I see Aberdeenshire Council has erected a bus shelter at the corner of Park Place and Newtonhill Road in Newtonhill. That’ll be welcome on a wet and windy day.
Background to housing plan changes
Some further information from Aberdeenshire Council’s planners about the amended plans for the site to the south of Newtonhill:
“The application was submitted on 31 May without significant information relating to transportation and roads issues. This lack of information was insufficient to invalidate the application. This additional information was submitted at the end of July. The additional information is fundamental to the consideration and determination of the application and as such the application has been re-neighbour notified, re-advertised and re-consultation with consultees carried out. This allows third parties the opportunity to make further representation on the application, including relating to the additional information.
“There have been a number of other more minor amendments during the course of the application as is common when assessing an application of this complexity. However these amendments would not be considered to be of a nature significant enough to warrant re-advertising and re-neighbour notification though the revised plans and documents appear on the website so interested parties can keep abreast of the progress of the application.
“The neighbour re-notification letters dated 02 August says the deadline for comment is within 21 days. The application was also re-advertised in the local press on 11 August and all third parties have the opportunity to make representation within three weeks of the appearance of the advert. This is detailed on the council website as by 31 August, which is the final date. Unfortunately the letters are often sent before the advert appears in the weekly press resulting in the conflicting dates. I re-iterate, the final date for submitting letters of representation is 31 August.”
Previously submitted representations are still valid.
Exam results out
Pupils received their exams results today, with half of S4 pupils in Aberdeenshire achieving five or more National 5 qualifications. That is up 2% compared with the previous year.
This is the fourth year students have sat National 3, 4 and 5 exams under the Curriculum for Excellence with S5 and S6 pupils continuing to sit qualifications at Higher and Advanced Higher level.
The percentage of S5 pupils in Aberdeenshire awarded three or more Highers in one sitting is 43%, a 4% increase compared with 2016. Furthermore, the percentage of S6 pupils who gained five or more Highers at the end of S6 is 37% which is a 3% rise in comparison with the previous year.
Students sat exams in both vocational and academic subjects ranging from English and Maths to Fashion and textile technology and Dance, Design and Manufacture as well as Advanced Highers in Music technology.
Pass rates for Levels 4, 5, 6 and 7 all increased compared with 2016. The pass rate for Level 4 and Level 6 both rose by 0.3%; Level 5 increased by more than 1%; Level 7 went up 0.7%.
Community council forum
Just home from an interesting meeting of the Kincardine and Mearns Community Council Forum in Stonehaven.
Three Aberdeenshire Council speakers – on developer obligations, on trees, and on community planning including participatory budgeting. Five council officers, five Aberdeenshire councillors and five community councils were there. Locally, Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council was represented.
Housing plans changed
Country road due to reopen
The Lairhillock to Portlethen road is due to reopen ahead of schedule, according to Transport Scotland.
It had been due to close for 14 weeks while a new bridge and surrounding roads were built.
https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/awpr-works-lairhillock-portlethen-road-to-reopen-early/
Diversion on the South Deeside Road
Your views sought on council priorities
Please take a few moments to read the new draft priorities of Aberdeenshire Council, and complete the short survey with your feedback.
A new council term began in May and we are now working to develop our new council priorities.
The priorities are split among four themes. Once the priorities are approved, they will form part of the Council Plan.
The time has arrived to start finding out what you think about our draft council priorities. First you've heard of it?…
Posted by Aberdeenshire Council on Tuesday, 1 August 2017