Minute of the meeting held on Monday 15 April 2006 at Maryculter Community Hall.

    

    PRESENT

Maryculter

Cookney / Netherley

Banchory-Devenick    

Aberdeenshire

Councillors

Bill Fraser

Avril Tulloch

Jill Greenlees

Rob Winmill

(Vice Chairman)

Robert Keeler (Secretary)    Bob McKinney

Duncan Petrie

Mike Birch

 

Michael Sullivan

(Stonehaven North & Fetteresso)

Sandy Wallace

(Lower Deeside)

                                                                                                                                                      

5 Members of the Public          

 

APOLOGIES – Philip Smart (Chairman), Raymond Cowan (Treasurer) – Absent Kevin Park.

MINUTES of the meeting of 20 March were approved, subject to removal of Sally’s statement regarding SEPA which was misquoted in that the farm had never been fined. Also Rob mentioned that a correction of the ‘retention of records’ retained for only  5 years, except e.g. for controversial developments.

 

 

MATTERS ARISING

New Lairhillock School – In response to our letter the Council confirmed that electronic signs would be installed outside the new school and that a part time 20mph speed limit would be in place. The school junction and stacking lane would be lit.

Web site – Nothing to report.

Roads – Robert instructed to write again regarding Banchory-Devenick crossroads sign, potholes and a bump at Skinners farm Maryculter. Agreed to add in this letter query about whether new school entrance would only be lit whilst occupied. All night lights NOT required.

Western Peripheral Route – Robert attended an NFU meeting  at Cookney where Cliff Buchan gave his views. The discussion was regarding drilling teams being allowed onto land,(Bill reminded us that http://www.campaignon.com/milltimber (Site visits - safety documentation) states what should be demanded of teams entering private land.) The compensation paid for rented land would only be 75% of owner occupied land. CB stated that a traffic survey indicated 44,000 vehicles a day used the A90 and that the ‘fast link’ would take 14,000 vehicles from this total. It is still intended to be single carriageway with passing lanes..

Bill said that 4 engineers had examined the plan and found the cost/benefit justification to be nonsense as the claimed cost benefit ratio for the twin road was the same as for the single Murtle route. He also said that misinformation and selective facts out of context were being fed out all the time. Hansard – had a statement from a minister that dual carriageways cost £18 million per mile, Hansard also showed that average increase in cost of such projects from start to finish was 45%. The two facts combined indicated that final AWPR costs would greatly exceed that stated. Sandy commented that as a Councillor colleague had been suspended for questioning the competence of an official, and wondered if he might also be suspended for his views on the AWPR. He will take advice from the legal section. Bill mentioned that A90 ‘pinch points’ should be improved rather than another road. Environmental concerns do not make any difference.

There is a new MSP as Richard Lockhead had resigned to fight the Moray by-election. Sandy suggested Roadsense brief her. Mike asked what were we going to do.

It was agreed that we should write a letter  to all MSPs commenting on costs, misleading information and the arrogant attitude of the various bodies involved. Bill and Mike will email Robert with information, and suggested line of argument. Mike said we had two targets, local politicians and then all MSPs. Bill felt that MEPs will be concerned on the environmental issue. Mike queried if we should write to the P&J, but it was felt that we should leave that to Roadsense. George commented that no-one knows the cost, no surveys have been done, we don’t know where the road will go and yet a cost/benefit figure has miraculously been produced.

 

South Deeside View – Hazel thanked all contributors.

1.                  PLANNING

ALP – Nothing to report.

Blairs – Nothing to report

 

FINANCE

200 Club – As the Treasure was unable to attend this evening a double draw would be held in May. Duncan asked if the previous months prizes had been sent out yet, Robert stated that they had been sent very recently.

A request for funds from Albyn House had been received. It was agreed that £20 should be donated despite not being a local cause after a explanation of the charity’s work by Sandy. It is intended as a pump-primer and generally felt worthy.

4.            CORRESPONDENCE

 

5.                  AOCB

New Cemetery and Car Park Banchory-Devenick Church, Duncan asked what progress was being made, there is a problem with access to the South Deeside road but matters should be resolved shortly.

PLANT SALE  - To be relaunched by Hazel and held at 6:30pm on 15th May. Contributions needed. Helpers wanted.

 

 

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

                            15 May 2006  at 7:30pm 

                        19  June 2005 at 7:00pm – AGM 7.30pm

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