1. Minutes of Meeting of 6 January 2003

Two amendments were agreed to the 6 January minutes.

Sandy Wallace pointed out that he had stated that he considered "the Planning Officers" unlikely to attend the Drumoak New Housing meeting, rather than "Willie Munro". In the event, neither attended.

David Hirst noted that he had stated that the low cost notation on the housing site (referred to in item 7) had disappeared at the same time as the draft and final Aberdeenshire local plan changed other notations re the land in Woodlands of Durris.

Subject to these amendments, the minutes were proposed as a faithful record by Julia Mackay and seconded by Molly Atkinson. There was no demur.

 

2. Matters Arising from Minutes of Meeting of 6 January 2003

Julia Mackay introduced Robert Harper to the meeting, who recounted his request for a REDUCE SPEED NOW sign to reduce danger to his and neighbour’s children living on the South Deeside Road, west of Durris Bridge.

Julia Mackay read aloud to the meeting the response that had been received from Sandy Wallace in respect of this issue, which inter alia suggested that Jenny Watson might have suggestions to make.

Jenny Watson noted that – acting as a friend/neighbour, rather than in her capacity as Vice-Chair of the ISC – she had asked the police to check vehicle speeds. The majority were within the limit for a derestricted road. However, she had recently noted new REDUCE SPEED NOW signs either side of Crathes Castle and considered these relevant.

It was agreed that a letter addressed to the Head of Roads – copied to Willie Munro - supporting the case for comparable signs warning of the offset crossroads at the southern end of the Durris Bridge, should be drafted and circulated to CDDCC members (Action: Julia Mackay). This could have the effect of ameliorating – although not eliminating - the hazard to Robert Harper’s family.

 

3. Brodie Countryfare

It was noted that – since the last meeting of CDDCC – the Appeal against the refusal of planning permission in respect of the proposed Brodie Countryfare west of Drumoak had been rejected by the Scottish Executive Reporter. Irrespective of the merits or otherwise of the case, CDDCC welcomed the fact that a proper examination had been made of the technical and other arguments.

 

 

4. Venue for Meetings

Don Keith noted that the previous meeting had had to be reconvened as a result of there being a large dinner party present in the Irvine Arms on the same night. He wondered whether an alternative meeting venue might be more convenient.

The use of Public Halls was debated. It was decided, on economic grounds, that the present arrangement would be continued.

 

5. Correspondence

A follow-up letter had been received from Aberdeenshire Council, seeking CDDCCs comments on the proposed Wind Farm at Midhill, Fetteresso. It was felt that the immediate locale was as underpopulated as any in the general area and that hence the problem of noise pollution was not of concern. There remained the problem of visual pollution from the very tall impeller blades, which – because they moved – would be very noticeable from a wide area, including the Dee Valley bottoms in the CDDCC area.

To draft, and circulate to CDDCC members, a letter to Aberdeenshire Council, making the point about visual pollution, but otherwise supporting the planning proposal. (Action: Jill Gow).

It was noted that Aberdeenshire Council wishes to install a concrete hard-standing at the Drumoak Village Hall for the mini-recycling point. A site meeting would take place on 12 February at 12.30 involving local people plus CDDCC (Action: Molly Atkinson to attend)

It was agreed that a donation of £120 should be sent to Aberdeenshire Council, in respect of the signs erected for Drumoak Post Office, but that the issue of over-payment of VAT in any joint funding between a VAT-registered body and a non-registered body (in this case, Aberdeenshire Council and CDDCC, respectively) should again be raised with Willie Munro, since the issue had a direct – and financially more significant – impact on DYP (Action: John Hopkins)

It was noted by David Hirst that the Local Plan enquiry had been postponed again – this time till May 2004 – although no revised timetable was yet available.

 

6. Drumoak New Housing

Following on from the Public Meeting held on 28 January to discuss the above, CDDCC considered a letter drafted by Don Keith, together with a set of tabled questions.

The approach adopted by the Public Meeting was endorsed, specifically that attention would be drawn to the excess of proposed housing over that supported by the Scottish Executive (72 versus 60) and the inadequacies in the provision for infrastructural improvements etc., to make acceptable the impact of the houses on Drumoak.

It was agreed that the draft letter and questions should be sent both to Stewart Milne and to Aberdeenshire Planners (Action: Don Keith), with the inclusion of the following points:-

a) Better provision of playing area (as well as classroom facilities) for Drumoak Primary

b) Provision of nursery facilities

c) Provision of health facilities

d) The offer of a meeting for clarification, if required

e) Any additional points notified to Don Keith before the weekend (Action: All)

 

The more general question of the profound dissatisfaction with the Local Plan process, as it has affected Drumoak, and the need to get the electorate of Drumoak engaged in the question of proactively planning how/where Drumoak should develop in future was re-raised by Sandy Wallace. After some debate, it was agreed that this issue were best addressed at the point where the present planning application came up for decision (Action: Don Keith)

 

7. Park Quarry

CDDCC endorsed the sending of the letter drafted by Don Keith, in the form as drafted (Action: Don Keith)

 

 

8. Drumoak Youth Project (DYP)

The particular question of DYP had been addressed as part of the Public Meeting, which had been unanimous that the project should proceed as planned.

The all-weather ball court would not have floodlighting, but would require a (low) fence - both for playing reasons and to reduce the amount of mud trodden into the playing surface.

The financial resources of DYP were considered. These appear to be:-

a) £15,000 channelled via Aberdeenshire Council (probably not available beyond end March 2004)

b) £2,000 from the Aberdeenshire "top-up" fund (for youth shelters)

c) circa £2,400 of DYP-raised funds

None of the Council funds required "matched funding", so there was some flexibility in how the money could be spent on piece-by-piece implementation. It was believed that this would help with the assumed time-limitation on the £15,000.

Don Keith noted that he and Sarah Hopkins had been working on various aspects of DYP implementation, including:-

a) discussions with Messrs Clark and MacIntosh about plans and cost quotations

b) discussions with local farmers about contribution of labour

c) submission of a planning application for the construction of a youth shelter

 

9. Planning Application for House at Drumview

It was noted that the above had recently been rejected, but that an Appeal was expected. Several local objections had been lodged.

 

10. Any Other Competent Business

Website www.durris.net (also for past minutes)