DISTRICT NEWS
I ENDED my last newsletter in the Courier by hoping for a lovely summer. That wish has been amply fulfilled.
Unfortunately, flowers and sunbathers are not all that the fine weather has brought out. Also enjoying the fine weather is a group of anti-social young people. We all see the litter that they leave along the main road, along the river bank, along various paths and wherever they congregate:
they do this even when there are litter bins within a few yards. Unfortunately, leaving litter is not all they have been up to.
There has been serious vandalism, abusive behaviour and some nasty cases of unprovoked assault. Only one of these has led to a charge being laid against one of them (from evidence given by me) because of lack of witnesses or of intimidation. We have been in touch with Police at a senior level to ask for more Police presence. I appeal to all of you to help us combat this new phenomenon in what used to be a nice village. Can you identify those who are buying drink for them, or selling it to them? Can you identify those who are leaving litter? If your son or daughter associates with this group, can you get them to keep clear, before they get into serious trouble? If they continue to hang out with the group, can you at least send them out with black bags to put their litter in? Unless we as a community resist, they will change the whole character of Culter for the worse.
The new administration in the Council has been getting down to work with great enthusiasm. There is a buzz about the Town House. I am enjoying my role as Convener of Education and Leisure and working hard at it. Before the end of term, I visited as many schools as we could fit
in. Sports and arts venues have
not been forgotten either. I’ve been to events at several venues, as well as
hosting some civic receptions. I’ve been shown round the sites which are
involved in proposals for new sports venues at the Beach and elsewhere. The
Beach proposals are still fluid, and we are asking for views from the public in
all parts of the city. If we get the funds we are working for, the
The press has been focusing on the involvement of the Dons in a possible new stadium, but this is the most contentious and the furthest away in time, and we are well aware of the need for caution. The sites which will be developed
soonest, and which are of most interest to those of us in the west of the city, are the sports facilities at the RGU campus at Garthdee, which will be available for public use, and the refurbishment of the Rubislaw/Harlaw playing fields. Rebuilding of the ski-slope and pavilion has already started next to ASDA.
Culter’s needs have not been forgotten, and a number of requests and reminders have gone in to Council officers.
Pam MacDonald