There will be a temporary ban on parking part of Newtonhill Road, Newtonhill, while main replacement work takes place for Scottish Water.
The work is edging its way west along Newtonhill Road and these restrictions will be in place from 9 February for nearly 10 weeks, as shown below.
Here is an update on road repairs within Newtonhill. I’m disappointed that it will take slightly longer than expected to repair Old Mill Road and potholes in the village. Most folk have been very patient, but patience can grow thin …
The statement from the Roads Service about the works programme for financial year 2021/22 covers four projects planned for Newtonhill:
• The resurfacing of Old Mill Road.
• The reapplication of high friction surfacing at Newtonhill Road zebra crossing.
• The reapplication of high friction surfacing at Tesco roundabout.
• The carriageway patching contract for Portlethen, Newtonhill and Muchalls.
Officers write: “During preparation for the works in Newtonhill we had meetings with Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) to discuss their plans to replace the water main on Newtonhill Road and following completion of that, Muirend Road, Portlethen.
“At that time, we were expecting the CWA works to take place in the summer of 2021, so the decision was made to hold off on any of our own work until this was complete.
“Unfortunately the delays with the CWA programme has had a knock on effect to our programme and it’s now highly unlikely that we will be in a position to complete any of the above works until CWA works are off site.
“On a positive note, our plan for next year is to prepare a patching contract solely for Newtonhill, thereby allowing us to repair more defects than we would have been able to through the current contract; this in turn has also meant we have been able to realign the budget and repair more defects in Portlethen and Muchalls.
“We will be marking up the extents of the proposed works on site, and preparing the documents for the contract, in the coming weeks, so it will be ready to go out to tender at the beginning of financial year 2022/23. We will therefore be in a position to appoint a contractor to start the works on site, hopefully in early May.
“We already have a specialised contractor appointed to carry out the high friction surfacing at the two locations in Newtonhill and will have them programmed to carry out the works as soon as CWA have left Newtonhill, which will be around mid to late April.
“As regard the resurfacing of Old Mill Road, with an expectation of increased budgets next year, we are now proposing to extend this resurfacing scheme, to include the junctions of Elsick Place and Park Place.”
I have asked officers if temporary repairs can be carried out in Old Mill Road, as a minimum. This has been promised previously, but I will keep trying.
The following new application in the North Kincardine ward can be viewed on the Aberdeenshire Council planning register: https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/.
Site address: Mains of Altries, Maryculter, AB12 5GN.
Applicant: Mr M Campbell c/o Mark Urquhart, Raymond Simpson Associates Ltd, 7 Mid Stocket Road, Aberdeen, AB15 5JL.
Application: Full planning permission for extension and alterations to dwellinghouse.
Public comment expiry date: 17 February 2022.
Scottish Water says household water and waste water charges will rise by 4.2% for the next financial year, in line with CPI inflation as of October 2021.
The public company has also warned that prices are likely to increase further in future years.
Scottish Water chief executive Douglas Millican said: “Higher levels of investment are needed to protect services now and over the long term, particularly in meeting the challenges of more intense rainfall, flooding, and drought, and reducing carbon emissions.”
Water charges are collected by local authorities along with council tax.
A reminder for folk in Newtonhill that St Crispin’s Road is scheduled to be closed from Monday 7 February for 10 weeks at its junction with Newtonhill Road.
The Roads Service says the temporary restriction is necessary while water main renewal work takes place.
This is part of the Caledonia Water Alliance’s plan to move the works on Newtonhill Road westward for phase 2 on 9 February.
Today was the first time I had the opportunity to visit Portlethen Cemetery since the access road was resurfaced. What a difference!
I also noticed Hunter Construction staff busy repairing potholes elsewhere in the town on behalf of the council. Even the brander on Muirend Road near the entrance to Asda has been replaced (there was a large cone over the drain for months).
It has been a long road (sorry) to get to this point but finally our roads are returning to a reasonable state.
Still plenty to do, not only in Portlethen, but in Newtonhill and Muchalls too. Work continues.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Roads Service has advised me the planned road closure on the C12K country road (see below) at Netherley has been cancelled and the works will NOT begin on Monday 7 February.
A new date for the drainage works will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
I have been in touch with the Waste Service about the mess at this location just north of Portlethen Swimming Pool on Oak Drive.
What a mess, and litter bin on its side. It looks as if smokers have been gathering there. I understand the shed houses gas metering. Gas and smoking don’t go well together.
The site has now been cleaned up.
I hear this morning that residents in Kincardine and Mearns all have power again with the exception of about 40 properties in Glithno and the Ury Estate outside Stonehaven.
Anyone else still without electricity in Portlethen, Newtonhill and the surrounding countryside?
For those still without power the hot food outlet will still be available today in the Market Square, Stonehaven.
More information about the aftermath of the storms across Aberdeenshire can be found here: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsID=8448
More information has been provided today about the appointment of and Aberdeenshire Council digital engagement team which has been created to support residents, businesses and communities obtain better broadband.
The team of three – funded by the Aberdeen City Region Deal – is available to provide advice, guidance and support to utilise various programmes to obtain superfast broadband (30Mbps).
It will also play a pivotal role in helping residents and businesses access £400 interim vouchers, as part of R100, to obtain a temporary, superfast broadband solution while they wait for their full-fibre installation.
There is more here: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsID=8444