Muddy path to get a make-over

I hear that the council is going to upgrade the path at the Elsick mill in Newtonhill. That’s great news as I had asked officers if they could do something. It is rather muddy underfoot to say the least, and youngsters use the route to get to school.

Here’s what council officers have to say: “Upgrading work is due to take place on the Retreat to Elsick Mill path in Newtonhill in the week beginning 20 March and is scheduled to run for three weeks.

“Works will include a new retaining wall, improved drainage and complete resurfacing of the existing path.

“Unfortunately the path will be closed to public access during this period as it will be a construction site and will require to comply with site safety legislation.”

This will obviously cause some inconvenience in the short term, but a price worth paying. There have been issues in the past with members of the public ignoring “Path Closed” signs. For example when the floods washed the path away at the mill, people still barged through. It is not worth putting yourself at risk where heavy plant is operating.

Officers say they will endeavour to complete the works as soon as possible.

Council meeting goes live in the internet

Well, if anyone has watched the first webcast of a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council they would have seen me raising two issues – about business rates relief for a local nursery and about the name for our future Westminster parliamentary seat (Kincardine and Angus East will do fine).

In a very long meeting yesterday we also approved the new Local Development Plan. Not much choice really. We more or less have to accept the comments from the Scottish Government’s Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals. It is the planning blueprint for the next five years.

It does seem unfair to me and my colleagues that the Scottish Government Reporter was able to make changes to the plan counter to the views of local people. But that is just the way it is.

Before it can be formally adopted, the council must advertise its intention to do so and the plan will now be published, and placed in libraries and planning offices.

The council also approved a business rates relief scheme, using the bulk of £3m from the Scottish Government.
https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx…

To see the reports under discussion click on http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx…, and to watch the proceedings click on this link: https://aberdeenshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

New outfall at park cliff

Scottish Water have been replacing the outfall at the Bettridge (that’s the name of the inlet from the sea after which the centre in Newtonhill is named). Scottish Water tell me that the landscaper plans to finish off the reinstatement w/c 13 March. I guess that will include grass seed on the scars down the park.

Go-ahead for offshore wind turbines

Scottish Ministers have given planning approval to the Kincardine floating offshore windfarm, which would be nine miles or so east of Portlethen.
Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited plan eight wind turbines with a combined maximum generating capacity of 50 MW.
It will be visible – when the mist isn’t rolling in – from Cove to Stonehaven.

Newtonhill garden waste service to return

The Saturday seasonal garden waste service is to return to six communities across Aberdeenshire this year. It will operate from 15 April to 4 November in Ballater, Aboyne, Inverbervie, St Cyrus, Mintlaw and Newtonhill (at the Coastal Park car park).
The lorry will be in Newtonhill from 8am to 11.40am.
Last autumn council officers said the Newtonhill service would not return as a new recycling centre had opened at Badentoy – according to the policy we were too close to the facility to qualify for a local weekly service. Nothing to do with funding. However, council officers now say that “following February’s budget settlement meeting, it has been agreed that the service will operate again this year.”
They also add that there is a more major review underway of the waste management strategy for Aberdeenshire and it may be that the outcome will result in changes in the future. I’ll continue to argue the case for it staying in Newtonhill. Meantime though the garden waste arrangements will continue in Newtonhill.
Portlethen residents are directed to the new household waste and recycling centre at Badentoy for garden waste recycling (open Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday 9am to 4:30pm, Friday 9am to 4pm – closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).
The council’s garden waste web page has other ideas on how to deal with garden waste, including discounted home composters for residents.
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/waste/other/garden-waste/

Council tax: Shire is mid league

Aberdeenshire’s council tax rate is neither among the highest or the lowest in Scotland … we are right in the middle of a league table of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, at 16th equal.
 
When comparing the new Band D council tax bills, Glasgow is the dearest at £1249, and the Western Isles is the lowest at £1055. In Aberdeenshire it is £1169. By the way, Aberdeen is fourth dearest at £1230.
 
The claim had been made that Aberdeenshire was one of the dearest in Scotland. Not so, according to figures published by the BBC.

Sports hub on right track

It looks like the Portlethen sports hub is going to become properly constituted. It was agreed tonight at the steering group to hold a formal meeting on Monday 20 March at 7,30pm in the academy to elect office-bearers and adopt a constitution.

This key step will allow access to funding from sportscotland. Any clubs and individuals interested in sport will be made welcome.

Queue over bus timetable changes

There was a fair queue this afternoon at Asda, people waiting to speak to the two Stagecoach representatives about the proposed changes to the Aberdeen-Portlethen-Newtonhill-Stonehaven bus services. Copies of the draft timetable are available. The company is looking for feedback on its plans, which will be introduced on 1 May. The consultation at Asda is there until 6pm.
 
Feedback should be sent to nscotmarketing@stagecoachbus.com by Friday 10 March.
 

Asda’s helping hand

Asda tell me that the three winning good causes at the Portlethen store for the last quarter have been chosen, through the green token votes. Girlguiding Kincardine and Deeside won the customer vote and was awarded £500. As runners-up the Jubilee Hall and Portlethen & District Men’s Shed both received £200.

If you wish to nominate a local project speak to the store manager of the community champion at Asda.