SO far 900 Stonehaven residents have added their voice to an ongoing consultation to help develop a local place plan for the town – meanwhile the questionnaire is still live online, and a session at Mackie Academy on Saturday gives you a chance to find out more.
This new step in the process towards Aberdeenshire Council’s next Local Development Plan for 2028- 2038 gives communities the ability to state their preferred way forward – and this must be taken into consideration.
Clearly, as in any consultation, the more participation, the more meaningful the results. The project is being led by Stonehaven and District Community Council.
Chairman David Lawman said: ”It is great that 900 people have had their say, but the more people that take part, the more it will ensure the content of our Local Place Plan is fully representative of the views of the townspeople.”
So – do you want more housing in Stonehaven? If so what kind and where? Or do you think home-building should stop for now?
What land or buildings would you like to see protected? Are there enough sports/leisure facilities. What about shops?
Are there community-led projects you would want to see actually happen – better storage for community groups or improvements to the lanes connecting the promenade to the town centre for example. If you have suggestions of your own – there is scope to have them recorded.
Open session at Mackie Academy on Saturday
Members of Stonehaven and District Community Council who are leading the consultation along with other volunteers will be present in the school foyer from 10am to 2pm. This is your chance to ask questions about the process and add your thoughts about the town using sticky notes.
Laptops and I-pads will be available for those who would like help to complete the online questionnaire
Cars to be allowed access to majority of household recycling centres without booking
Aberdeenshire Council will allow cars to visit all household recycling centres except for Inverurie and Westhill without booking from Monday 8 January 2024.
A permit system for vans and trailers will be reintroduced across all household recycling centres in January to stop trade waste entering the sites.
The booking system at Aberdeenshire’s household recycling centres was first introduced as a traffic management tool and as a protective measure for customers and staff when centres opened after the covid lockdown in March 2020.
Between November 2022 and July of 2023, the council trialled various methods of access to its household recycling centres and evaluated the usage of the sites as well as the feedback provided by members of the public. The new arrangements, which come into effect on 8 January 2024, directly reflect the conclusions of the trial and the feedback provided.
The results of the trial were considered at Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee on Thursday 30 November 2023, where the decision was made to drop the booking system for cars at all sites from Monday 8 January 2024 with the exceptions of Inverurie and Westhill recycling centres where the booking system will remain.
Councillor Alan Turner, chair of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC), said: “Considering the feedback throughout the trial, this will be a popular result for the avid recyclers among us. Over the last year, I received several comments from Kincardine & Mearns residents, and I would like to say that I am particularly delighted about the new arrangements being introduced in the K&M area.
“Regardless of whether residents of Aberdeenshire need to book or not, I’d encourage everyone who wishes to visit a household recycling centre to continue to check the website for opening times. There are occasions where we must close a site at short notice and a quick visit to our web pages will save people a wasted trip in the few instances where we must make an unexpected closure.”
Councillor Isobel Davidson, ISC vice-chair, said: “It is a great result considering the popularity of the option in the feedback. We hope that Inverurie and Westhill residents will appreciate the reasoning behind the booking system remaining at their local household recycling centres.
“It was fascinating to see that, throughout the trial, people made fewer trips but with more deposited on each occasion. It would be good, in terms of climate change and reducing car journeys, if this habit were to continue.”
A benchmarking exercise carried out in September 2023 showed that within the 32 Scottish local authorities, 24 have a booking system in place at household recycling centres, either for all vehicles or for trade type vehicles only.
Since the introduction of the booking system, the council has seen a reduction in waste typically associated with trade going through household recycling centres and a 10% increase in trade waste contracts.
The booking system will now be used to implement the permit system that was approved by committee before covid. This permit system for the booking of vans and trailers, along with the limit of 24 visits per year, will be a control measure to keep trade waste out of household recycling centres while still allowing households with these vehicles to access the sites.
There was concern that the booking system led to increased fly tipping. However, it was reported at the Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 30 November, that the data shows there is no correlation between the way that customers access household recycling centres and fly tipping.
Household recycling centres are for household waste only. Businesses can sign up to a trade waste collection service or use the council’s business waste drop-off service.
Positive news around Reinforced Autoclave Aerated Concrete within Aberdeenshire Council estate
Investigations by both Aberdeenshire Council building surveyors and structural engineers continue to progress apace across both the schools estate and wider property portfolio through assessments, visual inspections and intrusive surveys.
What is RAAC?
RAAC is a lightweight prefabricated form of concrete used primarily in roof construction, commonly referred to as RAAC panels, which was used widely between the 1960s and 1980s typically on low rise buildings including schools and housing.
It typically had a lifespan of around 30 years and it was found to be particularly susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture when its aerated or ‘bubbly’ construction can allow water to enter the material.
Investigations undertaken
As a safeguard, the Council completed onsite investigations across the school estate where intrusive or high level surveys were required to establish construction and ascertain the presence of RAAC.
This was very much a precautionary measure where previous visual inspections were inconclusive and we are happy to report that there are no further instances of RAAC within the schools portfolio.
We can also confirm that there is no RAAC present in any of our care or respite homes, day centres, training centres, family resource centres or children’s homes. The wider condition survey programme is now turning to sheltered housing units, however an early desktop exercise has been undertaken on complexes with areas of flat roof and a review of recorded information, and on-site investigations, does not indicate the presence of RAAC.
A number of community centres were also captured within school condition survey activities with no issues identified, however an extension to one hall is also to be reviewed on site.
Similarly there are no issues with sports centres or pavilions, swimming pools, libraries or museums.
Remedial works at Mackie
Further intrusive surveys and remediation works have been undertaken to the previous identification of areas of RAAC installations at Mackie and Westhill academies.
Notwithstanding previous inspections, intrusive surveys were undertaken at Mackie Academy in the Learning Plaza and adjoining gyms back in September. As a result it was determined that there was a need for some remedial works to be undertaken to provide further support to cut RAAC panels within the Learning Plaza only. These have now been completed and Learning Plaza is back in operational use by the school.
The roof of the £1 million learning plaza before the remedial works
And after
Initial inspections of the Common Room, Music Room and Radio Station noted installation as being sound with no evidence of cracking or spalling, water ingress or defection between planks. However, further intrusive investigations were again undertaken during the October holidays with minor mitigation measures undertaken and all areas are now back in operation.
While our remediation and mitigation works at both Mackie and Westhill academies are now complete and classified as ‘low risk’, these installations and roof coverings will still be subject to routine inspections by our Property teams on a regular basis, particularly following any adverse or severe weather event.
Key to maintaining the integrity of the RAAC installations is ensuring that the panels are not affected by water ingress which severely impacts the structural integrity of the RAAC panels.
Aberdeenshire Council Leader Cllr Gillian Owen said: “I would like to thank all our teams from Property and Housing and our external structural engineers for their tremendous efforts in establishing the location and condition of any RAAC within our estate. It continues to be a major undertaking both in terms of desk-top surveys and on-site investigations which is being undertaken quickly and efficiently and I am sure it gives everyone great peace of mind.”
Deputy Leader Cllr Anne Stirling added: “The safety and wellbeing of our residents and customers is our over-riding priority and as a council we will continue to ensure we maintain due diligence to ensure our housing stock, care facilities, school buildings and leisure facilities are kept safe and well maintained.”
THE status of the chair of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee is in question following comments she made at their previous meeting – which Aberdeenshire Council lawyers deemed unsuitable and to be edited from the published recording.
Conservative Cllr Wendy Agnew reduced the November 21 meeting of the Area Committee to a state of consternation and disarray after persisting in a line of comment about a planning application in the face of repeated indications it was inappropriate.
In an unprecedented move, the recording of the meeting published online was edited and sent for review by the local authority’s legal service manager.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “Following a review of comments made following the conclusion of a planning item at November’s meeting of Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee, it has been decided not to reinstate the short section of video concerned to avoid potential offence to viewers.’’
The agenda for next week’s meeting has just been published. Item three on the agenda is: ”Notice of motion by Councillor Black – TO FOLLOW admissibility being considered.”
The Bellman understands the motion proposed is one of no confidence in the Kincardine and Mearns Committee chair and calling for a new chair to be appointed.
Councillor’s move follows unprecedented scenes
At the last meeting, councillors were considering a planning application for the change of use from recreational ground to form a five-stance private permanent caravan park site for Gypsy/Travellers, along with the erection of five sheds, kennels and associated works (Retrospective) at Findon Park, Hillside, Portlethen.
As the application has regional significance it will be determined by Full Council – following consultation with the Area Committee who were asked provide comments / confirm their support.
There was a full discussion of the planning matters relevant or to the application – and clarification of concerns which were not relevant. During councillors’ debate, Cllr Agnew noted the retrospective element of the application saying this gave her ‘alarm bells’. And she voiced concerns about the possibility of additional vans being put on the site.
”It is a very big area for five. They’ll maybe be taking in travelling people,” she said.
To crystallise the will of the committee, a vote was taken, with the majority of councillors supporting the recommendation. The public recording ends at this point.
Chair refuses to accept advice
For those present at the public meeting, the matter did not conclude. Mrs Agnew, who had voted to oppose the proposals, asked for confirmation that her comments about the retrospective aspect of the application were noted – and suggested it was time for a break.
But Committe vice-chair Cllr Sarah Dickinson interceded.
She said: ”I wanted to ask if that is actually appropriate bearing in mind that we see retrospective planning applications quite frequently and that we are advised that they have to be treated as if they are new applications.”
Mrs Dickinson added the application should be treated equally.
Mrs Agnew refused to back down, restating her concerns.
She said: ”I don’t want it refuted. If they’re ignoring this they may ignore other things and let travellers in.”
This was received with clear dismay around the table. Area manager Tim Stephen called for legal and planning officer advice – both confirmed the retrospective nature of the application was irrelevant.
Despite this Mrs Agnew remained unwilling to change her stance.
Councillors rebuke chair
Mrs Dickinson distanced herself from the chair. She said: ”I have expressed my reservations.”
And she found echoing support from Cllr Dawn Black who also reminded Mrs Agnew the committee had agreed an equality statement – and, making clear reference to the Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Equality Act), she reminded Mrs Agnew that Gypsy/Travellers had protected characteristics.
”It is not acceptable to suddenly make comments about retrospective applications and refer to the people as ‘they’,” she said.
”You are clearly speaking about Gypsy/Travellers who have protected characteristics. It is not acceptable to be putting forward these views in this forum.”
What followed was very uncomfortable for all present. Mrs Agnew continued with determined efforts to have her comments on the record despite intervetions, including one by Mr Stephen. Councillors were seen shaking their heads or even holding them in their hands in apparent despair. Others just looked down as if unable to witness the unedifying spectacle.
The committee’s only independent representative, Cllr Alison Evison, finally steered the matter to a conclusion.
She said: ”We have reached a majority view and the reasons being put forward in that decision. That is what we’ve come to conclude as a committee and that is the view we need to put forward to full council.
”Anything else is an idividual, a minority view and therefore does not apply to all of us – and that is why a vote was important.”
Mearns councillor Kevin Stelfox voiced his support for Ms Evison’s conclusion.
At this point, finally, Mrs Agnew allowed the matter to conclude – and broke the meeting for a much-needed break.
The grant scheme has been made as simple and fair as possible for people to apply to, and to give councils discretion so they can help as many people and businesses as possible.
Flat rate grants of £1,500 are available to people whose primary residence was flooded. Businesses, charities and community groups which cannot operate – or which sustained significant damage and can only carry out limited work due to flooding – will be able to claim £3,000.
Grants provide financial support to all who meet the criteria, irrespective of whether they are council tenants, housing association, private renting or homeowners. Grants are available for both insured or uninsured properties. Residential properties which only suffered flooding of the garden – or second homes – will not be eligible to apply.
Aberdeenshire Council Leader Cllr Gillian Owen said: “Communities across the region were impacted to varying degrees by flooding during Storm Babet and it’s important that residents get their applications in as soon as possible so we can assess them against the Scottish Government’s criteria and make payments where appropriate.”
Depute Leader Cllr Anne Stirling added: “We saw only too well how households and some businesses suffered during the flooding – particularly in and around Marykirk – and this support grant funding will go some way towards helping them during this challenging time.”
Announcing the scheme, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Màiri McAllan said: “There is no doubt that people, businesses and communities in the worst affected areas are still suffering hugely. Many are worried about what the immediate future holds, and we acknowledge that for many the festive season is going to be challenging.
“This grants scheme recognises this. I want to re-assure those affected that the Scottish Government will play our part in helping people and businesses through this horrible experience which has destroyed property and belongings.”
Twenty-One Local Groups Benefit from Wind Farm Community Fund Last month, funding worth a total of £36,599.30 was awarded to a range of local groups and projects in the area of benefit of the Meikle Carewe Wind Farm Community Fund. RES, a leading independent renewable energy company, operates the Meikle Carewe Windfarm Community Benefit Fund to support local groups and projects. Funding is available for the benefit of not-for-profit groups and organisations in the Community Council areas of Crathes, Drumoak & Durris, Newtonhill, Muchalls & Cammachmore, North Kincardine Rural, Portlethen & District and Stonehaven & District. Administered by Kincardineshire Development Partnership (KDP), applications to the fund are assessed by a Decision-Making Panel made up of representatives from all five Community Council areas. The fund is available annually for the lifetime of the wind farm. Successful applicants this round were: Crathes Public Hall Trust – £3000; Drumoak Durris Warm Space – £1500; Drumoak & Durris Playgroup – £781.98; Drumoak School Council – £2500; Drumotters Swimming Club – £1100; Muchalls Village Association – £3000; Newtonhill Out of School Club – £1500; Lairhillock Parent Council – £294; Lethen Archers – £1590; 1st Portlethen Scouts – £2500; Stonehaven & District Horticultural Society – £956; Cowie Junior Netball Club – £1600; Stonehaven Fireballs Association – £839.84; Exercise After Stroke – £1113.48; Stonehaven Horizon Project – £1870; Maryculter Driving for the Disabled – £2000; K&M Youth Clubs – £574; Portlethen & District Voluntary Community Ambulance – £5000; The Larder & Covid Support Group – £2000; Stonehaven Amateur Swimming Club – £1500 and Kilwhang Ringers – £1380. For more information please visit, www.kdp.scot or contact the KDP office on 07903 156864 and margo@kdp.scot
A CHARITY picking up much of the ‘slack’ after the closure of Stonehaven’s Invercarron Resource Centre by providing social activities and support to our older residents is looking for a big vote of support to help it win much needed funding –
We – Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network – are delighted to be chosen as one of the final charities in round three of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
It means we have a chance of getting up to £48,779 of funding!
BUT we need YOUR help. The “Participatory Budgeting” public vote to decides which charities get the money is online – meaning that many of our clients, who are digitally excluded, will be unable to vote for the very services that support them.
Will you help ‘level the playing field’ by sharing this post, voting for us, and encouraging colleagues, friends, and family to do the same – helping to give a voice to older people who are excluded?
The process is quick and easy, all you need is an Aberdeenshire postcode and a few minutes to read about all the great charities– just click the link below and choose your five charities – we’d LOVE if one of your votes is for us!
Firstly, thank you people of Stonehaven! We had a fantastic turn out on the 5th November for this year’s Bonfire and Fireworks Display at Minerallwell Park.
We raised over £10,000 and want you to know that this money will go back into the community and help towards future events. So please reach out to us if your community group has a cause we can contribute towards.
We are now into December, which is the month we spend supporting Santa as he travels around Stonehaven on his sleigh, blasting out festive bangers along the way! Check out our Facebook page for where you might see him this year. This month, we’ve also been busy supporting all the school fairs providing our signature popcorn and candyfloss!
As we approach the end of the year, we want to share our appreciation for the volunteers and the generous companies who give up their time and resources to help make these events happen. Thank you!
If you’d like to join the Roundtable, we’d be delighted to have you along. The group is open to males aged 18-45 years old. We aim to balance volunteering in our community with member social activities. In the last few months, we’ve been Quoiting, visited Fettercairn Distillery, enjoyed Chinese, Indian and Thai food, explored Montrose at night and we’ve stayed plenty hydrated too!
On behalf of the Stonehaven and District Roundtable, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year when it comes!
The Community Grants Programme supports local charities and community organisations across the Grampian region to develop projects which improve access to health provision, enhance healthcare experiences, and empower individuals to better manage their own health. Applications which are community based and initiatives which seek to address health inequalities are particularly welcome. The programme is also interested in supporting research which focuses on health inequalities, self-management, prevention and early intervention. For more information and to apply visit the website.
Connecting with Communities is a mobile food service that operates to help rural communities across Aberdeenshire access affordable and healthy goods at a low cost. It is a service that has been developed in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. When residents visit the Connecting with Communities van, they have the opportunity to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, and other healthy goods at affordable prices. For more information and the locations that they visit please click here.
The Fore Trust offers development funding and strategic support to early-stage charities and social enterprises. It makes unrestricted grants which have the potential to have a transformational impact on an organisation. For example enabling your organisation to take a step forward in its development or giving you the chance to do something you couldn’t before. It will also match successful applicants with friendly professional support including ongoing mentoring, strategic advice, governance support or other assistance. Registration Wednesday 6th to 13th December 2023. For more information and to apply click here.
The £150m Community Ownership Fund (COF) exists to help communities across the UK to take ownership of assets at risk of closure. A community asset or space means buildings or land which are used for the well-being or social interest of the local community. These include green spaces, libraries, cultural spaces, leisure facilities, community centres, pubs and more. Community ownership gives local people control over the buildings and spaces that have significance to them and that these spaces are used in ways that meet the priorities and needs of the local community. My Community is providing a Scottish based webinar on 5th December, on how to write a strong application and putting together your management case. They will bring together top tips plus insight from successful applications including hearing from groups that have received funding. Learn more on the website or register here for the webinar.
Nourish Scotland is looking for 10-12 pantry members or those using foodbanks in Aberdeenshire, to join discussion groups or individual conversations to share their realities of accessing food through pantries or food banks. More information can be found in this flyer. Participants will be paid for their time and reimbursed for any extra expenses. To find out more about how to get involved email Irina at irina@nourishscotland.org.uk or call: 07726926232.
SCVO has produced a Village and Community Hall Handbook for everyone running a village or community hall in Scotland. From governance and facilities management to net zero and digital, they will guide you through what you need to know. Village halls are often the heart of the community. They are places for people to gather, learn, access services and have fun. Making sure they are well run and maintained is an important but not always easy role, often fulfilled by committed volunteers and workers. Explore the various subjects here.
National Lottery Awards for All offers funding to support what matters to people and communities. The programme is a partnership between the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, sportscotland and Creative Scotland. It can fund projects that’ll do at least one of these things:
bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Funding for community-led projects: from £300 to £20,000 and can support your project for up to 2 years. Funding for arts and sports projects: from £300 to £10,000 and can support your project for up to 12 months. Run in partnership with sportscotland and Creative Scotland. Visit the website for more information.
Live Life Aberdeenshire offers a package of support, highlighting the many free services available to people and families across Aberdeenshire, to help save money and support health and well-being. Through Live Life Essentials, people can access, for free, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eNewspapers, eMagazines, Wi-Fi, mobile device charging, showers in leisure venues and use computers to access the internet, send emails, create word documents, etc. An essentials membership is required to access the services, but it costs nothing and can be found at the below link. For more information and to sign up please click here.
The Hugh Fraser Foundation makes donations to registered charities which are active in such sectors as the arts and culture, medical & health, the environment and education, care and support of the young and elderly, people with disabilities and the under-privileged. So long as the object is charitable, the Trustees will consider any application from a registered charity. The Trustees’ policy is to focus on applications relating to activities and projects in Scotland, particularly those parts of Scotland where the local economy and/or circumstances make fund-raising for charitable purposes difficult. The next closing date is Friday 2nd February 2024. For more information on the application process, click here.
The work of Scotland’s voluntary sector changes people’s lives for the better, brings communities together, improves policy and contributes to the economy.
EssentialSector is a campaign to show the impact of this #Essential work and to act as a reminder that what we do, and the benefits we bring, are constantly at risk if we do not have the support and funding we need to thrive and survive.
Back in May 2023, 10 voluntary organisations were selected to showcase their work in short films. These are just 10 of 46,500 voluntary organisations in Scotland. The films feature real people, telling their stories in their own words and paint and inspiring and raw picture of the value and impact of our sector. The films show the challenges the sector faces, as well as its many achievements. Watch these inspiring stories here.
KDP is here to help in any way we can. Please get in touch if we can assist you or your Community group.
The £130,000 project will install new safety barriers at either side of the carriageway at a section of the A92 which passes below the A90 at Glaslaw Interchange in order to protect both the structure and road users.
To ensure the safety of roadworkers and motorists the essential maintenance will be carried out using two-way temporary traffic lights.
A temporary safety barrier will be in place in the centre of the carriageway, extending roughly 45 metres in either direction of the structure. The two-way temporary traffic lights will be in operation at each end of the barrier.
The temporary traffic lights may be manually controlled during peak times to ensure there is no build up of traffic on the A90 off slip.
The safety improvements, which Amey is undertaking on behalf of Transport Scotland, will benefit more than 4,000 vehicles who use this route each day.
Please note, all schemes are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not favourable.
A free Road Work Alerts service is available from our website. An email address is all that is required to sign up for the service.
Real-time journey information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org or via Twitter: @TrafficScotland.
For media enquires please contact Amey’s press office on 01865 713240 or by email: press.office@amey.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter @NETrunkRoads.
Please note that due to SSE to provide service to a property it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to apply the following restriction to traffic Road Closure Macdonald Road From No.16 until Burns Terrace Stonehaven For 5 Days commencing on Monday 18th December 2023 Diversion via – Burns Terrace – Brickfield Road – Thomson Terrace – Macdonald Road and vice versa. Should you have any queries please contact john.fox@albatraffic.co.uk
Please note that due to Aberdeenshire Council carrying out drainage investigations it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to apply the following restriction to traffic Road Closure Belmont Brae Between Ann Street and David Street Stonehaven For 2 hours commencing at 10am on Wednesday 06th December 2023 Diversion via – David Street – Barclay Street – Rodney Street – Ann Street and vice versa Should you have any queries please contact kincardineandmearns.roads@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Please note that due to Scottish Water Works it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to apply the following restriction to traffic Prohibition of Waiting Cameron Street, Stonehaven From Ann Street Junction to Barclay Street Junction – North Side only For 5 days commencing on Tuesday 05th December 2023 Should you have any queries please contact Liam.ross@contraflow.co.uk
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