Minute of the meeting held on Monday 21 March 2005 at Maryculter Community Hall.
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Maryculter |
Cookney / Netherley |
Banchory-Devenick |
Aberdeenshire Councillors |
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Avril Tulloch Raymond Cowan (Treasurer) Bill Fraser
Kevin Park
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Philip Smart (Chairman) Rob Winmill (Vice Chairman) Robert Keeler (Secretary) Bob McKinney
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Duncan Petrie Mike Birch |
Sandy Wallace (Lower Deeside)
Michael Sullivan (Stonehaven North & Fetteresso) |
6 Members of the Public
Inspector Jim Gordon - Grampian Police. He has recently joined our area and reported that there was a breakin reported today at a property close to the B979. There had been several road accidents. He was pleased to report that 3 new officers were joining the area together with a Community beat officer at Portlethen and one in the Mearns.We expressed our concerns at the speed of HGV’s on the Netherley Road and the lack of visible enforcement action, he agreed to take it up with traffic division.
APOLOGIES – Jill Greenlees. Absent Kate Kleppang.
MINUTES of the meeting of 21 February were approved.
1. MATTERS ARISING
New Lairhillock School – The council had reported that the sale of land was in the hands of the vendors solicitor. The consultation group(School Board etc) is to be re-convened
Banchory-Devenick school – Parents had unanimously rejected a merger with Portlethen Primary school as the rational for a merger given by Aberdeenshire eg: limited outdoor teaching space were not seen as a serious drawbacks. The accuracy of the roll projections and the amount of housing development accounted for were questioned. We will continue to liase with Banchory-Devenick school board.
Web site – Current planning applications were now on the site, with links to Aberdeenshire Council website for all details of applications including plans, this was generally welcomed as was its ease of use.Rob asked Kevin to write an article for the next South Deeside View to publicise this more widely.
Roads – It was reported that motorists were speeding at Maryculter school. The new 20mph signs would eventually be introduced throughout the area, Sandy would attempt to get Maryculter and Banchory-Devenick schools at the top of the list.
Western Peripheral Route – We had received notification on March 21 of exhibitions commencing on March 10, showing all 5 alternative routes in our area. The Chairman asked if any of those householders involved had been notified. Only those on the ‘preferred route’ had received any information direct from the project team. Members of the public commented on the lack of information when questions were asked of officials at the local exhibition as well as the poor accessibility of parts of the presentation. Some felt that the whole process of public consultation was a sham and that the 4 latest alternative Dee crossings were merely window dressing however it was also noted that the campaign against the preferred route was allocated space at the public exhibitions with official sanction and those expressing concern about other routes were being told “not to worry” factors they felt would obviously sway public response. No satisfactory answers were offered as to how comments were to be assessed (quality or quantity) and how they would influence any decisions. It was agreed to write to Nicol Stephen regarding this unsatisfactory position. The Chairman stressed that despite the misgivings it was important that NKRCC should be engaged in the process and collate all of our thoughts and concerns. Rob felt that trying to define local residents views would be very difficult and the conduct of a ‘referendum’ of all our residents virtually impossible. After much discussion it was decided we would not hold a separate public meeting.
We would summarise the impact of each route within our community and write to Scottish Executive with our views including the fact that we believe the whole process of public consultation to be very unsatisfactory. Also agreed that all local residents should be encouraged to inform themselves about the alternatives and send their views to the Scottish Executive including those who believe ‘none of the 5’ to be the best alternative.
South Deeside View – Rob reported that financing had been obtained to guarantee 4 issues. Robert reported that the Council were not able to fund newsletters.
2. PLANNING
ALP - Public Inquiry – Nothing to report.
Maryculter Organic Farm – Rob has drafted a letter of objection to application for a permanent house on the site, highlighting the conditions attached to the previous permission and the very low level of agricultural activity at the site.
Golf Academy Haugh of Ardoe – Our letter was to late to be considered – permission has now been granted for the 9th hole.
Blairs – Nothing to report.
Note: all planning applications, (including actual plans) can now be viewed on or website.
3. FINANCE
A request had been received from Netherley School to assist in funding a digital projector. It was agreed to donate £200.
200 Club – Ticket sales of 248 meant that we are able to offer 8 additonal £15 prizes.
Prizes January February March
£5 137 C Park 284 J Fowler 263 I Ewens
£10 221 D Petrie 76 P Birch 113 L Johnston
£15 297 l Skene 309 G Muirison
£25 274 T Hawkins £50 1 H Mcpherson
4. CORRESPONDENCE
Notice Board at Hall – Bob reported that he had sourced boards at prices from £380 to £700 which he would put to the Hall committee on 18 April.
Kincardine & Mearns Community Council Forum. 24 February 2005
Presentation by Steve Scott of Scottish Water on how good they have been to combine three old authorities save money and improve water and sewage treatment without using extra funds, except from users. It will be illegal to discharge sewage into water courses from 2006. Scottish Water has higher costs than those in southeast England with only 50 users per kilometer of pipeline as against over 900 in SE England.
There is concern that housing development will be held up due to lack of sewage facilities.
Community Planning – Short discussion on this with pamphlets handed round for distribution. The Scottish Executive want to use community Planning to get their national ideas across.
18 April 2005 at 7:30pm
16 May 2005 at 7:30pm
Visit our Website – www.NKRCC.org.uk