How ‘New Scots’ are settling in the N.E.

A thought-provoking and moving presentation this afternoon at Woodhill House on the Aberdeenshire New Scots’ Resettlement Programme.

Since February last year 103 Syrian and Iraqi people fleeing the conflict in their own countries have settled in central Aberdeenshire, helped by the council. The majority of them spoke no English, which is a challenge in settling down here, as much as the totally different culture. They have all the things we take for granted to cope with such as form-filling, accessing public services including health services, and so on.

The thought of being moved to another country where I don’t understand the language or the way of life is daunting.

Not only that, they have come from a war environment. One boy, we were told, is so frightened by helicopters flying overhead that he runs away. Remember the barrel bombs we saw on the TV news? It was reality for him.

Councillors heard how the local communities have been very supportive, and there have been no reports of any race hate issues.

The families are entitled to work, but the barrier is speaking English. The youngsters are fitting in and learning the language (with Scots accents), but for the adults it is more difficult. They come from a variety of backgrounds, including tailor, chef, farmer, factory owner and travel agent. Four babies have been born here.

There are more families due to come to Aberdeenshire, from camps in Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan or Iraq.

I would hope any families who were to come to the Portlethen or Stonehaven areas would also be given a warm welcome.

It is all funded by the Home Office, by the way, including the team of five council staff who co-ordinate the programme.

More repairs to Rothnick road

Repairs are to be carried out the the Netherley – Lairhillock – Portlethen road again. The heavy traffic continues to take its toll, particularly the lorries going to and from the AWPR site at Rothnick.

Council officers tell me that a contractor will be starting on site in the next 2-3 weeks with this road to be given priority. The costs of this work will be borne by the AWPR.

In some places the main running surface of the road is intact but the verges have been over-run by heavy vehicles, thereby creating failed areas along the road edge/verge.

The council will have to carry out works to reinstate them back to their former condition. Again the local authority will be looking to recoup costs from the AWPR.

Burnhead road closes again

I have just been told by council officers that owing to AWPR bridge expansion works it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to close the C5K country road at Burnhead.

This work will start on Friday 8 December at 8pm lasting until Monday 11 December at 11:59pm. Emergency and pedestrian access is to be maintained.

Action over high kerbs

BEAR Scotland who maintain the A90 are making the necessary arrangements to have dropped kerbing installed at both the entry and exit points of the car sales/joinery site at Newtonhill (the former Little Chef and filling station).

This will mean that people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters will be able to use the pavement. Good news from the company, though it has taken a wee while to get agreement.

It will also benefit cyclists, some of whom cut through the car sales property rather than bunce up and down the existing kerbs.

I have asked BEAR Scotland to liaise with both businesses.

Community council needs members

There are three vacancies now on Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council, so volunteers would be warmly welcomed.

Stephen Jury and Mariana Yarnold have stepped down as Newtonhill representatives, and there is still a vacancy in Cammachmore following the death of long-time member Frank Caie.

The community council, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month (apart from December), plays a key role in representing residents’ views on a variety of topics to Aberdeenshire Council and other public bodies such as Police Scotland.

For example, the community council is exploring whether there is any possibility of opening the A90 underpass west of the primary school so that pedestrians can safely go between Cammachmore and Newtonhill. However BEAR Scotland (they maintain the A90 on behalf of Transport Scotland) have said they see no reason to re-open the former cattle underpass. Indeed they may erect gates to prevent it being used. Currently the underpass is flooded, the drains are blocked, and vegetation has grown across the western approach.

The next community council meeting will be held in the Skateraw Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17 January.

If you would like to know more, contact me or any of the community council members – http://www.nmccc.org.uk/

Focus on the new development plan

More than two hours were devoted tonight at the North Kincardine Rural Community Council meeting to the next Local Development Plan.

Aberdeenshire Council officers took the community councillors and 16 members of the public through the first stages of preparing for the 2022 local plan. This will be the key document for deciding where any development should take place, and forming the policies against which applications would be judged.

Time was devoted to discussing the various communities – Kirkton of Maryculter. Cookney, Maryculter East, Maryculter West, Chapelton, Blairs and Netherley. The consensus was that future development should be centred in Chapelton and that no further sites need be earmarked for development within the rural area. Time was even spent discussing Cammachmore, though it is not the NKRCC area.

There was general agreement that the greenbelt should be retained, and even possibly extended.

Other issues were also discussed at the meeting in Lairhillock School, including current planning applications and appeals, new drains for the Lairhillock pitch, and a £200 grant to the Maryculter Senior Citizens Association.

The next meeting is on Monday 11 December at 7.30pm in the school.

Pledge over cycling instruction

The Scottish Government has pledged that at least £800,000 would be used to implement universal school cycling training.
Maybe that will stop youngsters riding bikes in the dark without any lights? The more cycling instruction for youngsters the better.
I will be following this up to see how Aberdeenshire Council can source a fair share of the funding.
There is more information about this Liberal Democrat initiative – including the parliamentary motion reproduced below – at http://www.neld.org.uk/rumbles_welcomes_minister_s_commitment_to_scottish_liberal_democrat_initiative_for_cycle_training_for_all_school_children

The Promotion of Active Travel in Scotland 

As an amendment to motion S5M-08497 in the name of Humza Yousaf (The Promotion of Active Travel in Scotland), insert at end “; further notes that less than 2% of children cycle to school; considers that equipping people with the skills, knowledge and confidence to cycle from an early age is essential to encouraging them to continue cycling as they get older, and believes that every schoolchild should have the opportunity to benefit from cycle training.”

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31/10/2017

Broadband grants available in N.E.

Businesses in Aberdeenshire could now benefit from UK Government grants of up to £3000 to get gigabit broadband installed as part of a £2 million trial taking place in four areas around the UK.

Businesses can access the voucher scheme through their internet provider who should all have been briefed.

There are more details at https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsid=4846
 Meanwhile North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles is urging local businesses to apply for the UK Government grant to put pressure on the Scottish Government to improve telecommunications infrastructure in the region.

Library access extended

One Card, a single card that can be used in any Scottish library, has been launched with the aim of encouraging greater access to more than 120 libraries and 1.6m books.

The pilot will run for six months across the Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Angus, Highland, and Perth and Kinross council areas. All these authorities use the same library management system.

The idea is that residents who have a library card will be able to access services in another local authority seamlessly using their existing library card. Prior to this, residents would have to take out a ‘temporary’ or ‘holiday’ membership in order to access services outwith their own local authority area.

There is more information at https://news.gov.scot/news/one-card-library-pass