CCC NEWS
CHAIR'S REPORT
I AM writing this on a lovely spring day when the bulbs and the primroses are in bloom, the sun is shining and the sky is blue - yes! it is Culter - but there's a bit of a cold breeze blowing! It's nice to see how everyone makes an effort to make their gardens, and Culter, look colourful and cheerful. I hope this will continue through the summer as it did last year. In fact, I hope we all do better this year.
Mr Erik Stien approached the Community Council with proposals of co-ordinating a 'Culter in Bloom' effort this summer. We had some advice from Councillor Ron Clark who encouraged and helped the successful Dyce in Bloom for the last few years, and Mr Ian McKenzie from Aberdeen City Council Parks Department. As a result, Mr Stien, the 'flower ladies' from Peterculter Parish Church and volunteers, with full support of Culter Community Council, have made a positive start. (More information under 'Culter in Bloom' in this issue.)
I want to highlight another article elsewhere in this Courier - this time by Catherine Dove our Neighbourhood Community Planning Officer. Through Cllr Pam MacDonald's initiative, she has arranged a drop-in in the Village Hall on 12 June. This is an Information Event by Aberdeen Healthy Living Network. As you will see from her article, it is not about the obvious things of what's best to eat and drink and to take exercise but about the stressful things, which can affect our health. So here's your chance to find out more - right on your doorstep, without having to go into town or 'phone around several people before you reach the correct contact for help or advice.
Catherine Dove was also telling me that there had been a good response to the advertisement, by the Community Care Department, for people to train as care workers to help look after the elderly and disabled at home. I was pleased - but not surprised - to hear this. Knowing so many people in Culter, it confirmed for me there is plenty of caring and support and community spirit in our village.
Finally I would like to let you know that we haven't forgotten about the meeting we had in the Village Hall in September last year about how we would like to see Culter in ten years' time. Things are moving much slower than we had hoped but they are moving. There will be a 'Planning for Real' day on 2 October. The senior primary school children will be making a model of the village so anyone can look at it, write what they would hope to have on a little card, and place the card on the model at the appropriate place. We are hoping to hold the event in the school because there would be easy parking available. (See elsewhere in this issue for more details.) There will be a training event for people willing to help on the day to get ideas onto the cards. This will be held on 24 May in the Village Hall. Please contact me, or the Secretary, to let us know. Our 'phone numbers are on the back page.
Lavina C Massie Chair
PLANNING
WHILE I am writing this, several matters are in the pipeline but with an outcome likely by the time the Courier comes out in print:
a) The Planning Department has recommended refusal of the 3-storey extension to Craigton Grove, which would lie in the wooded ground belonging to 'Hamewith', mainly because of the tree preservation order.
Cllr Pam MacDonald had told the members of CCC she will speak up at the Planning Committee meeting FOR the flats to try and get them passed for 'special needs' people. The members of CCC were not too surprised.
In discussions we had agreed, in principle, that extra accommodation for people with special needs was required, but we had expressed concern at the size of the proposed building and loss of most of the screen of trees on the 'little roadie' side of the site with very little replacement planting indicated on the plans.
b) The Equestrian Centre at Anguston has been recommended for approval with some strong conditions - in essence saying that no dwelling caravan can be put on site until everything is ready for the business to start. CCC still has reservations about the access road, which is extremely narrow and has deep ditches at each side.
c) The Clydesdale Bank will no doubt be sold by the time this comes to print as I believe a closing date has been set. CCC was made aware of strong commercial/business interest in the site but we all fear that developers could offer much more money for the site for even more flats. The members of CCC again will do their best to maintain a retail and commercial heart to Culter.
Already I have spoken to the heads of the Planning Departments for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to let them know our position and to find out how strong our rights are legally under the existing approved 1991 Local Plan to preserve the retail and business centre of the village.
In the light of the recently approved Structure Plan for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - but not yet embedded in a new Local Plan for the City of Aberdeen - is the overarching rights to sustainability of Communities to have shops, work, schools, facilities etc. not just homes. We will certainly push this point.
One 'good result' was the outcome of the Public Enquiry into the application to build 100 houses at Contlaw Road, Milltimber. The Reporter refused the application after listening for a week to the cases made by the Queen's Council, and the input from the two local Community Councils (Cults, Milltimber, Bieldside and Culter) and local residents. This means we won't have a lot more cars on North Deeside Road at commuting times, no new sets of traffic lights at Contlaw Road or pedestrian crossing at Bellinden Walk, slowing up the traffic into town. It also means there will not be additional 'cramming in' of pupils at the present Cults Academy.
Lastly, a consultation paper'Rights of Appeal in Planning' has just been received from the Scottish Executive. It contains several options, which could be adopted to give 'third parties' the right of appeal against planning decisions. At present, individuals, community councils etc. have no right of appeal against decisions but can only write (or speak if given the chance) in the hope of influencing decisions. On the other hand, applicants (usually developers) do have the right of appeal - and use it, even if it is very costly.
The members of CCC will therefore have to give the proposals very careful scrutiny and make comments by the end of July. As you would expect, the Federation of Builders is already gearing up to oppose these proposals.
If anyone is interested, you can see the document in the Library or on the internet at www.scotland.gov.uk/ planning, and pass your comments to us as part of our input, or directly to the Executive (rightsofappealQscotland.gsi.gov.uk)
Lavina C Massie Planning Liaison Officer
* Planning permission was given for 'Hamewith' and the Equestrian Centre.