CCC News
Secretary's Report
IT IS quite some time since I wrote a report for the Courier. Our Chairperson, Mrs Lavina Massie, seemed to cover everything that was required but, in her absence (on holiday again!) I have had to put pen to paper.
Planning Applications seem to attract most comment from residents of Culter and Culter Community Council (CCC) does not seem to hear from anyone until something affects you! It seems a pity but I suppose this is human nature.
Site visits are part and parcel of the Planning procedure and two of these concerned CCC.
• Woodend Farm applied for permission to expand several facilities already available there and, after a site visit, Councillors decided to allow the changes. Children already attend classes in craft activities but after the alterations, they will be able to hold parties, participate in farm-based trips, and a tearoom will be built as well as an extended farm shop. CCC had been happy that some new commercial activity was taking place in our area.
Bride's Ward, Culter House Road is not actually within the Peterculter area, but it adjoins and we could be affected in several ways. The Planning Committee of Aberdeen City Council has insisted on seeing the site for the application to build five huge, luxury houses with triple garage for each house. This decision seemed strange as Planning Chiefs had pointed out the scheme flies in the face of Green-belt policies and should not be allowed.
116 letters of representation and two petitions of 64 and 68 signatures have been sent to Aberdeen City Council. The main points of objection are:
• Under the current Local Plan for this area, Green-belt land should be protected from development for housing purposes. (Previous attempts have been refused.)
• The houses would not be accessible by sustainable means of transport in contravention of national planning policy.
• The area is one of the oldest natural woodland areas in Aberdeenshire and has been monitored by Scottish Natural Heritage as an ancient and long established woodland.
• It is an important recreational amenity for the communities of Milltimber and Peterculter and is well used for walking, running, cycling, bird watching and horse riding.
• The wood is an important wildlife habitat including red squirrels, deer, bats, buzzards, owls and other
protected species.
• The local schools, medical centres and community facilities are already stretched to breaking point.
• Any increase in traffic on the narrow Culter House Road would be detrimental to road and pedestrians safety
• Approval of the application would set an undesirable precedent that would lead to a proliferation of houses in the Green Belt and the coalescence of Culter and Milltimber.
Clydesdale Bank, 220 North Deeside Road: the application to change this building into a pub has caused quite a debate. From the plans, there will be very little difference on the outside of the building (a ramp at the front and a small extension at the back). The inside would be gutted to accommodate tables/chairs, a pool table and room for darts and toilet amenities. There would be a servery for dispensing drinks and snacks, while upstairs there would be an office and staff facilities. It is not anticipated that trees would be felled.
This planning application was discussed at length at CCC's meeting on 19 July and some members pointed out that, when we opposed the closing of The Gordon Arms Hotel to make way for flats, we had argued that Culter was losing a commercial business and a social focal point. It would seem hypocritical to oppose this application.
The decisions about the Applications for Bride's Ward and the Clydesdale Bank are due on 2 September