I was pleased to see today that the sign on the A92 northbound after Stonehaven has finally been updated. No longer says the A90 (which is now the Aberdeen bypass of course).

I first raised this with Transport Scotland, Bear Scotland, and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route team in 2018 when the AWPR opened. Success at last. But all it needed was a sticker saying “A92” to cover “A90”. Instead we have got a brand new sign.

I had also asked if Portlethen could be included in the list of destinations, but no. Oh well.

Over the last five years, the Aberdeenshire Council’s refugee resettlement team has helped families from Syria, Iraq and now Afghanistan who have fled unimaginable conflicts and wars. They have found safety and peace in towns and villages across Aberdeenshire.

Most arrived with serious medical problems or disabilities and lives have been saved by having the medical support they need.

When the programme started the team was nervous that Aberdeenshire may not be the right place for resettlement, but they should not have worried. The team has been astounded by how quickly families became part of their new communities, joining sports clubs, making school friends and working and volunteering in their communities.

Young people who had never been to school in Syria are now in university, new family business have sprung up and children in particular have thrived in school.Funding for resettlement comes from the Home Office. In recognition of the pressures on social housing in Aberdeenshire, private accommodation or low-demand housing is sourced for families.

When they first arrive, they are given help with every day challenges and complex situations. Some families become independent and self-reliant very quickly but for others it may take a little bit longer – for instance older couples or families with young children. Language can be a challenge but everyone eagerly attends language classes and college … and Doric skills develop quickly.

The families are also supported by volunteers including Friends of Al-Amal Project, who run informal social activities, conversation cafes and coordinate donations.

When a new Scot family arrives in Aberdeenshire, they always ask if people want them to be in Scotland, will they be welcomed or not wanted? The team members explain that people have a range of views (mostly on social media) but we reassure them and tell them that the Syrian community always say “in Aberdeenshire the weather is cold but the people are always warm”.

If you would like more information on refugee resettlement, email refugeeresettlementteam@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

I have been asked if Aberdeenshire Council will be meeting the new new smoke/fire alarm requirements which come into force in February. The answer regarding council housing is “yes”.

An article in a newsletter to tenants confirms that the council is still working towards the Scottish Government’s new standard for the type of detection equipment that must be fitted in all homes by February 2022. This applies to heat, smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors.

The council started these installations in 2019, and the compliance period was extended by one year due to the covid-19 pandemic,with the deadline to complete this work nearly upon us.

It is likely that tenants will have already been visited by one of the council’s contractors, either when getting upgrades done as part of the Housing Improvement Programme, or as a separate visit. If the council has still to visit someone, please assist the contractor to undertaking this important work by allowing them into your home to carry out the upgrade required to the fire detection system.

School pupils have had their say on how funds are spent to support projects and community causes across Aberdeenshire.

Participatory budgeting is a process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.

Aberdeenshire Council allocated £5,000 to support worthwhile causes in each school cluster area. Schools applied for funding for initiatives to benefit young people’s mental health and wellbeing. There were 37 project submissions. More than 1,100 young people from Primary 7 to Secondary 6 voted across Aberdeenshire.
Winners include Portlethen Academy indoor wellbeing garden – £2,000 (140 votes), and Fishermoss School – £1,912 (78 votes).

Fishermoss pupils had applied for funding for items for their playground which could be enjoyed by pupils during the school day but would also benefit the health and wellbeing of the wider school community beyond the school day. The cash will be spent on a large outdoor solar-powered stopwatch, picnic table and playground markings to create a running track.

Details will be announced shortly about opportunities to apply for financial support when a second round of funding opens.

Almost 119,000 flu vaccinations have now been done in Grampian, including 22,543 in the last seven days, according to NHS Grampian.

Very good progress has been made with vaccination among people over 70. Invitation letters for the over 60s started to be sent last week and offer letters for a third covid dose have gone to those who are severely immunocompromised.

Where citizens are eligible for both flu and booster, these will be administered in the same appointment.

Please do not to contact your GP practice if you have a query or wish to change an appointment. Instead contact the National Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

A new vaccination website – https://www.grampianvax.com/ – has also been developed where you will find information on who is entitled to flu/covid-19 booster, how they will get their appointment, and how to rebook.

A webpage promoting a fireworks display in Portlethen on Bonfire Night strikes me as a bit short on detail: https://bonfirenightparty.com/…/portlethen-bonfire…/

It doesn’t say where it takes place in Portlethen, or give information about who is organising it. It also says it runs from 6pm to 11pm. Really?

I don’t recall any firework displays in Portlethen in the years I have lived here. Newtonhill, Stonehaven and Aberdeen are the nearest.

Trading Standards Scotland has issued a warning about the potential for scammers and rogue traders to take advantage of the those unsure of the new legislation about installing smoke alarms by February.

This could lead to paying inflated costs for inferior products and fitting or to becoming a victim of a financial scam.

The advice highlights where you can get trusted information. Always remember to get a minimum of two quotes for any potential work from reliable and trusted traders, and if needed seek advice from someone you trust.

Further information can be found on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards leaflets which are attached and on the following links below.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/…/home-fire-safety-visit/https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/at-home/alarms/

Scottish Government
https://www.gov.scot/…/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in…/

The following application in the North Kincardine ward can be viewed on the Aberdeenshire Council planning register: https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/.

APP/2021/2457
Date validated: 27 October 2021.
Site address: 21 Nether Cairnhill Drive, Chapelton, AB39 8AG.
Applicant: Mr Adam Poptani.
Full planning permission for alterations to garage.
Public comment expiry date: 18 November.

There are 83 patients in NHS Grampian hospitals (up three on last week), related to covid-19, plus six people in intensive care (down one). NHS Grampian warned that it was being stretched further than ever before as the effects of Covid-19 continue to apply an “incredible level of pressure” on it. 

Meanwhile significantly more covid-related cases were recorded in the past week in Aberdeenshire.

In Aberdeenshire:

• Five people have died linked to covid-19 in the past week. The cumulative toll is 218.
   
• 1105 more cases were recorded in the past seven days. In previous weeks the figures were 852, 1002, 965 and 894. 
   
• 1270 people received a jag in the past week.
  
  
• 9748 people were tested over the past week, with 11.7% positive.
  
  
• The seven day positive rate per 100,000 people was 423.7 according to Public Health Scotland (20 to 26 October). Previous weeks were 326.7, 384.2, 367.4 and 340.5.
  
  
• In the past seven days …
  27 cases were recorded in the Netherley / Fetteresso / Catterline area,
  36 in the Banchory-Devenick / Findon area,
  22 in Portlethen, and
  21 in Newtonhill.
   
• Lateral flow tests can be collected on Monday from Portlethen Swimming Pool between 10am and noon, and then from the Coastal Park car park in Newtonhill from 1pm and 3pm. These are available for people without covid symptoms on a voluntary, no-appointment basis.

Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards Service today issued Bulletin No. 33 about doorstep crime and cold calling.

Trading Standards recently received a report from a vulnerable resident in south Aberdeenshire who was cold called by a roofer asking if they needed any work done. The resident engaged the roofer to make a small repair to tiles. While up on the roof the roofer claimed to have discovered a serious problem with another part of the roof which needed urgent attention. The resident, having agreed to the verbal quote of £7000, was then asked for a 50% deposit “for materials” in a forceful manner.

The roofer went back up on to the roof and removed the “faulty” tiles and other roofing materials, leaving them dumped on the ground. After the roofer had left for the day, on examination the resident could see no sign of the claimed damage or decay, surmising the tiles had been damaged deliberately. More seriously, daylight could now be seen through the area where the roofer had been working.

This was a classic case of the way that these rogue tradesmen operate. The vulnerable resident has now been left with a major headache which will cost thousands of pounds to rectify; all from a few tiles which should certainly have
cost less than a hundred pounds to repair.

Advice from Trading Standards remains the same: the risk of engaging cold calling tradesmen and ending up with this sort of result is just too great. Please be wary of offers of work from cold calling traders. Instead, do your own due
diligence and hire a tradesman with a proven track record, supported by reports from family, friends or neighbours. Consider placing “No cold calling” stickers at your front door, these can be provided on request by emailing Trading Standards at trading.standards@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

SCAMS

Further to a previous entry in Bulletin 31 regarding a Kennel Club investigation into lockdown puppy buying, Trading Standards have received a report of a puppy purchased recently via a sales website for almost £1000 and delivered to them. He had been assured the dog was being rehomed due to a family member being admitted to hospital but subsequently learned that the seller was a ‘breeder’, the dog was very ill, the implanted chip had not been registered and the vaccination card had been fabricated. Also, the vet bills incurred by the buyer have reached several hundred pounds… so far.

If you are considering buying a puppy, please do not buy from sales websites or social media, do not have them delivered to your home and do not meet the seller in an agreed neutral location for a handover. These are very common tactics used by illicit breeders and avoided by reputable breeders.

Instead:
• ask to see the puppy in its home environment, and with the mum to satisfy yourself that it is being cared for properly (some breeders will be wary about this due to covid, so try to work out an agreeable solution where you can see the home environment or delay the transaction).
• ask to see what kind of food the puppy is being fed as you may have to feed it the same if you buy.
• ask questions about the puppy’s health; its temperament, any inherited conditions from the parents etc. and gauge the clarity and credibility of the answers and how forthright the seller appears in answering.
• ask to see the paperwork for the puppy’s vaccinations, microchip, any medication and details of any check-ups. You may also wish to contact the vet practice detailed on the paperwork to verify the details provided.

From a Trading Standards perspective, if you do buy a puppy it should be in good health and free from illness, had all relevant vaccinations and proof of this provided with genuine paperwork. As a puppy qualifies as ‘goods’ and if it turns out to be different from agreed (not fit for purpose), you have 30 days from date of purchase to reject and seek a refund from the seller, although the buyer may have to demonstrate the lack of fitness of purpose. Trading Standards can provide guidance on all of the above

CONTACTS

For urgent Trading Standards matters, contact Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards at 01467 537222. For non-urgent enquiries, please contact Consumer Advice Scotland at https://www.consumeradvice.scot/ or on 0808 164 6000.
Contact Police Scotland on 999 if you need urgent Police assistance or 101 for non-urgent matters.

For more information about scams please visit Friends Against Scams at https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ or Take Five at https://takefivestopfraud.org.uk/

All previous Trading Standards bulletins can be found at:
http://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/dataset/trading-standards-crime-andscams-bulletin