The following applications in the North Kincardine ward can be viewed on the Aberdeenshire Council planning register: https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/.
APP/2021/2567
Date validated: 12 November 2021.
Site address: West Wing, St Devenick’s on the Hill, Banchory Devenick, AB12 5XP.
Applicant: Mr Mark Moseley c/o Andrew Keir Chartered Architect, Bloomfield, Finzean, Banchory, AB31 6LY.
Listed building consent for internal alterations and formation of rooflight.
Public comment expiry date: 16 December 2021.
APP/2021/2524
Date validated: 15 November 2021.
Site address: Site st Burn of Pheppie, Muchalls.
Applicant: Drumrossie Land Development Co Ltd c/o Rachael Walker Architects Ltd, The Old Estate Office, Cluny, Sauchen, AB51 7RR.
Planning permission in principle for the erection of three dwellinghouses.
Public comment expiry date: 16 December, 2021.
APP/2021/2608
Date validated: 17 November 2021.
Site address: 1 Little Banchory Mews, Banchory Devenick, AB12 5XS.
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Gary and Janette Roberts c/o John G Aitken Architectural Services, 2 Cameron Court, Stonehaven, AB39 2FH.
Full planning permission for alterations and extension to dwellinghouse.
Public comment expiry date: 9 December 2021.
APP/2021/2477
Date validated: 18 November 2021.
Site address: Site at Badentoy Road, Portlethen.
Applicant: CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd c/o WHP Telecoms Limited, Station Court, 1A Station Road, Guiseley, Leeds, LS20 8EY.
Full planning permission for the erection of 18 metre high street pole to replace existing 17.5 metre high streetworks pole and ancillary works.
Public comment expiry date: 8 December 2021.
What do young folk want?
I have had a couple of comments recently about the provision of facilities for young people in Portlethen. Council officers want to know more about what folk want. Please encourage people to respond.
Community Development is running a short survey, publicised through Facebook. The posting reads:
“Young people and adults in Kincardine and Mearns are working with Community Learning & Development to find out if there’s a need for accessible and inclusive youth provision, i.e. in the form of dedicated youth space/centre/hub/cafe.
“This short survey will take no more than 2 minutes and will help us to learn more about your thoughts and ideas for this type of youth provision. Just click on the link below.
https://forms.office.com/r/fLfbks121B
Update on C12K repairs
I have been asking the Roads Service – for quite some time – about plans to repair potholes on the C12K west from the A92 at Bridge of Muchalls. Here is the response:
“There are a number of defects recorded on the system and scored through the matrix along this route. Indeed the road was inspected in the last week or so, and we therefore have an up to date picture of the overall condition.
“The defects are mainly programme and 60 day. In that regard I would hope that they will be on our radar for a suitable repair in the coming months but as you are aware we do have a considerable backlog of such defects.”
What residents can take from that reply is that the road is on the list for action, but it will be a quite a while yet. People have been (largely) patient so far.
My understanding is the “programme” means a stretch of road is included on the annual roads programme for a re-tarring or surface dressing. That is a better long-term solution. “60 day” means it receives attention within that period.
Moor path gets a facelift
For the first time in a couple of weeks I had a walk over the moor south of Newtonhill. The core path has been given a facelift! Not quite fully open again, but getting there.
Plants removed as roundabout is tarred
Aberdeenshire Council has tarred the roundabout on Muirend Road, near the A92 flyover, as a result of complaints about overgrown vegetation.
Council officers had safety concerns for staff regarding long-term maintenance of plants on the roundabout.
The photo with plants was taken in July. Some drivers complained they were impeding sight lines. The photo without plants was taken today.
Finance, elections and covid
Today councillors attended a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council. Here are some key points:
FINANCE WORRY – Aberdeenshire Council’s revenue budget to 30 September 2021 is over budget by £6.846 million but the position is expected to be on target by the end of the financial year. The council has spent £326.597 million out of a budget of £639.519 or 51.07% after six months.
A gloomy financial outlook was put before councillors for the coming financial year. High level budgetary assumptions indicate a possible out of balance position more than £33 million. However, there are so many variables that it is impossible to predict wither certainty what cuts may be required to balance the books.
Liberal Democrat leader Peter Argyle told colleagues one of the issues is serious under-funding from the Scottish Government. He gave the example of school transport. Aberdeenshire receives a grant of £4.2 million, however the cost of providing the service is £21.5 million. Meanwhile Glasgow City Council has roughly the same figures – but the other way around with a grant well exceeding the costs. The system needs changed. He predicted it is going to be another tough year.
ELECTIONS – Changes are afoot in Portlethen for polling stations in May’s forthcoming council elections. The Porty Cabin in Cookston Road will not be used. Voters from Hillside will go to the Jubilee Hall while voters in Portlethen North will use Portlethen Parish Church Hall.
The mirrors the arrangements in place at last May’s Scottish Parliament elections, which appeared to have worked well during the covid restrictions.
In past years however there have been complaints about accessing the church hall, as it is up a steep hill and voters have to go through a graveyard.
Removing all schools from the list of polling places remains a challenge with progress being made in some areas. However no viable alternative to using Banchory Devenick School has been found.
VACCINATION PROGRAMME – Work to deliver the vaccination programme continues. Aberdeenshire has one of the highest areas of uptake across Scotland with over 95% take-up of the first dose and 90% of residents over the age of 16 with two doses. More than 70% of 12-15 year olds have also had the vaccine.
The booster programme is well underway, combining delivery of the covid booster with the roll-out of the flu vaccination. Work continues to vacate the Live Life Aberdeenshire sports and leisure facilities, and this is likely to be concluded in early 2022.
SCHOOLS – Councillors confirmed the funding and time frame for proposed investment in school buildings in Fraserburgh and Stonehaven. In Stonehaven this means a new Dunnottar Primary and a new Carronhill School have been added to the Capital Plan for completion in 2025, to be built beside the Mackie Academy.
More repairs required
I have asked Landscape Services to make more repairs to the road up to Portlethen Church car park and the cemetery.
The potholes on the slope have been repaired several times … and holes have opened up again at the bottom of the slope.
Officers tell me they are aware the condition is deteriorating again. In the long-term they propose to resurface the road and part of the car park, “however this is cost prohibitive at present, so it looks like we’ll continue with simple pothole repairs for the time being.”
Round-up from the Newtonhill area
A busy 90 minutes at tonight’s meeting of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council in the Skateraw Hall. About a dozen people there and three councillors. Here are some key points:
• POLICING: PC Marc Camus gave his monthly report, including an appeal to cyclists to wear light clothing and use lights now that the dark nights are here. Officers have been stopping cyclist and giving advice, and on occasion providing lights.
• POTHOLES: A contractor has been appointed to patch potholes in Newtonhill, Muchalls and Portlethen, with a start dues in three weeks in Newtonhill.
• MISSING: A lamppost in Dunnyfell Road, Muchalls, has been missing for four years. Only the stump remains. This is classed as low priority work by the Roads Service but will not be replaced for some time, and not this calendar year.
• LED CONVERSION: A handful of street lights on Park Place, Newtonhill, have not been converted to LED. The rest of the village was upgraded pre-pandemic. Aberdeenshire Council’s street lighting team is being asked to action the replacement of the remaining units.
• OVERGROWN: The pavement heading south from west Cammachmore on the former Aberdeen-Stonehaven main road is overgrown with weeds, meaning pedestrians are more likely to walk on the road. Aberdeenshire Council says that the weed spraying programme is complete for the year. Officers will look at taking action in the spring, by way of seed spraying and/or some form of mechanical intervention to bring the footway back to a suitable standard.
• DROPPED KERBS: Aberdeenshire Council has a small budget for installing dropped kerbs. A request for this in the courts area of Newtonhill will be considered by the Roads Service, on advice from an access panel.
• HEALTH: Portlethen Medical Centre told the community council it is gradually returning to face-to-face appointments.
• SCHOOL: Community council heard that the provision of an artificial surfaced multi-use games area is being considered at Newtonhill School, beside St John’s Walk.
• LIFE SAVER: A defibrillator is to be housed in Newtonhill Bowling Club for use by the sports club members who use the nearby pitches.
• A92 UNDERPASS: Community council plans to turning the disused underpass into use for pedestrians have been passed to the transport partnership Nestrans. If opened up it would link Newtonhill with Cammachmore.
• CLIFF PATH: Some work has been done of the path at Muchalls following flooding, with more needing to be done. Aberdeenshire Council has said nothing further will be done this financial year.
• DONATIONS: Grants of £100 are to be made to the food banks in Stonehaven and Portlethen.
• PHONE BOX: Muchalls has been given a special dispensation to keep using the former phone box as a community library. Ownership of older traditional-style phone boxes can be transferred to community groups, but the Muchalls one is a newer version.
• GARDEN WASTE: A letter of thanks is to be sent to Aberdeenshire Council to recognise how helpful waste service staff are at the summer-long garden waste pick-up in the Coastal Park in Newtonhill.
• SPEEDING: A resident raised concerns about speeding on Newtonhill Road after family members were injured by a vehicle on the crossing. Ideally she would like the zebra crossings replaced by traffic lights.
• PLAYPARK: The wooden play equipment in the park to the north of the Courts in Newtonhill has been fenced off for safety reasons. The community council would like it repaired or replaced. I have asked council officers for more information.
• LIBRARY: I told the meeting that the Newtonhill Library will not reopen in the near future due to structural concerns and its small size in pandemic restrictions. Council officers are looking at options.
• AND FINALLY: My first Christmas tree of this winter was on display in the Skateraw Hall.
Roads in the spotlight
Community councils had the opportunity tonight to question Brian Strachan, Aberdeenshire Council’s senior roads manager for Kincardine and Mearns.
Among those present were representatives from Newtonhill and from North Kincardine Rural. No-one of course from Portlethen as the community council in the town collapsed some months ago due to a lack of interest (anyone want to volunteer?).
Mr Strachan conceded there is a backlog of defects and that the Roads Service has found it challenging to tackle this. This is due to a combination of staff shortages, dearer materials, pay and fuel, to be balanced against the need to achieve best value for the council.
Staff shortages have been affecting contractors as well as the council. The Roads Service has struggling to secure the services of skilled operatives and technical staff. A review is being carried out to ensure the best deployment of available staff.
Mr Strachan said that the awarding of a contract to Hunter Construction for patching potholes in Portlethen, Newtonhill and Muchalls would make a notable difference to these communities.
He went on to address a number of specific questions posed by community council representatives, which they will no doubt feed back to their groups. Mr Strachan assured the representatives the priority is getting on top of matters.
Decisions from the area committee
A few issues of local interest at today’s meeting of Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee.
HILLSIDE – Planners anticipate they will present a report to councillors “in the coming months” over a planning application for housing at Hillside.
In the meantime planners are working with the Education Service and the applicant (Stewart Milne) to model the impact on Hillside School of different variations of housing completions per year.
BOOST – Councillors agreed to donate £2000 to the Maryculter Driving for the Disabled Group towards the cost of of purchasing a horse. The total cost will be £6570. The group provides carriage driving for people with disabilities.
Local groups are encouraged to apply for grants. The remaining balance for this financial year is £26,478.99.
CAIRNROBIN – Full planning permission was granted for the storage and processing of incinerator bottom ash from the Aberdeen Energy from Waste plant at Tullos. The site at Cairnrobin quarry will be accessed via the A92 and the Findon junction.
The site will also be subject to a licence from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency covering air, noise, odour and drainage issues.
The planning permission lasts until November 2031.
COOKNEY – Full planning permission was granted for converting a garage/store at Cookney Stables for food preparation and an office.
Planners recommended refusal based on a safety objection from the Roads Development Service about the entrance. However councillors voted 7-3 to approve the plans.
STONEHAVEN – Full planning permission was granted – on a 5-2 vote – for the conversion of the former Carlton House offices into 16 social housing flats.