A query popped up elsewhere on social media asking why the Bettridge Centre in Newtonhill has that name.

The Bettridge Centre is named after the small inlet from the sea directly to the east, at the foot of the Coastal Park. The other front runner when we were choosing a name was Greystone, after the adjoining street.

The name was picked by the villagers who built the extension to the community hall (now known as the small hall).

The Ordnance Survey map below shows the location of the Bettridge and the centre. There are also Bettridge Road and Bettridge Lane in the old village.

I don’t know the origin of the name though.

PS: The centre is now hosting the village library, on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

More vehicles are to be allowed into Aberdeenshire’s recycling centres from 1 May.

This follows a review of the council’s household recycling centres.

There will be an increase in the number of vehicles per 15 minute timeslot at: Alford, Banchory, Ellon. Fraserburgh, Huntly, Insch, Inverurie, Laurencekirk, Macduff. Peterhead, Portlethen, Portsoy, Stonehaven, Turriff and Westhill.

I hear that census returns from the Portlethen area are “significantly” behind where what was expected.

Overall Aberdeenshire is where the census team would expect so far. There is still time to complete it; just answer as if it were 20 March.

There is more here: https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/taking-part-in-the-2022-census/scotland-s-census-2022/

Scottish Water has unveiled plans for further mains replacement work, this time in Portlethen. This will take place once mains replacement work in Newtonhill is completed.

Portlethen residents will be receiving a letter shortly from Scottish Water regarding the plans and the impact this work will have on the local community over the 24 weeks, starting on 18 April.

Work to renew 600 metres of water main in Newtonhill is nearing completions, having started in January. Less than three weeks to go.

Scottish Water said today: “We really appreciate the patience and support of the local community during this work, particularly during the most recent, more disruptive phase.

“Following on from the work in Newtonhill, we are now getting ready to move forward with the renewal of 700 metres of ageing water main, this time in Cookston Road and Muirend Road in Portlethen.

“The letter to customers in the area notes the expected timescales for the work, explains what can be expected, and provides a detailed description of traffic management in the area, including some phased road closures that will be needed during later phases of the programme.

“Our team on site will do all they can to manage the short-term impacts of their work on the community and the road network well, while delivering the investment that is needed to ensure the local water network can continue serving customers for many years to come.”

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

APP/2022/0696
Date validated: 28 March 2022.
Site address: 35 Cairngrassie Circle, Portlethen, AB12 4TZ.
Applicant: Mr Wayne Marnoch c/o SGW Architects, 224 Deeside Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7PS.
Application: Full planning permission for alterations and extension to dwellinghouse.
Public comment expiry date: 18 April 2022.

APP/2022/0710
Date validated: 28 March 2022.
Site address: Site at Bothy, Stripeside, Netherley, Stonehaven, AB39 3AB.
Applicant: Forbes Homes Ltd c/o Mackie Ramsay Taylor, 21-23 Waverley Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1XH.
Application: Approval of matters specified in conditions for Conditions 1a (Layout Siting and Design), b (External Appearance and Finishing Materials), c (Landscaping), d (Levels Survey and Finished Ground and Floor Levels), e (Foul and Surface Water Details), f (Access and Visibility Splays), g (Car Parking) h (Storage of Waste) of planning permission in principle reference APP/2017/0250 for Erection of two dwellinghouses.
Public comment expiry date: 17 April 2022.

APP/2022/0725
Date validated: 30 March 2022.
Site address: 23 Fern Drive, Portlethen, AB12 4TB.
Applicant: Mrs Allison Grierson c/o J.V. Carroll, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Inverden House, Queens Lane North, Aberdeen, AB15 4DF.
Application: Full planning permission for the erection of outbuilding (retrospective).
Public comment expiry date: 19 April 2022.

APP/2022/0730
Date validated: 31 March 2022.
Site address: 11 Stripeside, Netherley, Stonehaven, AB39 3AB.
Applicant: Forbes Homes Ltd c/o Mackie Ramsay Taylor, 21-23 Waverley Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1XH.
Application: Full planning permission for erection of dwellinghouse (Change of house type to previously approved APP/2015/3185).
Public comment expiry date: 20 April 2022.

APP/2022/0732
Date validated: 29 March 2022.
Site address: Land north of Rothnick Croft, Netherley, Stonehaven.
Applicant: Forbes Homes Ltd.
Application: Full planning permission for formation of access, groundworks and erection of fencing.
Public comment expiry date: 28 April 2022.

Yet again I have raised the faulty reactive flashing speed signs on Badentoy Road, Portlethen, with the council’s Roads Service.

I was visiting the recycling centre today and was told on the westbound sign that I was doing 48. That would be kilometres per hour as I was driving at 30mph, according to the speedometer.

On the way back the eastbound sign told me – and everyone else driving past – that we were doing 88 (i.e. 55mph). Utter nonsense.

I have complained repeatedly about these signs. If they can’t be fixed, then pull the plug or covered them up. There is no point in having faulty signs.

I am told the senior roads engineer will review the situation.

A reminder that Aberdeenshire Council will cease its covid mobile testing and community collect programme at close of play on Thursday, 14 April.

The decision comes following the recent Scottish Government announcement confirming that people without covid symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests from Monday, 18 April.

As of today (1 April), Pharmacy Collect also ends and you will no longer be able to collect tests from any pharmacy.

However you can still order online from nhsinform.scot/testing up until 18 April or visit one of these locations next week:

Monday 4 April
Peterhead, Maiden Street Car Park 10am – 12pm; Fraserburgh Asda Car Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm; Stonehaven, Market Square Car park 10am – 12pm (collect only); Westhill Shopping Centre 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only); Banff Trinity Car Park, 10am – 12pm (collect only); Oldmeldrum Market Square Car Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only).

Tuesday 5 April
Ellon Old Academy Car Park 10am – 12pm; Mintlaw Macbi Car Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm; Portlethen Asda Car Park 10am – 12pm (collect only): Banchory Bellfield Car Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only); Braemar Balnellan Road Car Park 10am – 12pm (collect only); Ballater Church Square Car Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only).

Wednesday 6 April
Inverurie Burn Lane Car Park 10am – 12.30pm (closed for lunch half hour) 1pm – 3.30pm; Inverbervie Fire Station 10am – 12pm; Stonehaven Market Square 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only); Westhill Shopping Centre 10am – 12pm (collect only); Turriff Fire Station 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only).

Thursday 7 April
Fraserburgh Asda Car park 10am – 12pm; Peterhead Maiden Street Car Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm; Huntly Asda Car Park 10am – 12pm (collect only); Kintore The Square 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only); Oldmeldrum Market Square 10am – 12pm ( collect only); Maud Resource Centre 1.30pm – 3.30pm (collect only).

Friday 8 April
Ellon Market Street Shelter 10am – 12.30pm (closed for lunch half hour) 1pm – 3.30pm (collect only); Inverurie Burn Lane Car Park 10am – 12.30pm (closed for lunch half hour) 1pm – 3.30pm (collect only); Portlethen Asda Car Park 10am – 12.30pm (closed for lunch half hour) 1pm- 3.30pm (collect only); Westhill Shopping Centre 10am – 12.30pm (closed for lunch half hour) 1pm – 3.30pm (collect only).

Today there were 190 patients (174 a week ago) in NHS Grampian hospitals who have tested positive for covid-19, plus three (no change) in intensive care. In Aberdeenshire four more deaths were recorded in the past week linked to covid-19. The cumulative toll is 293.

• REDUCING – 2989 cases were recorded in the past seven days. Previous weekly figures were: 3469, 4148, 3789, 2797, 2357, 2305, 2555, 2763, and 1203.

• FALLING – The seven day positive rate per 100,000 has dropped to 1146.2, according to Public Health Scotland (seven days to 29 March). Previous weeks were 1330.2, 1590.6, 1452.9, 1072.6, 906.1, 882.7, 978.6, 473.6, and 459.0.

• In the past seven days 56 cases were recorded in the Netherley / Fetteresso / Catterline area, 63 in the Banchory-Devenick / Findon area, 52 in Portlethen, and 50 in Newtonhill.

NHS Grampian says: “The trends here are going in a better direction and are no longer accelerating each day. They remain exceptionally high however and widespread across Grampian. Covid-19 hospital occupancy remains at extraordinary high levels, though the good news is there has been a fall in new admissions with symptomatic disease over the past 10 days or so.

“Looking ahead to what we might expect over the next 6-8 weeks, if the case numbers are a good reflection of actual trends, then we may see hospital occupancy continue to climb until mid-April before falling.”

Eligible residents may receive invitations to go for vaccinations in Portlethen Academy.

Stonehaven Town Hall had been hosting the vaccination clinics but it is now being returned to its normal lets. Invercarron Resource Centre in Low Wood Road, Stonehaven, is to be the new vaccination centre for Kincardine and Mearns, however work to make it suitable is not completed yet.

In the interim period the plan is to use schools.

I have now had it confirmed that the plan is to have vaccinations carried out in Portlethen, Mackie and Mearns academies. The next round of appointments is now being sent out. Whatever is on the letter will be the correct location.

While this interim measure is in place there will be no drop-in sessions in Kincardine and Mearns.

North East transport partnership Nestrans has submitted a case for change report about possible improvements to transport links in the Aberdeen to Laurencekirk corridor.

The report considers that there is a rationale for looking in more detail at a new station at Newtonhill, alongside a broad range of other possible interventions. This view has been endorsed by the board of Nestrans.

Nestrans officers tell me that both the case for change work and consultation work notes that whilst there is support for looking at a new station, there “is also some opposition to it, and we believe that this is a fair summation of the situation”.

“Future work would have to undertake an assessment of the cost, benefits, impacts, deliverability, and effectiveness of the proposals, to provide a factual basis upon which to base any future recommendations, noting that the development of the rail network is ultimately in the control of Transport Scotland and Network Rail.”

In other words, more work to be done to establish whether it is a good idea to re-open Newtonhill station.

Meantime both the consultation report and case for change report have now been finalised and issued to Transport Scotland for review and comment. Both are published on the Nestrans website. https://www.nestrans.org.uk/projects/rail/documents-rail/