The second year of Aberdeenshire Council’s Coastal Communities Challenge Fund programme was launched today.

Community groups, third sector organisations and small businesses on Aberdeenshire’s coastline can apply for grants between £2500 and £50,000 to help fund a range of activities with positive economic, social or environmental impacts.

Information – including application forms – has been sent to community councils (but of course Portlethen doesn’t have one any more due to a lack of interest).

Details here: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsID=8335

The deadline is approaching for a survey which could help decide whether Newtonhill’s railway station is re-opened. The closing date is Monday (18 October).

Residents are being asked for their views on sustainable transport in the Aberdeen to Laurencekirk corridor. It includes questions on whether stations at Newtonhill and Cove should be reopened.

The survey is a key part of a study on behalf of the North East transport partnership Nestrans. It takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete the survey, which can be found at www.nestrans.org.uk/southcorridorstudy The Newtonhill questions are about three-quarters of the way through, so please persevere!

At its Budget in March the Scottish Government agreed to a proposal put forward by the Scottish Liberal Democrats for a one-off £15 million investment in skills and economic recovery for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, recognising our specific economic circumstances and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic in the region.

The overall programme aim is to aid economic recovery and the just transition to net zero in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, boost job creation, upskill and re-skill individuals to enable them to capitalise on emerging opportunities, and reduce existing inequalities through a range of targeted support across key groups and communities.

The Scottish Funding Council will manage funds that are for projects delivered by the universities. Aberdeen City Council will manage the rest of the funding.

Economic development partnership Opportunity North East (One) has been allocated £6m from the £14.3m North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund (NEERSF).

Aberdeen City Council is delivering more than £2m of NEERSF-funded activity through three distinct projects focusing on inclusion, education and employment.

Aberdeenshire Council is not acting as project sponsor for any of the proposals, but is working closely with project sponsors to ensure that all of Aberdeenshire benefits from the investment.

Aberdeenshire Council will also benefit directly from some of the funding targeted at employability groups and disengaged under 16s.

A company called Contraflow will be carrying out surface repairs on behalf of Lanes For Drains on Haremoss Drive between Haremoss Avenue and Mosside Avenue in Hillside.

Accordingly it will be necessary to close the road for five days from Monday 1 November. Signs will be erected in due course.

From Friday (15 October) we will be entering the season of fireworks and bonfires, culminating in Guy Fawkes Night.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards generally deal with matters relating to the sale and supply of fireworks to the public, whereas Police Scotland generally deal with how the fireworks are used once bought, all with a view to try to prevent problems.

Fireworks regulations are a bit convoluted but Trading Standards believe that there are a number of aspects which are worth highlighting, some new, some well-established. These are:

• Only authorised retailers can sell fireworks to the public. Retailers must apply and be granted a licence from their local authority to sell fireworks and must not do so until the licence has been granted.
• The legal period for selling fireworks each year is from 15 October until 10 November; from 26 December until 31 December; on the three days preceding Chinese New Year or Diwali. Anyone wishing to sell outwith
these periods must apply for a special licence and pay the substantial fee involved.
• For retail purposes, fireworks fall into 4 categories – F1 to F4.
• F1 fireworks are considered low noise and low hazard, for use in confined areas such as indoors. These include party poppers, sparklers and throwdowns and can be bought by people aged 16 years or older. Sparklers should not be given to children aged under five and their packaging should carry a warning to that effect.
• F2 fireworks are considered low noise and low hazard for outdoors use with a recommended minimum 8 metre safety distance (SFRS).
• F3 fireworks are considered medium noise and medium hazard products for use outdoors with a recommended minimum safety distance of 25 metres (SFRS).
• F2 and F3 fireworks are often referred to as ‘adult fireworks’ as they can only be legally sold to persons aged 18 years or older. Premises selling these types of fireworks must, by law, display the following notice in a
clear and prominent place. The notice should be approximately A3 sized.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL CATEGORY F2 FIREWORKS OR CATEGORY F3 FIREWORKS TO ANYONE UNDER 18
IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE UNDER 18 TO POSSESS CATEGORY F2 FIREWORKS OR CATEGORY F3 FIREWORKS IN A PUBLIC PLACE

• All retailers selling fireworks should possess and use an age verification policy where someone who looks to be under 25 years of age must produce identification to prove their age. Accepted forms of ID include passports, driving licences, military ID cards and cards bearing the PASS logo such as the Young Scot card or the Citizencard. Simply asking someone’s age is not acceptable.
• All F2 and F3 fireworks should bear the UKCA or the CE safety marks. Any bearing the British Standard marks are no longer legal.
• F4 category fireworks are not for sale to the general public. Only people with specialist knowledge such as companies who operate fireworks displays on behalf of others are permitted to buy them.
• Certain types of fireworks are completely banned. These include aerial wheels, bangers, flash bangers, double bangers, jumping crackers, spinners, jumping ground spinners, most mini-rockets, shot tubes or a battery containing a combination any of the above bangers.
• On 30 June 2021, new regulations came into force for F2 and F3 fireworks (adult fireworks). These regulations now restrict the sale of adult fireworks to between 7am and 6pm (during the dates mentioned above).
• The regulations also limit the amount of fireworks which can be sold at any one time to 5kgs (of total net mass of explosive substance – gunpowder to you and me).
• The regulations also create the definition of a public fireworks display as one where the public or any section of the public are present whether or not they have paid to be.
• Please also remember to follow the Fireworks Code: https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/advice/fireworks-safety

Contact
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.

Plans for five houses and a garden centre at the site of the now-demolished Old Mill Inn at Maryculter were refused by councillors on the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee today.

The application was for planning permission in principle, however planners recommended refusal citing six reasons. These included the site is in the greenbelt, failing to demonstrate it is appropriate in terms of scale and design, fails to identify measures to deal with the transport impacts, fails to adequately demonstrate a safe and adequate access, fails to demonstrate it would preserve or enhance the setting of the listed old mill, and failure to demonstrate the development would not result in the loss of – or serious damage – to trees on and adjacent to the site.

The indicative proposals showed five houses on the higher ground to the south west of the site, and an elevated two storey garden centre where the former building stood. Planners said they expected that the site would be sold to a developer if permission were granted.

North Kincardine Rural Community Council chair Henry Irvine-Fortescue also addressed the meeting and said that they wished to see a development rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the former hotel.

The hotel was flooded and ceased trading in January 2016 then was significantly damaged by fire in February 2021.

The Evening Express’s coverage of the application can be found here: https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/plans-to-build-garden-centre-on-site-of-fire-hit-hotel-rejected-by-council/

The full report can be found here (scroll down to Item 8a): https://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=8&meetid=19921

Constituted community groups in Aberdeenshire can apply for up to £2000 for opportunities that provide an educational experience for their volunteers or the people they serve.

Ideas or opportunities may be:
• Provision of training – first aid, hygiene, cooking, specific training or learning in your area of interest etc.
• A fun educational experience – a visit somewhere for people you work with or serve, or bringing someone into your service, or organising an event that will provide a learning opportunity of some kind.

Contact community learning and development worker Graeme Hooper (01467 539708 or graeme.hooper@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) if you would like to discuss any ideas and/or apply.

Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee unanimously agreed this morning to award £8000 to the trustees of the Skateraw Hall in Newtonhill.

This will close the gap in fund-raising to purchase the building for £45,000 from its private owners. The hall was built in 1890 by the laird as a reading room for the fishing families of the village. It now is a well-loved venue for a wide range of meetings and social events.

Not having ownership or a lease meant that the hall committee could not apply for funding from bodies such as the Lottery. The case was put to the committee by the trustees’ chair Thelma Wilson.

Among the councillors commenting and supporting the application were (as well as me!) Colin Pike, Alison Evison and Provost Bill Howatson.

Outside the Skateraw Hall with my colleague Mel Sullivan

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/2021/2295
Date validated: 4 October 2021.
Site address: Spanish Quarter, land to the south of Greenlaw Road, Chapelton.
Applicant: Elsick Development Company c/o Turnberry Planning Ltd, 41-43 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PD. Approval of matters specified in conditions for Conditions 3a (Levels Survey), 3b (Drainage Plan), 3c (Foul Water Drainage), 3e (Cut and Fill Operations), 3f (Roads, Footpaths and Cycleways), 3g (Screen Walls/Fencing), 3h (Landscaping), 3j (Layout, Siting, Design and Finish), 3l (Waste/Recycling), 4 (Phasing of Development), 6a (Finished Ground Levels), 6b (Existing Landscape Features), 6c (Existing and Proposed Services), 6d (Location of New Trees, Shrubs, Hedges, Water Features), 6e (Schedule of Plants), 6f (Hard Landscaping), 6g (Existing Trees, Shrubs and Hedges to be Removed), 6h (Biodiversity Plan), 6j (Completion and Maintenance of Landscaping), (7a-g (Disposal of Surface Water), 8 (Street Design), 17 (Construction Method Statement), 19 (Site Investigation), 20 (Remediation Scheme), 27 (Soil Audit), 36 (Waste Management Plan) and 37 (Environmental Management Plan) of planning permission in principle reference APP/2011/3100 for a new settlement comprising residential (up to 4045 dwellinghouses), commercial, retail and community facilities with associated landscaping, open space, drainage and roads infrastructure and services.
Public comment expiry date: 4 November.

APP/2021/2302
Date validated: 4 October.
Site address: 39 Crollshillock Place, Newtonhill, AB39 3RF.
Applicant: Mr Stuart Townhill c/o Murray Architects, 47 Johnston Street, Laurencekirk, AB30 1AN. Full planning permission for alterations and extension to dwellinghouse.
Public comment expiry date: 25 October.

APP/2021/2324
Date validated: 7 October.
Site address: 7 Auchlee Wynd, Portlethen AB12 4AB.
Applicant: Mr & Ms J McLaren c/o Archon Design Ltd, 15 Thainstone Business Centre, Thainstone, Inverurie AB51 5TB.
Full planning permission for the erection of a garden room.
Public comment expiry date: 28 October.

Police Scotland today issued its report on Kincardine and Mearns during September. Newtonhill features this month, under drug warrants.

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, VIOLENCE AND DISORDER:

There has been a slight decrease, with 50 incidents reported. Eighteen relate to minor disturbances (youth specific) and 32 relate to other anti-social behaviour incidents.

There were five assault crime reports raised, a decrease against the previous month. Of those, two are detected and reported to the procurator fiscal and three are still being investigated (two relate to domestic assault).

There were no serious assaults reported.

ACQUISITIVE CRIME:

There have been six thefts, with four still being investigated. Of note, a £600 power washer was stolen from an industrial site at St Cyrus. There have also been two thefts of fuel in the form of drive-offs from self-service fuel stations.

There have been no housebreakings.

ROAD SAFETY & ROAD CRIME:

One driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The report has been submitted to the fiscal for consideration of prosecution.

One reported incident of careless which is still under investigation.

The issue of speeding within Marykirk, Fettercairn and Stonehaven was raised by local residents through community councils. While conducting speed checks, three drivers were fined £100 with three penalty points. Needless to say, these areas will be revisited. Please forward areas of concern to the usual contact points.   

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

Three drug search warrants were executed. One was within Newtonhill that was a positive and two in Stonehaven, one positive and one negative for controlled drugs.

Police Scotland has launched the annual national “After Dark” campaign today (Monday 11 October) with the campaign running until 25 October which is designed to raise awareness around home security.

• A house that looks unoccupied is a target for criminals. • Keep windows and doors locked. • Secure sheds and garages. • Fit/check outside security lighting. • Fit a shed alarm. • Fit an intruder alarm – if you have one set it. • Fit coach bolts/anti tamper screws. • Record/security mark valuable property. • Consider a garage defender • Use timer switches on lights. • Secure bicycles to a ground anchor. • Consider a TV simulator.

CONTACTS:

• 101 – Non emergency
• Email – StonehavenLowerDeesideCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk
• Twitter – @NorthEPolice
• Facebook – www.Facebook.com/NorthEastPoliceDivision
• Web – www.scotland.police.uk
• 999 – Emergency
• 0800 555 111 – Crimestoppers.