urgency and concern felt by residents regarding this matter. However the specification for the permanent bollards required at the Cairnhill Road access are significantly different to those already used at other points round the park by Landscape Services.

“As occasional maintenance access must be maintained at this entrance, removable bollards (which are not a standard Aberdeenshire Council installation) will be put in. These have to comply with minimum safety specifications for use on a main entrance to this type of multi-user path.

“It may take the developer a number of weeks to source and install a product to meet minimum specifications (particularly given the holidays).”

Portlethen will soon see a new greener bus on local routes. From time to time Stagecoach will be trying out eco-friendly hybrid-electric buses between Aberdeen and the town.

The fleet of 10 hybrid buses will be mainly operating in Aberdeen from Balnagask to Northfield via Union Square and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

However managing director Andrew Jarvis said at the launch on Monday that Stagecoach would also trial the buses on other routes including Aberdeen-Westhill and Aberdeen-Portlethen. The buses are not suitable for longer journeys such as on the A90 dual carriageway to Stonehaven as the maximum speed is 46mph.

Councillor Ian Mollison, who was at the launch at the Ardoe House Hotel in his North Kincardine ward, said: “I am very pleased to hear that these low emission buses will be seen in Portlethen.

“Having now travelled on one, I am sure passengers will welcome the smoother, quieter ride. They are also a welcome contribution to the environment as vehicle emissions cause poor air quality which in turn can damage your health.”

The new hybrid buses produce 30% less carbon emissions than standard vehicles.

Mr Jarvis said: “This is the latest of more than a £3m investment in fleet improvements in the North East in the last year.”

The buses are fuelled by a battery system, supported by a smaller traditional diesel engine, with the braking system generating electrical energy when the brakes are applied. Electrical energy is also stored in the battery pack and used to drive the electric motor. As well as reducing emissions they show substantial fuel savings. The £1.5m investment in the fleet was backed by £1m from the Scottish Government’s green bus fund.

They take over the Hospital Direct 59 route in Aberdeen later this month, running every 10 minutes.

Aberdeenshire’s population is set to increase by 22% by 2035, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland. The projections also say Scotland’s population will increase by 540,000 over that period.

North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison commented: “This will surely increase the pressure on Aberdeenshire Council to make sure there are sufficient homes, good services and jobs for these extra residents.

“If the predictions are correct, it means developments such as the new town of Chapelton of Elsick near Newtonhill will be in great demand. We will need the homes and the employment opportunitites new developments bring. It confirms that the council was correct to plan for 36,000 more homes across the area in its new development plans.

“This area attracts people from all over the UK and abroad because of our quality of life and low unemployment rate. For example, in the Portlethen and Newtonhill area the unemployment rate is 0.8%. This must be among the lowest level in the UK.”

The population rise in Aberdeenshire would be the fifth highest increase of Scottish local authorities.

The number of children in the county is projected to increase by 15%, the number of people of working age to go up by 15%, and the number of people of pensionable age to rise by 50%, the second highest increase of this age group among councils.

The projected rate of increase among people over 75 is 130%, again the second highest rate among Scottish local authorities.

Both natural change and migration are expected to contribute to Aberdeenshire’s population growth. Natural change plays a larger part in the projected change than at the national level, and about 26% of population growth would be due to this.

Newtonhill and Laurencekirk are among the latest communities to be included in a roll-out of faster broadband by BT.

They are due to be upgraded by the spring of 2013. This will make available download speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps), more than double the speed previously available from BT.

Councillor Ian Mollison welcomed the news: “Some parts of my North Kincardine ward currently have a very poor broadband service, and this is a step in the right direction. Broadband is a now vital part of modern day living and working. It is especially essential that our businesses are able to quickly access their markets and customers.”

The faster broadband delivered over copper lines is already available to around 1.5 million homes and businesses in Scotland. Some 39 communities across the country are included in the latest phase.

By spring around three quarters of homes and businesses in Scotland will be served by an exchange which has been upgraded to deliver these higher speeds.

The new service is available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband. Once an exchange area has been upgraded, some service providers automatically upgrade their customers. People should contact their provider for more information.

BT Scotland director Brendan Dick said: “The technology is having a major impact on our everyday lives and changing for the better the way we live, helping businesses work more efficiently and flexibly and find new markets. And communities are better able to make use of the huge range of on-line educational and entertainment opportunities available. But there is still much work to be done and we want to work with the public sector to find solutions for even the most challenging locations.”

This investment in the copper network is in addition to BT’s £2.5 billion roll-out of fibre-based broadband, which will bring even faster speeds to around two-thirds of UK premises by the end of 2014. Some 94 Scottish exchange areas covering around 836,000 premises have been included in the fibre upgrade plan to date.

Rail commuters at Portlethen are suffering from a lack of investment at the local station, and North East MSP Alison McInnes is calling on Transport Scotland to take action.

The Liberal Democrat MSP has written to Transport Scotland chief executive David Middleton. She said: “Many voices have been raised in the community that the station could be better used. This station, which re-opened in 1985, has suffered in recent years from a lack of trains stopping to pick up and set down passengers.

“Despite this, between 2009/10 and 2010/11 patronage at Portlethen grew by 21%. Across Scotland over that period the increase was just 4%.

“Some 18,000 passengers a year use the station. I am confident this would rise dramatically if there were a more regular service.”

Local councillor Ian Mollison said: “Although the trains and the stations are operated by ScotRail, in general they can only provide the services required under the franchise from Transport Scotland. There needs to be a political will to invest more in our railway system and take pressure off the local roads.”

Mrs McInnes continued: “I am aware that the North East transport partnership Nestrans has been discussing with ScotRail the possibility additional stops at Portlethen which, with adjustments to the timetable further south, would have little impact on journey times between Aberdeen and Edinburgh/Glasgow.

“I am told that Nestrans is hopeful that some progress may be made when the timetable changes this December.

“As well as the need for more services, there should be more investment at Portlethen station. It is the only one in the North East with no ticket machine. This requires passengers to buy tickets on train – which is difficult – or face great difficulties at Aberdeen when challenged by staff. Residents have told me they feel they are being accused of fare-dodging, which is not the case.

“There also should be CCTV and customer information TV screens at the station. The fares structure particularly to/from Aberdeen needs to be reviewed to ensure that the service is competitive with local buses. Finally, there needs to be a publicity campaign in the locality so that people are aware of the rail services locally.”

Councillor Ian Mollison this week welcomed the news that two late night bus services from Aberdeen are to continue on to Newtonhill rather than terminating at Portlethen.

The announcement from Stagecoach comes after pressure from residents.

Councillor Mollison said: “When Stagecoach recently reintroduced the Nightbird service at weekends there was dismay in Newtonhill that only one of the three services would continue beyond Portlethen.

“The issue was raised with the company directly and at the Kincardine and Mearns Bus Forum. They promised to look again at the timings to see if it were possible to fit in the extra leg. I am pleased that they have been able to respond positively. Hopefully Newtonhill passengers will now make use of the service.”

The change to the N7 Nightbird service takes place on 7 July when the 00:40 and 01:40 (early Saturday and Sunday) from Aberdeen to Portlethen will be extended to the Skateraw Road shops in Newtonhill.

One consequence however is that the 01:06 and 02:06 buses (early Saturday and Sunday) from Portlethen back to Aberdeen will no longer run. Any passengers wishing to go from Portlethen to Aberdeen can travel on the extended journey to Newtonhill which will return to Aberdeen at 01:09 and 02:09 directly via the A90.

A third Nightbird leaves Aberdeen at 02:40 and continues on to Stonehaven.

Aberdeenshire Council subsidises school buses to the tune of about £14m a year … and provides a better service than recommended by the Scottish Government.

The issue was raised by a Newtonhill resident concerned about the service between the village and Portlethen Academy.

Councillor Ian Mollison took up the case and received a response from the council’s public transport unit.

“Regarding the measurement of distance to the school, this is calculated on the basis of the shortest walking route from home. It is therefore inevitable that when a line is drawn someone will be on the wrong side, from their point of view,” said Councillor Mollison.

• The cost of providing school transport across Aberdeenshire is £15.8m per annum. The Grant Aided Expenditure indicator for Aberdeenshire in respect of school transport is £3.95m. This is a vital contributor to the calculation of Aggregate External Finance (AEF) and Revenue Support Grant (RSG), it is not intended to be an indication of what an authority should be spending on a particular service, nor is it a guide to determine local authority spending. The council decides the policy to be adopted and the cost is as a result of that decision.
• The walk to school distance is measured using the council’s GIS system, which is more accurate than a car odometer.  The distance is calculated based on the shortest walking route between the pupils house and the nearest school gate, not as the crow flies.  It is expected that a responsible adult will accompany the pupil on the route if required.
• The legislation set out by the government requires councils to make provision to assist pupils to get to school based on the pupil’s age, with the distances set as 2 miles for those under 8 years of age and 3 miles for those over.  Aberdeenshire Council is more generous in its provision of school transport and provides assistance to pupils of primary age who live over 2 miles from the school and those of secondary age over 3 miles from the school.  

For pupils who reside less than the relevant distance from their zoned school Aberdeenshire Council provide the option of a Privilege pass.   This allows parents/guardians to purchase a pass for their child to travel on the school bus at £94 in the case of primary pupils and £149 for secondary pupils in 2012/13 with discounts available to those in receipt of free school meals or where 3 or more children in the same family attend the same school.  

These rates are much lower than the cost to the council of providing a seat on a school bus, at an average of £1065 per annum, and provide an alternative safe route to school for pupils living under the relevant mile walk distances from their school.