This afternoon the North East Transport Partnership (Nestrans) met and included in the discussions was the impact of the Scottish Government’s strategic transport projects review (STPR2).

Not such great news for those of us who would like to see more local stations, especially at Newtonhill, however there is still hope.

Here is what the Nestrans board heard about the draft recommendations which are of particular note for the North East:

a) There is clear support for Aberdeen Rapid Transit proposals and bus priority measures, which are being developed following the Bus Partnership Fund award.

b) There is strong commitment to active travel development, including Active Cycle Freeways within the Aberdeen City area connecting to a wider regional network, aligning with the approach set out in the regional transport strategy.

c) The support for improving physical accessibility at rail stations links to our recent work at Insch Station, although no specific schemes are detailed within the recommendation.

d) A project to improve rail infrastructure to the south of Aberdeen to improve inter-city links to Dundee, Perth and the Central Belt is also included, alongside rail decarbonisation. It is understood this encompasses the currently committed £200m improvement scheme, but also longer-term aspirations for the route.

e) Improvements to ferry services (ferry upgrades, ferry terminal upgrades, access to ferry terminals) supported by Transport Scotland are also highlighted, which includes the Northern Isles services operating from Aberdeen.

f) Many of the other “nation-wide” interventions also have implications for the North East and correspond with actions in the regional transport strategy, including school active travel plans, 20mph zones, demand responsive transport / mobility as a service, behaviour change to support road safety, a national framework for mobility hubs, integrated public transport ticketing, technology to support operation of the trunk road network, and freight interventions.

Elsewhere in the publication, commitment is given to progressing a STAG-based review for future options on A96 dualling. Ongoing support to committed schemes has also been confirmed, including junction upgrades at Laurencekirk, external links to Aberdeen South Harbour, and the £200m Aberdeen to Central Belt rail journey time improvement project.

Strategic interventions which were identified in the region’s Strategic Transport Appraisal as being appropriate for consideration with STPR2, but which do not explicitly appear in the STPR2 recommendations are:

a) Enhancements to the local rail service between Montrose and Inverurie, including additional local rail stations;

b) Inter-city rail improvements between Aberdeen and Inverness;

c) Improvements on the A90(N)/A952 between Ellon and Fraserburgh/Peterhead;

d) Improvements on A92/A90(S) – Aberdeen to Perth (although an integrated transport plan on the A90 through Dundee is mentioned); and

e) Strategic park and ride facilities.

In the instance of the rail projects, it is understood that enhancements will continue to be sought via the Decarbonisation Project and any associated works. Park and ride proposals form an integral part of the Aberdeen Rapid Transit proposals. The road elements could be linked to reliability improvements could be achieved under the recommendation for trunk road safety, reliability and resilience.

Two signposts at the Portlethen Woodland Park have fallen victim to the recent high winds and the passage of time, with the wood unable to withstand gusts.

I have been in touch with the local group which looks after the park and suggested a possible source of funding with could help pay for repairs.

Sadly over the years signs in the park have also been the victims of vandalism with finger pointers (the right words?) needing to be replaced.

At last! A start has been made on filling the potholes in Newtonhill today.

Early this morning a road sweeper did a sterling job on the potholed Old Mill Road, removing the debris from the road. Back and forward umpteen times.

Then late this morning a squad from Aberdeenshire Council’s Roads Service arrived in the village to carry out temporary repairs.

The potholes between the pharmacy and the pub was filled, then the stonkers between the railway bridge and the junction at Quoiters.

I spoke to the chaps, and they planned to fill more potholes around the village. They later went on to tackle potholes in Chapel Road, Skateraw Road near the junction with Murray Road, and in Murray Road before the corner with Newton Road.

These are temporary repairs, but they will make a big difference until permanent patching can be undertaken. Officers told me last week that it will be May at the earliest before that can be done. I had asked that in the interim temporary repairs were carried out.

It has taken a while but that’s the worst of the potholes in Portlethen, Muchalls and now Newtonhill filled in. There is still more work to do.

From tomorrow the morning and afternoon bus service from Newtonhill to Portlethen Academy will be open to anyone to use, not just school pupils. And that also means that pupils can travel for free, if they produce the correct under-22 bus pass.

The national Under-22 Concession Scheme for free bus travel was implemented on 31 January.
Council officers decided to reinstate combined school transport/local bus operation of the Portlethen Academy services, from 17 February, after the mid-term break.

I am told that the pupils won’t need to show the new pass until after Easter holidays.

Local authority planning fees are to rise from 1 April, the first time they have been lifted in eight years.

Planning minister Tom Arthur MSP said the change will help improve the planning application process and the service received by applicants. Local authorities will be able to decide how best to use any additional fee income to help improve locally delivered planning services.

Planning permission for new houses will cost £600 per house for the first 10, with reducing rates for larger developments. Extensions and alterations to a house will incur a £300 fee, and a change of use other than for the creation housing £600 per 100 sq m of floor space, up to 4,000 sq m.

Nowadays there are not so many planning applications, with a downturn across Aberdeenshire.

Police Scotland is asking restaurants and takeaway food outlets to be vigilant following reports of used cooking oil thefts in the Deeside area.

Three males and a female have been attending at various locations in the area and are falsely claiming to be from a legitimate company. The female is described as white with a pale complexion, aged in her 40s to early 50s and about 5ft 3in tall with a European accent.

North East Division crime reduction officer PC Mike Urquhart said: “I would advise restaurant and fast food outlet owners to be particularly vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police via 101.

“This appears to be a very sophisticated and organised group of criminals whom have the ability to travel throughout the country committing these crimes.

“Used cooking oils are being stolen across the country and being taken south to be processed. Keep rear gardens or yards securely locked and consider CCTV and security lighting.”

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/2022/0158
Date validated: 4 February 2022.
Site address: Woodburn Cottage, Bridge of Muchalls, AB39 3RR.
Applicant: Mr Toms Cesbergs c/o John Aitken Architectural Services, 2 Cameron Court, Stonehaven, AB39 2FH.
Application: Listed building consent for internal alterations and replacement door.
Public comment expiry date: 10 March 2022.

APP/2022/0272
Date validated: 10 February 2022.
Site address: The Old Mill Inn, Maryculter, AB12 5FX.
Applicant: Mr Victor Sang c/o Ross Aitken, McLaren, Murdoch & Hamilton, 229 Balgreen Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2RZ.
Application: Planning permission in principle for the demolition of existing hotel, restoration of old mill building to form retail unit/cafe, erection of garden centre and erection of five dwellinghouses and associated parking and road improvements (part retrospective).
Public comment expiry date: 17 March 2022.

Portlethen resident Penny Wells is looking for poems from residents for her new show on community radio station Mearns FM1.

She has broadcast ‘Creative Writing Corner’ for four weeks now, on a Wednesday at 10pm. You can hear the programme by clicking on ‘Listen Again’ on the Mearns FM website: https://www.mearnsfm.org.uk/listen-again/

“We start with a Scots poem, then another older English one, then a story serialisation, then avant garde poems, usually with sound effects.

“So far we have had two poems from listeners, but are asking around … so it would be wonderful if anyone who has a poem or two stuffed away in a drawer that we could read out … they can be ‘anon’ if they prefer. The email address is creativewritingcorner@mearnsfm.org.uk.”

I have asked the Roads Service about this Portlethen street sign which has fallen down. They will investigate. It was face down on the grass when I came across it!

Here is a sight to cheer up Muchalls residents. Hunter Construction staff are hard at work repairing roads in the village on behalf of the council. That might mean some delays in driving through the work in Dunnyfell Road today.