Minute of the meeting held on Monday 17th February at 7.30pm in Maryculter Community Hall.
|
Maryculter |
Netherley |
Banchory-Devenick |
Aberdeenshire Councillors |
Bill Fraser Philip Smart - Chairman Mike Birch Sandy Wallace
Avril Tulloch Rob Winmill – Vice Chairman Kate Kleppang (Lower Deeside)
Raymond Cowan - Treasurer Robert Keeler - Secretary
21 Members of the Public
Alan Bisset has resigned as a councillor. It was unanimously agreed to write thanking him for his valued advice and contribution to our community.
APOLOGIES – Carl Nelson (Who will be attending in place of Alan Bisset). Absent - Kevin Park
MINUTES of the meeting of 20th January were approved.
1. MATTERS ARISING
Rural Schools Closure – Thanks were given to Hamish Vernal for his attendance. It was noted that we had distributed a leaflet encouraging residents to return Aberdeenshire Questionnaires and (also as requested by Aberdeenshire) inviting people to hear Mr Vernal, setting out the process for anyone who had not received a questionnaire, and encouraging input to the school specification committee. We had also set out a number of facts relating to the consultation to date, Aberdeenshire’s position and an update on the housing situation. One had been returned anonymously to the secretary in pieces. Other groups had distributed various leaflets in various parts of the area. The Community Council had received a questionnaire for completion. After discussion and a vote it was felt that we should not complete the questionnaire but instead we would write to the Education Committee re-iterating our views as previously expressed and updated with matters of concern raised at our meetings. It would seem that one of the main concerns of Maryculter residents was still the retention of Cults Academy as the secondary school.
Web site – As agreed we now show the address on our correspondence Minutes etc.
Roads – Sandy commented on his meeting with the Roads Dept to discuss a report on the B979 which had looked at two solutions,
1) straightening out corners but not whilst the Western Peripheral Route is still on the cards.
2) More red road surfacing, interactive cats eyes, signs and possibly improving the crossroads just before the South Deeside Road.
Philip had also met the Roads Dept and added that it was now acknowledged that new road signs could indicate amongst other things the 40mph limit for HGVs. We had been told that there will be no double white lines as the road is not wide enough along its whole length. It was evident that very many accidents still did not appear on the council’s statistics even some of those attended by the police, we need to encourage residents to report incidents including via our Website. It was very strongly felt that the council had not addressed the issue of calming the HGV and high speed traffic and felt that in describing an objective of increasing overtaking opportunities they were entirely missing the points made so far. Reduced speed limits are still being investigated. Philip confirmed that all these issues had already been raised again with the Council at the last meeting.
2. PLANNING
Area Local Plan – Sandy mentioned that the proposal for a development at Hillside Portlethen would encroach into our area, though basically forming part of the Portlethen urban area. The fact that Netherley was not now proposed in ALP as an RSC was also raised by one member of the public who said that the envelope was proposed in the draft ALP but removed as a result of an objection from a developer with an interest in a rival site (which was itself rejected). It was agreed that before addressing any possible reinstatement of the Netherley envelope, the views of the 5 householders immediately adjacent would be sought. Rob confirmed that the Community Council had always preferred sporadic development across the area rather than a large number of houses in one place. Sandy confirmed that there would be no housing development at the new school site at least until 2011, even if the school were to be built.
Westerton – Letter written in support of Bill Buchan’s planning application.
Golf Driving Range – A letter has been written to the Council expressing our concern about the Right of Way following from approval of the application and by the statements made by the Councils Legal department including a reminder to the Council that they have a Statutory Duty to protect Rights of Way.
Westside -Maryculter– Nothing further.
Blairs – Nothing further
3. FINANCE
Funding Applications – no new applications had been received
200 Club Draw – 227 tickets had been sold. Additional £15 prizes would be drawn in the January, April, September and November. January - £5 no. 103 E Kleppang, £10 no.31 H Thompson and £15 no. 292 A-M Rappach. February - £5 no. 235 D Parkinson, £10 no.141 R Winmill and £25 no. 64 R McBride.
4. CORRESPONDENCE
Police report: No Police report and nothing reported in our area from the weekly report. Concern had been expressed that with the A90 roadworks had increased traffic and reduced driving standards on the B979, Portlethen/Durris and South Deeside Roads. Agreed that a letter should be written requesting that additional police patrols be put in place during the period of road works on the A90.
Mr Scott announced that St Mary’s Church Blairs had raised £650,000 for renovation £400,000 from Lottery Heritage Fund and £200,000 from Scottish Heritage and he thanked the Community Council for writing in support. He also said that if anyone was thinking of applying for Lottery Funding he would offer his help.
Community Council Vacancies – Jill Greenlees was co-opted onto the council as a Maryculter representative.
17 March 2003 at 7:30pm
21 April 2003 at 7:30pm
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