Minute of the meeting held on Monday 21 August 2006 at Maryculter Community Hall.

    PRESENT

Maryculter	Cookney / Netherley	Banchory-Devenick	Aberdeenshire Councillors
Bill Fraser Avril Tulloch Kevin Park	Rob Winmill (Vice Chairman) Robert Keeler (Secretary)	Mike Birch(Chairman) Duncan Petrie Keith Johnston	Michael Sullivan (Stonehaven North & Fetteresso) Sandy Wallace (Lower Deeside).

18 Members of the Public        

APOLOGIES – Philip Smart, Bob McKinney 

The Chairman welcomed Keith Johnston our new Community Councillor for Banchory-Devenick

Jill Greenlees had tendered her resignation. We now have two vacancies for Maryculter and a vacancy for the position of Secretary. Robert agreed to continue as Secretary and Treasurer until a replacement can be found.

Police Report PC Cook from Portlethen Office gave a report of incidents in our area. There were two cases of drink driving and a number of lesser offences. A theft of tools had been reported and the tools were later recovered. Two thefts of diesel from farms were reported. Also considerable damage to trees had been discovered enquiries to trace culprits are ongoing.. Duncan raised the problem of the speed of traffic through Banchory crossroads, and would it be possible for there to be a police presence occasionally. PC Cook thought not, Rob thought that traffic division should attend and Sally reiterated this concern having lost several wing mirrors. PC Cook suggested that registration numbers should be taken and sent to the Police.

MINUTES of the meeting of 19 June were approved.

1.             MATTERS ARISING

New Lairhillock School – Nothing further to report, Avril will contact Thelma Birnie. Mark Skilling – Roads – has confirmed that lighting in the vicinity of the school would need to be on all the time the school was occupied in hours of darkness.

Web site – The South Deeside View subscription form is now available, to enable people to opt out of receiving a paper copy and either request an email version or just read on our website. There is also a link to the positions of NE speed cameras.

Roads – Banchory-Devenick crossroads still a problem also verges overgrown cutting down visibility. Kevin confirmed that the list of roads in our area due to be dressed/patched is now on our website. Edge of B979 carriageway still very bad North of Burnhead Junction.

Western Peripheral Route -

Mike reported on latest meeting with WPR team. Cliff Buchan had stated that he expected that fewer residents would be affected by the new proposed route but there remains a lack of clarity about what is meant by the term ‘affected by the road’. Programme still for Line orders December 2006, Public Inquiry Winter 2007/08, completion by 2011. Only planning applications within 350 metres will be called in. Houses to be demolished should now be fewer than 19 previously advised. Compensation – see AWPR Website. Mr Buchan is still hesitant about attending one of our meetings. He will be asked later in the year which should be more fruitful. There will possibly be a continuous three to four month objection period to encompass both North and South routes. Sandy Wallace asked that the statement made by Mr Buchan that “it is zero to do with a development corridor” should be confirmed. It was agreed that a copy of the Minutes of the WPR Team meeting be sent to Mr Buchan for his endorsement. There is a suggestion that there could be traffic lights at some junctions, and Cliff Buchan would not deny this. Sandy Wallace was not pleased that as a local councillor he had not been informed of this possibility by the AWPR team. Cliff Buchan had stated that Neil and Doug Stewart were “happier” with new Charleston layout. Sally disagreed!

South Deeside View – Next issue September. Copy of Police report given to Hazel for inclusion, Mike and Rob would send contributions for NKRCC.

2.         PLANNING

ALP – Now adopted by the Council. Agreed that if Community Councils do not get a free copy, we would buy one. Rob to enquire.

Blairs – Nothing to report

Development at Borrowfield – includes Business use. Sandy said he knew of instances where this is used purely as a development tool. Both Rob and Sandy felt this loophole was absolute nonsense, in view of the very low take-up of the business spaces so far built.

Rupert Lumsden queried the use of Mill Cottage Leggatt Terrace being used as a Taxi business. It was stated that the occupant was an accountant who had a considerable number of Taxi driver clients.

15 Affordable Houses Westside Maryculter - Rob gave the previous history of this site:- permission had been granted in 2002 for two houses(a third was refused) – Then 10 were applied for but refused(confirmed at appeal in 2003). The same applicant then put forward  50, of which 25 were to be affordable, as a proposal to the Public Inquiry into the Local Plan. Council accepted the Reporters rejection of it.

 One reason for rejection of 10 houses was given as traffic onto busy road, as well as contrary to policy.

New access suggested opposite “Organic Farm” even more dangerous. As the application came in during holidays a preliminary objection was submitted after consultation.

Discussion :- Bill commented that both the Community Council and the planners should be consistent in their views. A member of the public commented that the applicant had used a development at Kintore of 82 houses as being similar and creating a precedent for ‘affordable housing’. Situation is entirely different as there are no pavements, facilities or employment possibilities in Maryculter whereas Kintore development is on the edge of town. Another comment was that the owner of most of the land had not been named or informed.

Rob stated that there were three joint applicants including Aberdeenshire Council. It was confirmed that it is the land that holds the permission if granted not the applicant. Commented that AHP has paid £5,500 of public money for planning permission on land it does not own? Sandy said that although AHP was set up by the Aberdeenshire Council it is now independent of the Council as a non profit making charity. AHP had suggested attending our meeting but it was felt that Mike and Rob should meet them.

Proposed and agreed that we confirm and amplify our holding objection to the 15 Houses. Rob agreed to prepare letter.

3.         FINANCE

Rev Bruce Gardner had sent a round robin request for funds to install a stairlift at Banchory-Devenick church hall – a total of £3,000 was required. Deferred to next meeting.

200 Club –.

Prizes              July                                         August

£5        6      J Townsend          £5        46        M Morrison

£10      276  H Wadih              £10      274      B Thomson

£15      163 D Ripley                £25      316      C Morrison

4. CORRESPONDENCE

5. AOCB

New Cemetery and Car Park Banchory-Devenick Church, Duncan asked what was holding up proceedings. A member of the public stated that it was in the hands of lawyers for completion.

New York Marathon – Sandy Wallace hopes to raise £8,000 by running the New York Marathon later this year. Please give generously.

Mike Birch will be absent from next two meetings – Rob will chair the meetings

We need two more members for Maryculter please ask around – co-option possible

Mike asked whether we should do more for the community rather than concentrating solely on planning matters. Urged all to bring ideas.

Sally mentioned a Roadsense Ceilidh at Kippie Lodge on 2 September tickets£15

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

18 September 2006 at 7:30pm

16 October 2006 at 7:30pm

Visit our Website – www.NKRCC.org.uk