Spotlight on Newtonhill area

Tonight saw the annual general meeting of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council. There still are two vacancies for residents to represent Newtonhill – any volunteers? One evening once a month.

Rob Peaker, Sheila Usher and Mariana Yarnold will serve a three year term representing Newtonhill, and Moira Cameron, Alison Daniels, and Edith Stephen will represent Muchalls over the same period. The office-bearers were re-elected with the exception of the vice-chairperson’s post which was not filled. Lesley Brown and Rhoda Nelson have stepped down after many years of valuable service.

As ever a wide range of issues were discussed:

– The new seat on the path south of the Braehead at Newtonhill.
– Scottish Water has promised to move the grey switching cabinet at the Braehead. A smaller box will replace it and the cabinet will be moved to the west of the beach path.
– Work is to take place on the path from Elsick Mill to the Retreat in Newtonhill from w/c 20 March for three weeks. The path will be closed.
– Beware of delays on the A90 southbound at Stonehaven because of single lane contraflow traffic as AWPR teams replace the flyover over the B979 Netherley Road.
– An objection is to be lodged following an application for planning permission for an annex to Dunlukin at east Cammachmore.
– Objections and comments have been lodged about changes to bus timetables affecting Newtonhill.
– Some £25,000 is being spent on play equipment in Newtonhill Park. 
– An hourly train service is proposed for all stations between Inverurie and Montrose, however a Newtonhill station is still an aspiration.
– Work will take place again this summer to tackle Japanese knotweed in the valley of the Elsick Burn.

Road closure extended

I posted the other day that Aberdeenshire Council’s roads service will be working on the C5K country road at Maryculter from 20 – 24 March, which means the road will be closed. The work will be completed by approximately 4pm on Friday 24 March. However the road will stay closed, as AWPR bridge beam installation work will begin straight afterwards. This will take a further four days.

Just to be clear, both closures will not be running at the same time.

Where our school food comes from

There has been some media coverage recently about where food served in schools is sourced. Here is the situation is Aberdeenshire:

Aberdeenshire Council’s school catering service provides meals for pupils made with produce acquired from local sources as best as possible. The service has achieved the Soil Association’s Food for Life Silver Catering Mark for a second year running. This award includes issues of health, animal welfare and planet-friendly food.

Local sourcing of produce is particularly important to the catering service.

All red meat (beef and pork) is supplied by an Aberdeen butcher, is Scottish most of which is reared in North East Scotland. Pork is mainly Scottish with a small percentage being UK. All the pork and beef is QMS, Red Tractor or RSPSA certified.

Since March 2016 all chicken used in primary schools is British Red Tractor approved, with secondary schools following in September 2016. No chicken produce used for Aberdeenshire primary school meals is sourced from Thailand.

White fish is landed and processed in Peterhead.

Tinned tuna and salmon (frozen and tinned) do come from International waters but are all Marine Stewardship Commission (MSC) approved.

Fresh vegetables are supplied by a family run business near Montrose, all fresh vegetables are from Scotland unless unavailable.

Eggs are free range, and yoghurt is organic.

More teachers – yes please!

The General Teaching Council for Scotland has announced proposals that would see foreign teachers fast-tracked into Scottish classrooms to tackle a recruitment crisis particularly prevalent in rural areas.

According to a report in the The Sunday Times Scotland, the plan would see approval granted for those coming from countries with an established teaching regulator and comparable standards to Scotland.

That could help Aberdeenshire Council, among others.

Why we wear safety belts

There was a minor incident during the week when a bus carrying pupils from the Portlethen area was in a collision with a car in Aberdeen. The police were called but the bus driver was not charged. What’s really important is that all the pupils were seated and belted into place with no reported injuries.

Lib Dems back Frank’s Law

The Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Perth today unanimously passed a motion re-affirming the party’s support for Frank’s Law.
Frank’s Law is named after former Dundee midfielder Frank Kopel who was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 59. At present, anyone under the age of 65 who requires personal care for conditions such as dementia, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis has to fund the cost of the care themselves. However, for those over the age of 65, that personal care is free.
Frank’s Law calls on the Scottish Government to legislate to enable those under the age of 65 suffering from these conditions to access free personal care. In Scotland an estimated 3,200 people aged under 65 have dementia, an increase of a third in the last six years.
The motion also went on to urge the Scottish Government and the SFA to examine what support can be given to ex-football players suffering from dementia. The commitment follows fresh calls from former professionals and their families, including from Liz McNeill, the wife of former Celtic captain Billy McNeill who suffers from dementia.
Commenting after closing the debate, North East MSP Mike Rumbles said: “While Liberal Democrats were instrumental in introducing free personal care for the elderly, it is absolutely essential that action is now taken to ensure people under the age of 65 with a degenerative illnesses have access to the personal care and support they need.
“Frank’s widow, Amanda Kopel deserves great credit for forcing this issue on to the political agenda and keeping pressure on the Scottish Government to act.”

Country road to close for five days

Owing to the installation of new drainage pipes it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to close the C5K country road for five days at the Greens of Crynoch, Maryculter. This closure begins on Monday 20 March.

Council officers say that pedestrian access is to be maintained, and vehicular access to affected properties to be maintained whenever possible.