I see the wonderful ship on the Braehead in Newtonhill is flying new colours. I like it.

Today there were 161 patients (190 last week) in NHS Grampian hospitals who have tested positive for covid-19. No-one is in intensive care (three last week).

NHS Grampian says: “In the past week, there has been a slight increase in admissions ‘for’ covid-19 but some very early signs of a reduction in hospital onset cases. Daily occupancy was at its highest on 3 April, when we had 198 covid-19 patients in our hospitals. It has fallen slightly since, but it is too early to say if we have peaked.”

In Aberdeenshire:

• Eight more deaths were recorded in the past week linked to covid-19. The cumulative toll is 302.

• TUMBLING – 1900 cases were recorded in the past seven days. Previous weekly figures were: 2989, 3469, 4148, 3789, 2797, 2357, 2305, 2555, 2763, and 1203.

• DROPPING – The seven day positive rate per 100,000 is 728.6, according to Public Health Scotland. Previous weeks were 1146.2, 1330.2, 1590.6, 1452.9, 1072.6, 906.1, 882.7, 978.6, 473.6, and 459.0.

• FALLING – In the past seven days 37 cases were recorded in the Netherley / Fetteresso / Catterline area, 38 in the Banchory-Devenick / Findon area, 25 in Portlethen, and 30 in Newtonhill.

Kincardineshire Development Partnership’s annual general meeting in Laurencekirk included the usual formalities … plus five presentations from local groups vying for a £500 Community Cash award. By the closest of margins the recipient was Portlethen’s Jubilee Hall.

They will be installing a high-quality overhead projection and sound system to enable the hall to host training and adult learning sessions in skills such as photography, as well as hold film afternoons.

Meanwhile, KDP is looking for an enthusiastic administrator to join the team.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to ensure the smooth running of general administration including correspondence with members and the board; taking minutes; payroll and preparation of financial reports. They will also provide administrative support for the wind farm funds that KDP oversee. In addition, they will assist with research and logistical planning for events and upkeep the Facebook page and website.

The role is 10 hours a week, with an hourly rate of £12.00. The hours can be worked flexibly, although there will be occasional evening and weekend meetings and events.

For more information and a job description contact Margo at officesupport@kdp.scot

Closing date is Monday 18 April 2022.

NHS Grampian is making appointments for people aged 75 and over for a covid-19 spring booster.

However there have been some hiccups when the appointment letters were being sent out. For example, I am aware of one person in Portlethen who was given an appointment at Westhill. That has now been transferred to Portlethen Academy.

Here is what NHS Grampian has to say: “On Tuesday we became aware some citizens in Aberdeenshire had not been given appointments at their nearest clinic. Since then the vaccination team have been working hard to understand the scale of the problem.

“We want to apologise to all those affected. We’re working with the national appointing team to understand why this has happened and to take steps to prevent it happening again. This issue appears to be limited to Aberdeenshire only.

“We have already started phoning people directly to rebook their appointments. If anyone has received an appointment at a clinic that is not closest to where they stay or is not convenient to get to , they do not need to wait for us to get in touch; they can call the national helpline on 0800 030 8013 and rearrange. Letters will be going out to those affected later today to apologise and explain what they should do next.

“We want to stress that no-one in this group will be turned away from a vaccination centre. Provided they are eligible, they will receive their spring booster. Individuals are not obliged to reschedule; if the appointment they have been given suits them, they are welcome to keep it.”

I had a query this morning about paths being closed in Portlethen when Scottish Water replaces a main.

I have now heard back from Scottish Water. Here is what they have said:

“Yes there will be an alternative pedestrian route for this section of works. There is an alternative footpath accessed from both Schoolhill Rise and Clochandighter Terrace which takes pedestrians down to Cookston Road. We will make sure we have signage up prior to works starting etc.

“See the image below which hopefully shows better the footpath closures and alternative routes for sections 1 and 2 of the works.”

There is more about the work here: https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2022/04/05/more-water-mains-work-ahead/

A query popped up elsewhere on social media asking why the Bettridge Centre in Newtonhill has that name.

The Bettridge Centre is named after the small inlet from the sea directly to the east, at the foot of the Coastal Park. The other front runner when we were choosing a name was Greystone, after the adjoining street.

The name was picked by the villagers who built the extension to the community hall (now known as the small hall).

The Ordnance Survey map below shows the location of the Bettridge and the centre. There are also Bettridge Road and Bettridge Lane in the old village.

I don’t know the origin of the name though.

PS: The centre is now hosting the village library, on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

More vehicles are to be allowed into Aberdeenshire’s recycling centres from 1 May.

This follows a review of the council’s household recycling centres.

There will be an increase in the number of vehicles per 15 minute timeslot at: Alford, Banchory, Ellon. Fraserburgh, Huntly, Insch, Inverurie, Laurencekirk, Macduff. Peterhead, Portlethen, Portsoy, Stonehaven, Turriff and Westhill.

I hear that census returns from the Portlethen area are “significantly” behind where what was expected.

Overall Aberdeenshire is where the census team would expect so far. There is still time to complete it; just answer as if it were 20 March.

There is more here: https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/taking-part-in-the-2022-census/scotland-s-census-2022/

Scottish Water has unveiled plans for further mains replacement work, this time in Portlethen. This will take place once mains replacement work in Newtonhill is completed.

Portlethen residents will be receiving a letter shortly from Scottish Water regarding the plans and the impact this work will have on the local community over the 24 weeks, starting on 18 April.

Work to renew 600 metres of water main in Newtonhill is nearing completions, having started in January. Less than three weeks to go.

Scottish Water said today: “We really appreciate the patience and support of the local community during this work, particularly during the most recent, more disruptive phase.

“Following on from the work in Newtonhill, we are now getting ready to move forward with the renewal of 700 metres of ageing water main, this time in Cookston Road and Muirend Road in Portlethen.

“The letter to customers in the area notes the expected timescales for the work, explains what can be expected, and provides a detailed description of traffic management in the area, including some phased road closures that will be needed during later phases of the programme.

“Our team on site will do all they can to manage the short-term impacts of their work on the community and the road network well, while delivering the investment that is needed to ensure the local water network can continue serving customers for many years to come.”

The following new applications in the North Kincardine ward can be viewed on the Aberdeenshire Council planning register: https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/.

APP/2022/0696
Date validated: 28 March 2022.
Site address: 35 Cairngrassie Circle, Portlethen, AB12 4TZ.
Applicant: Mr Wayne Marnoch c/o SGW Architects, 224 Deeside Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7PS.
Application: Full planning permission for alterations and extension to dwellinghouse.
Public comment expiry date: 18 April 2022.

APP/2022/0710
Date validated: 28 March 2022.
Site address: Site at Bothy, Stripeside, Netherley, Stonehaven, AB39 3AB.
Applicant: Forbes Homes Ltd c/o Mackie Ramsay Taylor, 21-23 Waverley Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1XH.
Application: Approval of matters specified in conditions for Conditions 1a (Layout Siting and Design), b (External Appearance and Finishing Materials), c (Landscaping), d (Levels Survey and Finished Ground and Floor Levels), e (Foul and Surface Water Details), f (Access and Visibility Splays), g (Car Parking) h (Storage of Waste) of planning permission in principle reference APP/2017/0250 for Erection of two dwellinghouses.
Public comment expiry date: 17 April 2022.

APP/2022/0725
Date validated: 30 March 2022.
Site address: 23 Fern Drive, Portlethen, AB12 4TB.
Applicant: Mrs Allison Grierson c/o J.V. Carroll, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Inverden House, Queens Lane North, Aberdeen, AB15 4DF.
Application: Full planning permission for the erection of outbuilding (retrospective).
Public comment expiry date: 19 April 2022.

APP/2022/0730
Date validated: 31 March 2022.
Site address: 11 Stripeside, Netherley, Stonehaven, AB39 3AB.
Applicant: Forbes Homes Ltd c/o Mackie Ramsay Taylor, 21-23 Waverley Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1XH.
Application: Full planning permission for erection of dwellinghouse (Change of house type to previously approved APP/2015/3185).
Public comment expiry date: 20 April 2022.

APP/2022/0732
Date validated: 29 March 2022.
Site address: Land north of Rothnick Croft, Netherley, Stonehaven.
Applicant: Forbes Homes Ltd.
Application: Full planning permission for formation of access, groundworks and erection of fencing.
Public comment expiry date: 28 April 2022.