District News
ON 5th JANUARY, a moment's inattention on the third step from the bottom of my stairs left me flat on my back with a broken hip. There followed a week in hospital, after which I was sent home to spend a further 7 weeks on elbow crutches, while not being allowed to drive. The nuisance value of all this has been considerable, but I have been able to get into meetings in Aberdeen City Council much as usual. It is healing well. My first out-patients' appointment is on March 2nd, after which I hope to be more mobile. Meanwhile, please phone me if you need help with Council matters, on 733433 at home, or on 522356 in my Council office.
In the near future, the public consultation on possible routes for the Western Peripheral Route (WPR) will start. We will be offered four or five options. One of these will be west of Culter. This is, however, not practicable because it would not fulfil one of the main functions of the WPR, which is to act as a distributor road between different parts of Aberdeen. For that, the road needs to be closer in. There is no easy, obvious route. Whichever route is finally chosen, it will inconvenience some sector of the city.
The Planning for Real exercise in Culter went very well, and I was delighted to see the excellent turnout. All the comments and ideas are now being collated, and will form a wishlist for our community. As many ideas as possible will be taken forward and acted on, where budgets allow.
A Police exercise has found that the average speed down Malcolm Road is well above 30mph, which will not come as a surprise to any of us. I hope the Police will now pay it more attention. We will have to wait for the WPR before we get major relief there, however. When the WPR is built, we will be able to demand a weight limit on Malcolm Road, forcing the lorries on to the new route. I welcome the 20mph signs around the school, which should make it safer for our children to get to and from school.
I will be putting a big chunk of my ward budget towards the proposed skateboard facility and hard-court area on the Culter School pitch. This will be available for the school during the day; and to all comers in the evenings and weekends. The original suggestion for youth diversion, in the form of a youth shelter, has been taken out of the proposals for that site. It was felt that a shelter for older youths should not be adjacent to facilities for younger children.
Fencing and improved signage are in the pipeline for Oriel Terrace, St. Peter's Terrace and St. Mary's Place. The question of upgrading roads in The Bush and "the avenue" off Malcolm Road is under consideration, and residents' opinions have been sought.
By the time you read this, the days will be longer and the first signs of spring maybe in the air. Here's looking forward to it!
Pam MacDonald