Council clamps down on smoking

Aberdeenshire Council will begin implementing a smoke-free grounds policy from Tuesday, May 3.

This extends the existing approach – which does not permit smoking in or in the immediate proximity of council buildings – to include its grounds. Smoking will not be permitted in any area within or around a premises that is owned by the council, including car parks (but not pay and display), grounds and buildings.

Smoking in cars parked in council car parks will not be permitted, and the policy is applicable to all councillors, employees, volunteers, contractors, visitors and service users.

Special provisions are made for certain sites, such as sheltered housing or care homes.

The policy will initially affect main council offices and will roll out to other sites over the coming months.

Golf course gets go-ahead

The meeting of all 68 members of Aberdeenshire Council finished tonight at 6pm after dealing with a number of controversial planning applications during the day.

The Ury golf course and 90 big houses on ancient woodland near Stonehaven were approved by a 45-20 vote; some 300 houses between Scolty Hill and Bridge of Feugh at Banchory were turned down; an existing gypsy travellers site at St Cyrus was approved by 41 votes to 24; and a smaller travellers’ site at Boddam was turned down.

Focus on supermarket plans

Four planning applications for supermarkets in Stonehaven dominated today’s Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee. One application only won the backing of councillors – for a 3750 sq metre supermarket with a 50-bedroom hotel and restaurant at Ury Estate, near to the recycling centre. These views will now go to a meeting of the full Aberdeenshire Council for decision. The meeting in the Bettridge Centre in Newtonhill was well attended for these items.

Local items of note:

Landscape services have the following in their plans for this year
– Pointing, repairs, cleaning and re-lettering Portlethen war memorial (£2750).
– Resurface the footpath at Newtonhill bowling club £5000).
– Replace bridge between Boswell and Portlethen Moss (£12,000).
– Install new fence at Burnside Park (£5000).
– Plant bulbs in the Burnside and Nicol parks in Portlethen (£2000).
– Tree and shrub planting in Burnside Park (£3000).
– Wildflower area in Nicol Park (£1000).
– Resurface footpaths in Banchory Devenick burial ground (£3000).
– Play equipment at Viking Place (£19,000) and Marsh Place (£11,000) in Portlethen.
– Raised planting area at the Green, Portlethen (£15,000).

Chris Mennie Walk in Hillside is being adopted by the council. That means the council takes over responsibility for maintenance.

Community councils will receive the following annual grants: Portlethen £1375 (electorate of 7424), Newtonhill £660 (electorate of 2977) and North Kincardine Rural £475 (electorate 1733).

A public consultation is being held into a proposed Aberdeenshire Special Landscape Areas guidance which would support the local development plan. This includes the coastal strip from the Aberdeen boundary to Stonehaven, between the railway line and the sea. This would set controls on further development. The outcome will be presented to the infrastructure services committee possibly in August.

Five primary schools in Kincardine and Mearns at December 2015 were over the 100% capacity. The roll at Portlethen Primary will fall back when the new Hillside Primary becomes operational. The new school is under construction, and an interim parent council met last night.

Worries over lorry parking

Lorry parking in the Asda car park dominated tonight’s Portlethen Community Council meeting. Two residents explained what was causing them – and others – deep concern about lorries parking overnight. They are worried about safety implications as well as the conduct of some drivers. Asda has now put up signs banning HGVs, warning they face civil penalties.

The car park is privately owned which limits the role of the authorities such as the police and the council. The community council is to contact the local authority and the Health and Safety Executive.

The community council is to object to a planning application by Stewart Milne for a further 176 houses at Hillside.

Portlethen Sports Hub will take part in the Portlethen Gala on 13 August.

The community council has decided not to take a view of whether the Causey Mounth should be closed or have traffic calming including a 20mph limit between the new Hillside Primary School and the sports facilities across the road. In due course it will go out to public consultation by Aberdeenshire Council.

Work is progress with the household waste recycling centre at Badentoy and it should open later this year. This prompted a discussion about recycling services.

Newtonhill in the spotlight

Another busy evening. Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council discussed a wide variety issues. Here is a quick round-up:
– The community council is to set up a Facebook page.
– The Chapelton developers are planning to build bungalows and a boutique hotel in the next stage.
– The possibility of an all-weather pitch in the Coastal Park is being considered by the local football clubs.
– The work on renewing the steps from the beach at Newtonhill towards Cran Hill was much appreciated.
– We should all take care of our older and vulnerable neighbours.
– Two local planning applications were discussed, one in Newtonhill, the other in Muchalls.
– Concerns were expressed about the impact of a new pharmacy in Hillside. Would it affect the existing businesses including the one in Newtonhill?
– A simple questionnaire is to be put to residents asking what they like about this area and what they would like improved.
-There was a reminder of the parking restrictions this Saturday in the vicinity of the Bettridge Centre because of the craft fair.
– Police officers were unable to attend the meeting, and no report was submitted.

Promises over roads repairs

A lively meeting tonight of North Kincardine Rural Community Council with the focus on the state of local roads caused by the construction work on the Aberdeen bypass (AWPR). More than 30 residents were there to hear Aberdeenshire Council’s area roads manager Philip Leiper.

He told the meeting that responsibility for repairing the damage done to local roads by AWPR construction traffic is expected to transfer within weeks from the council to the contractors. This is the arrangement already in place in the northern part of the AWPR. At present in North Kincardine the council does the work and charges the AWPR contractors.

Mr Leiper described it as the AWPR taking responsibility to mitigate the damage caused to the local roads network.

He emphasised that the public should report any defects such as potholes or collapsed verges. He added that the deterioration has been extraordinary. “We cannot cope with the level of work coming in.”

Mr Leiper answered many questions from the public in a session lasting 80 minutes. He told one resident that for a claim for damage from a pothole to be successful, it must already have been reported and more than a day since that had happened. It also has to be two inches deep.

AWPR managing agent John Wilson is due to attend the meeting on 16 May.

Among the other issues discussed were:

– The lack of broadband in the area.

– the Corbie Hall which was badly flooded earlier this year, now has new walls and flooring, plus electricity. It is due to to be painted and have a kitchen fitted. However voting for the forthcoming Scottish election on 5 May will take place in a Portakabin at the hall, though it is expected to be ready for the annual plant sale and coffee morning on 14 May.

– Tools were stolen in a break-in the area.

– £100 is being donated by the community council to the Maryculter Woods for 10,000 native bluebells.

– The community council is to be object to a planning application to convert stables at Alhamra at Blairs into tourist accommodation. The meeting also heard of plans for two polytunnels and a shed for growing fruit and vegetables, off the Netherley road.

Longer working hours on city bypass

There was a significant development today about extended working on the construction of the Aberdeen bypass. I am pleased there will be no Sunday working. Here is what Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services director Stephen Archer has to say:

Aberdeen Roads Ltd have put in a contract change request to extend the hours of working on the AWPR Project.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils have received these applications from AWPR-CJV for permission (in terms of the contract agreement) to work outwith the hours agreed in the original contract document. Current working hours are 0700 to 1900 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1300 on a Saturday, with no working on a Sunday.

The AWPR advise that the application to allow extension of hours will allow them to make use of the best weather. The extension sought is for 7 day working, 0700 to 1900, (except the Burnhead area where 6 day working 0700 to 1900 is sought) and run till December 2017.

Whilst there is the potential for residents to be disturbed by noise, it is recognised that there is a desire for the project to be completed on schedule.

As a contract change I have approved the following hours of working:

Monday to Saturday: 0700 to 1900 hours, with the exception of the area around Burnhead, (south of the River Dee), where there will be no extension, with hours of work remaining at 0700 to 1900 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1300 on a Saturday.

There will be no working on a Sunday.

It should be noted that on the Balmedie to Tipperty section Sunday working for moving of earth has already been approved, from 19 September 2015 through to 23 December 2016.

Aberdeen City Council has approved the following hours of working:

Section from Westhill to the River Don: Monday to Sunday 0700 to 1900 hours.
Section from Westhill to the River Dee: Monday to Saturday 0700 to 1900 hours.
No extension to hours of working around the Contlaw Road area (Milltimber).

Where works are being undertaken on the City/Aberdeenshire boundary, the City has agreed that the hours of working will be as per the approval by Aberdeenshire Council.

The decision reached strikes a balance, recognising the potential noise impacts on local residents and the need to complete the project on schedule.

Regular meetings are held between Aberdeenshire Council and AWPR where any concerns and complaints can be raised.

The issue will be kept under review and can be adjusted by the Council should there be evidence of excessive disturbance to our communities.

How the council will improve our local roads

Here is what is planned for the local roads network in the North Kincardine ward over the coming year. This does not include filling in potholes after they occur.

Resurfacing and reconstruction works

U67K (from B9077 to Altries Stables) – recycling – £5,400

U67K (from B9077 to Altries Stables) – bitumen macadam overlay – £11,700

U67K (Altries Cottage to Altries Croft) – bitumen macadam overlay – £26,000

U154K (Muirend Road roundabout at A90 exit, Portlethen) – asphalt Inlay – £45,000

Surface dressing works

B979 (U93K Borrowfield junction to Mains of Netherley) – High Stress Dressing – £25,500

B9077 (U63K junction at Old Mill Inn, Maryculter) – High Stress Dressing – £34,000

B9077 (Tibouries) – High Stress Dressing – £18,500

Bruntland Road, Portlethen – Conventional Dressing – £73,000

C34K (U60K Tollohill Lodge to Oakhill, Banchory Devenick) – Conventional Dressing – £21,500

U59K (B9077 junction to U59K at The Steadings) – Conventional Dressing – £16,500

Footway works: slurry seal (all Portlethen)

Broomfield Road – No 55 to Play Area (both sides) – £7,100

Claymore Avenue – No 7 to No 33 S – £3,000

Rowanbank Road – north side – £700

Rowanbank Road (south side) – £1,900

Cairngrassie Drive – No 36 to Berrymuir Road – £2,200

Cairngrassie Drive – Berrymuir Road to car park – £500

Dunvegan Crescent – £5,000

Nicol Place (both sides) – £3,300

Other works

C5K (U66K Craigentath, Blairs to U144K) – Drainage -£6,000

U71K (Dunnottar Wood) – boundary fencing – £5,000

U167K (A90 to Cortins West) – road edge reconstruction – £10,000

Lighting improvements

Portlethen (Berrymuir Road) – Phase 2 – £25,000

Portlethen (Cookston Road) – £20,000

Portlethen (Cairngrassie Drive) – £21,000

Newtonhill (Berryhill Place) – £20,000.

Can you help Aberdeenshire’s refugees?

Nine Syrian refugee families are settling in well to their new homes in Aberdeenshire, with neighbours providing a friendly welcome often baking for them and giving them gifts to make their houses feel like homes. All of the families lost their personal belongings in the war and are having to rebuild their lives from scratch.

The families are very independent and are grateful for all the support they have received but they do require some essential items.

That is why a corporate account has now been set up by North East Scotland Credit Union to allow people to donate money so these items can be purchased for the families as the need arises. The fund will be managed by representatives of the Church of Scotland, Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre (AMIC) and the Aberdeenshire Partner Refugee Group.

Payments can be made by on-line transfer using: S/c 608301 act 20139906. When using this process you must put your name and 10017 as reference for the payment. Cheques can be made payable to the credit union and sent to 7 Finnan Place, Torry, Aberdeen AB11 8RG. Alternatively contact the credit union on 01224 899688 / 0300 66 63728 or email info@nescu.co.uk

The Rev Stella Campbell, minister of Skene Parish Church and Finance Convener of the Presbytery of Gordon, said: “We have been involved in welcoming the families to Aberdeenshire. None of us can even begin to imagine what they have been through so we wanted to do what we can to help them settle in to their new life here in Scotland.

“Children made welcome cards for them which were placed in their homes ahead of them arriving so it would be one of the first things they would see when they got to their new home.

“Now they have settled in we have a good idea of some of the practical items they need. We are therefore asking people to donate what they can to help make life a little easier for these families. That is why we are delighted to be working with AMIC and the credit union in launching an account so people can donate money.”

Hassan Ghanduri from Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre said: “We have been overwhelmed with offers of support and kindness from people across Aberdeenshire who would like to help. The launch of the donation account means people who want to help can now do so.

“The families need help with practical things such as purchasing school equipment, shoes, warm coats, child seats etc. We hope to be able to use money raised through this appeal to provide necessary items for them as the need arises and are delighted to be working with partners to make this happen.”

Sportlethen looks to the future

The Portlethen Community Sports Hub working group met this evening in the academy, with much debate about the provision of facilities opposite the new Hillside primary school. It was agreed that the pitch for community use should be levelled and drainage put in by the council, but not completed as a grass pitch. The aim is to have a community asset transfer of the pitch so that an all-weather pitch can be put in. However this will cost somewhere in the region of £500,000.

Two representatives from Newtonhill and Cammachmore were present and told us there had been preliminary discussions about an all-weather pitch in the Coastal Park, on the site of the cricket pitch. They were interested to hear what the Portlethen groups were proposing.

The new group also agreed to set up a sports taster event this summer so that the many clubs in the community can show off what is on offer and entice more people to take part in their activities. Whether this ties in with another event or is standalone has yet to be decided.

As a catchy tagline, the group has chosen Sportlethen. A great idea!