As everyone who lives in Newtonhill will know, Scottish Water is installing a new mains into the village. I’ve just received an update from the company about what will happen when the work reaches the A92 southbound carriageway.

Here is what Scottish Water has to say: “Phase four of the work on Newtonhill Road is about to begin, and this will involve the closure of the southbound A92 slip road entering Newtonhill from the North. This is to prevent any possible back up of traffic onto the A92 caused by the temporary traffic lights near the top of Newtonhill Road and to allow a safe working area for the works next to the slip road.

“A diversion will be in place via the Stonehaven junction on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. The southbound exit from Newtonhill onto the A92 will remain open.

“This phase of works will start on Monday 28 March and last approximately four weeks.”

There are now notices from Aberdeenshire Council at bus stops advising of the impact on local buses.

It says that southbound services will be affected. During the closure the X7 buses will stop at the former bus stop on the dual carriageway outside Tesco. Traffic leaving the village to go to south will have to beware of these buses.

Otherwise the southbound exit from Newtonhill on to the A92 will remain open as normal.

As well as closing the southbound access into the village, it will affect the three afternoon buses returning from Portlethen Academy. See the letter displayed below.

UPDATE 22 March:

We received an addressed leaflet via Royal Mail today with information from Scottish Water about what they are going to do. Presumably every household in the village received a copy.

I raised the length of the closure with council officers today. Officers have been urging Scottish Water – and their contractors – to move as quickly as possible and reduce how long the access from the A92 will last. However it is up to Scottish Water.

Council officers have provided the following update on how children from Chapelton will be accommodated at Newtonhill School (until there is a primary built in the new town), and at Portlethen Academy.

There is nothing particularly new here, but it confirms the direction of travel. The information comes via Kincardine and Mearns area manager Bruce Stewart.

“With over 4,000 houses proposed new town of Chapelton is Aberdeenshire Council’s largest housing allocation, and it is key for housing delivery in the region, located in the southern strategic corridor.

“As part of the vision and masterplan, education facilities and many other facilities have been planned into the development and in line with the Section 75 planning agreement a primary school is to be provided after the 489th house is completed.

“We would highlight that the programme for the delivery of the school is linked to housing delivery on site at Chapelton and this may create some fluidity in the programming.

“Further to continuing conversations and meetings held with the developer, Aberdeenshire Council including the relevant services such as education and the experience Aberdeenshire Council have from other locations it has been identified that an appropriate way forward would be to ‘grow’ a school at Chapelton.

“This approach would also include a virtual school being formed within Newtonhill Primary that would support the growth of the school and be timetabled accordingly with the new build programme, so that on the opening of the new school there would be classes of pupils established and ready to start at the new school. The virtual school process has been successfully used at Hillside Primary also in the south of Aberdeenshire.

“The entire process from virtual school to new build opening on site at Chapelton, will be programmed in conjunction with the housing delivery numbers and the projected pupil yield to ensure that the process is smooth and to manage the capacity at Newtonhill Primary. Aberdeenshire Council recognises the importance for a community to being fully involved in the unique experience of developing a new school and the community will be invited into the process in due course.

“There are many opportunities and benefits to this process which will ultimately shape the future for all learners within a newly created catchment zone.

“The Learning Estates team in collaboration with property colleagues have developed a strong brief which has shaped our primary school new builds in the last 8 years, and council project officers have been developing a proposed schedule of accommodation which is linked to the primary school design brief for Chapelton. This has enabled indicative whole life project costs to be assessed which in turn has fed into the initial stages of the required project governance.

“Regarding capacity at Portlethen Academy, the calculation of capacities for secondary schools is complex. It’s based on an aim for 80% occupancy in Aberdeenshire, so there are always extra teaching spaces available, but we also base it on ensuring we can deliver an effective mix of practical (20 pupil maximum class size) and non-practical (30 max) subjects.

“The stated capacities are what we call ‘published’ capacities which only account for main school buildings, where as our ‘working’ capacities include non-linked units. Practical teaching areas like technical often require fixed equipment so it can sometimes be that the overall capacity of a school is limited until we reconfigure spaces.

“This is where ‘planning’ capacity comes in. From year to year and where there are pinch points in our secondaries, our learning estates team works closely with schools to ensure they have ample space to deliver the right mix of subjects on behalf of their learners.

“We set annual secondary limits and reserved spaces and will not accept placing requests from those out of area when we need to limit numbers. Right now, none of our secondary schools, including Portlethen Academy, are over working capacity and where we are expecting school rolls to increase, we are planning ahead.”

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/2022/0452
Date validated: 15 March 2022.
Site address: Broomhill, Netherley, AB39 3SN.
Applicant: Messrs c/o Christopher Farquhar, Savills (UK) Ltd, Elm House, Cradlehall Business Park, Inverness, IV2 5GH.
Application: Prior notification for the erection of agricultural building.
Public comment expiry date: Not applicable for this type of application.

APP/2022/0523
Date validated: 14 March 2022.
Site address: Garage/store to east of, Nether Ashentilly Cottage, Maryculter, AB12 5GQ.
Applicant: Mr M Bhatti c/o Duncan Bennett, Bennett Architectural Design Limited, Commerce House, Commerce Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5FN.
Application: Full planning permission for the conversion and alterations of garage/store to form a dwellinghouse.
Public comment expiry date: 14 April 2022.

I have reported the growing pothole on St Crispin’s Road at the junction with Newtonhill Road. It wasn’t filled along with other potholes as Scottish Water workers were at that spot.

The Roads Service tells me it has been logged as “Lower Priority Programmed Repair” following an inspection. Officers say it requires further intervention and defects in this category “will often be repaired when a programme of planned work can be organised which maximises efficiency as resources become available and may take much longer to complete.”

Officers add that they are unable to provide an estimated completion date.

I hope this means it will be added to the list of outstanding repairs – including those in Cairnwell Road – which I have been promised will be carried out in the new financial year.

Meantime it would help if residents would continue to report potholes: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/roadfaults/

People are still being asked to do a lateral flow test twice a week and to also test before meeting someone at high risk. And of course, report the test result – even if it’s negative – either on line or phone 119.

Full details here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/covid-19/community-testing

You can get free lateral flow tests by:
– Ordering online at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
– Phoning 119 (7am – 11pm daily. Calls are free).
– Collecting from an Aberdeenshire Council mobile centres. In Kincardine and Mearns they are at the following locations:
Monday, 21 March
Stonehaven – Market Square – 10am until noon.
Tuesday, 22 March
Portlethen – Asda car park – 10am until noon.
Wednesday, 23 March
Stonehaven – Market Square – noon to 3.30pm.
Friday, 25 March
Portlethen – Asda car park – 10am – 12.30pm/1pm – 3.30pm (Closed for 30-minute lunch break).

Library services will resume in Newtonhill from Wednesday 6 April, after a two-year closure.

Staff will be operating from a new base within the Bettridge Centre as part of partnership working.

Public browsing and the Click & Collect service (for those who would prefer to collect a bundle of pre-selected books) will be available twice a week on a Wednesday 3.30pm – 6pm and Friday 1pm – 3.30pm.

Bookings for Click & Collect can be made by calling the Live Life Aberdeenshire helpline on 01467 532929 or via the website https://livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/. The library team will also look at providing outreach activities in Newtonhill.

This could include Bookbug sessions, homework clubs, memories groups or whatever the community requires to meet its needs. This will be carried out as soon as there are additional staff in place.

The library service will be unable to provide public access computers in the new space at this time. They will review this if there is sufficient demand for the service.

Hearing aid batteries, food waste bags and other services will also be available to the public when they visit the new base: customers just need to ask the staff.

The former library building in the Coastal Park is in a sorry state and it has been a losing battle for years to try and keep it wind and water tight. Sadly, it is simply no longer fit for purpose. It was, after all, a temporary building.

Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership’s covid-19 vaccination teams are working through the 5–11-year cohort, with appointments having been issued to all those eligible.

Over 75s will be invited to attend for a second booster vaccination over the coming weeks and the teams have been preparing to administer those immunisations.

Locally, Stonehaven Town Hall which currently houses the vaccination centre will be vacated by Monday 4 April, and over 75s will be vaccinated utilising school buildings over the Easter break.

Meanwhile Invercarron Resource Centre on Low Wood Road, Stonehaven, will be undergoing works to become the new vaccination centre.

It will be one of seven confirmed longer-term venues for vaccination centres. The others will be in Macduff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Inverurie, Banchory and Huntly.

The AHSCP says: “We anticipate that the majority of our new sites will be ready for us to begin moving into soon. However, as with all work of this nature just now there is a possibility that those timetables may slip. We are extremely grateful to our colleagues in Live Life Aberdeenshire who have accommodated the vaccination programme over the past year and are liaising closely with them to ensure a smooth transition so community facilities can re-open as soon as possible.”

The latest covid-19 vaccination figures (18+) up to 17 March are below:

Fishermoss School features in a briefing given to councillors from the Education and Children’s Service. Here is what it says about the Fairtrade project:

“Our youngsters have been learning about the economic and societal benefits of fair trade with help from the University of Aberdeen Business School.

“The primary 5 class at Fishermoss Primary School in Portlethen took part in an online workshop looking at the impact on farmers and other producers of everyday products like chocolate, fruit, sugar, coffee, honey and tea being produced and traded under the Fairtrade stamp.

“The pupils discussed the concept of Fairtrade and the economic and environmental benefits it can bring to farmers and local communities, as well the role of consumers. They were then taught some of the basics of marketing before being set a practical challenge to prepare for a real Fairtrade event which will take place at the school later this year.

“Pam Cumming, schools engagement officer for the Business School, who led the workshop, said: ‘Pupils learned that by buying products with the Fairtrade mark consumers can be sure that farmers and producers are getting fair prices for their products, have decent working conditions, can build stronger communities and have control over their futures. It also provides assurance that the producers and businesses have met internationally agreed standards.

“ ‘The class worked hard throughout the workshops, particularly in the practical session where they were tasked with thinking about how to raise awareness of Fairtrade, increase sales and also to prepare to organise and market their own event, what that might involve, what they would sell and the costs involved.

“ ‘We place a great deal of importance on inspiring, informing and educating local youngsters, letting them know what the University does, how we teach, what we teach – and nurturing that feeling in them that learning is fun. This kind of engagement is hugely beneficial, reaping benefits for us in both the short and the long term, which is why it forms an integral part of our commitment to the future success of the Aberdeen city region.’

“Teacher Jessica Airlie said: ‘This was a super opportunity for the children to focus on developing lifelong skills for learning and work. Fairtrade is something that we, as a whole school, focus on spreading awareness about as part of our learning for sustainability. With help from Pam, our class have been focussing on planning and creating an event to share information about Fairtrade to our school community. The virtual workshop was very informative and lots of fun. It was lovely to hear lots of enthusiastic discussions about Fairtrade farmers and products, the impact marketing can have on consumers and future aspirations including attending university and becoming fair business owners.’ “

I wasn’t able to attend last night’s meeting of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council in the Skateraw Hall, but my colleague Mel Sullivan was there.

Here is her round-up of the discussions: https://melsullivan.mycouncillor.org.uk/2022/03/17/newtonhill-muchalls-and-cammachmore-community-council-351st-meeting/?fbclid=IwAR1_QDLa5I9DVa9gmIP64OXICVSAasQzpFnn4i03J8XD-2oUmxBSkqjOgDM

Aberdeenshire Council’s latest Trading Standards bulletin warning of local scams has just been published.

DOORSTEP CRIME
We have recently received a report from the Buchan area of a man who goes door to door flyering his services as a gardener.

This same man is suspected of fly tipping garden waste on private land which will cost the landowner a substantial amount of money to clean up. We are also aware that he is not registered with SEPA for a waste carrier’s licence and so is unlikely to pay the fees for commercial waste services to the council. This selfish individual would rather pocket his gains and let someone else clean up his mess.

Members of the public enlisting gardeners, landscapers, roofers or anyone who transports someone else’s waste as part of their business can help reduce the instances of fly-tipping by asking to see the trader’s SEPA Waste Carrier’s Registration Document (often just referred to as a SEPA licence). If they can’t produce one, there’s a possibility that your waste may end up being dumped once it’s left your location.

Trading Standards ask that you stick only to those tradesmen who can produce their SEPA licence.
Details of the SEPA Document can be found at: https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/waste-carriers-and-brokers/

VERIFICATION CODE SCAM
A resident in Moray was recently called on her mobile phone from a blocked number by someone claiming to be from her bank, to report suspicious activity on her bank account.

The caller then asked the resident for the verification code which had just been texted to her, which the resident gave, resulting in a substantial loss from her account. The truth of the matter was that the caller was a scammer who had tried to access the resident’s bank account online, triggering the bank to send out a real verification code to the resident. When the resident passed the code, that was the final piece of the jigsaw the scammer needed to access her bank account.

If you receive such a call from a ‘bank’ asking for a verification code, please NEVER give it up. The caller could be anyone and the bank should have no need for the code.

Importantly, the scammer would have needed some of the resident’s personal and banking information already, such as passwords and PIN numbers. This might have been obtained a number of ways; stealing bank statements from rubbish bags or bins, or accessing written details from notebooks or similar.

These possibilities underscore the need to store confidential information securely and disposing of it by shredding or burning, rather than simply throwing it in the bin.

HMRC SCAM
A resident from Garioch recently reported a notable scam to Trading Standards which is based on making a tax a claim to HMRC.

The company concerned sends out emails to potential customers advising them that they could make a claim to HMRC if they have been working from home recently or if they wear a uniform as part of their work duties.

The company offers to act as the customer’s agent in making the claim to HMRC for any overpaid taxes and refunds due. A binding contract is then agreed between the company and the customer. However, what is not disclosed to the customer is that any pay-out from HMRC is made to the company firstly and they will then take their fees of about a third of the pay-out before giving the customer the remainder.

As the company is acting as the customer’s agent, HMRC must make the pay-out to the company. In the instance reported to Trading Standards, the company concerned took over £1000 for their services.

In many instances if someone is due a tax rebate, HMRC will attend to it automatically but if you believe you may be due a rebate which has not been paid, a good place to start the process of claiming is via HMRC directly via their website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs and to ignore offers from commercial companies to do so on your behalf.

SPOOFING
One north Aberdeenshire resident recently received a phone call from a number which showed up on the Caller ID as being another local number. When the resident answered the call, a male with a foreign accent spoke, claiming to be from a well-known media company. The resident immediately realised that it wasa scam or sales call and hung up.

Scams are big business these days and scammers often use computers to assist them, some as auto-dialers to go through a list of phone numbers successively looking for a victim and some to disguise (spoof) the real number from which they’re calling behind a local number.

Trading Standards would like to reinforce that just because a local number appears on your Caller ID that it won’t be a scammer or a high pressure sales call on the line, especially if it’s an unknown number or a call at a strange time of the day, and we would ask that you still remain vigilant and don’t pass any personal information until you’re satisfied the call is genuine.

If you think you’ve received a call from a spoofed number, you may be able to obtain the number via the 1471 facility or by contacting your service provider.

We would ask that you then contact Trading Standards to report the matter.

CONTACTS
For urgent Trading Standards matters, contact Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards at 01467 537222. For non-urgent enquiries, please contact Consumer Advice Scotland at https://www.consumeradvice.scot/ or on 0808 164 6000.

Contact Police Scotland on 999 if you need urgent police assistance or 101 for non-urgent matters.