04 05 04

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

4 May 2004 at Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

 

Sederunt

 

Community Councillors - Don Keith (Acting Chairman), Molly Atkinson, Julia Mackay, David Hirst, Ron Stark, John Hopkins, Jean Downie

Ward Councillors – None

Invited Speakers – Alec Gordon, Ian Gomeche

Members of the Public – None

Apologies – Jenny Watson, Sandy Wallace

 

 

1. Adoption of minutes of meeting of 6th April

 

Proposed by Julia Mackay, seconded by Molly Atkinson.

 

 

2. Presentation by Alec Gordon on National Trust for Scotland’s Development Plans for Crathes Castle

 

Alec Gordon gave a Powerpoint presentation, which:-

 

  • noted that visitor numbers to Crathes Castle had fallen consistently for ten years, from around 150,000 to around 100,000 annually
  • showed that some of the facilities at Crathes were somewhat run down
  • indicated that most visitors were now of ages above 35 and that below this level there were many “missing visitors”
  • underlined that the preservation role was the paramount one, but that increased revenue was a requirement if Crathes were not to slip into a “genteel decline”
  • stated the need to give the property “new energy”, to attract both young and old and to increase dwell time (and hence spend), bringing visitor numbers back up to around 150,000
  • described plans for:-
    • increased catering and retail outlets (in the Courtyard area)
    • moving the existing shop to the Courtyard
    • removing the existing ticket office and moving this function to the existing shop area
    • creation of an adventure feature – probably to be called Skytrek - in the wooded area north of the Courtyard
  • indicated that 13 (FTE) jobs would be created – 5 Skytrek, 6 catering, 1 retail, 1 clerical
  • noted that the Project had been approved within NTS and would be internally funded (to the tune of 1 million GBP) and could be opened by April 2005

 

The Community Council expressed its admiration for the plans, which were thought exciting and out of the ordinary.

 

3. Presentation by Ian Gomeche on Community Web

 

Ian Gomeche outlined plans for an inclusive Community Web, to be run by Banchory Online Ltd., extending to nearby villages and towns perhaps as far as Kincardine O’Neill.  This could incorporate:-

 

  • two messageboards (one private and one public) for every organisation in all locations
  • free webspace for every organisation
  • Macromedia Contribute (Content Management System)
  • existing websites from the area

 

Iuan Gomeche stated that he had undertakings of sponsorship and a printer producing flyers, together with a newly-registered domain with a single web page.  Different organisations had shown different degrees of enthusiasm and urgency, but it was important to forge ahead quickly, he said.

 

Drumoak was being invited to get involved in this development and it was up to the Community Council to promote this.

 

Don Keith thanked Ian Gomeche for his presentation.

 

 

4. Matters Arising from Minutes of 4th April

 

 

4.1 To ask Sandy Wallace to raise the question of relative roadsign priorities with the Roads Department, citing the cases of the Netherley Bridge signs and the signs apparently erected solely for motorcycle tourists as contrast to the needs of the Harper family (Action Don Keith)

 

4.2 It was noted that CDDCC’s cheque had been received by the Crossroads Nursery and a letter of thanks despatched.

 

4.3 Aberdeenshire Local Plan.  To circulate details of the new final dates for response (Action David Hirst)

 

4.4 Aberdeen Forward is a charity involved in increasing the use of composting and will provide workshops to interested communities. To check their website (Action Donald Keith)

 

4.5 Molly Atkinson had reviewed the CC training material produced by AC, but felt that it was only needed where a CC was initially starting up

 

4.6 To attend the St. Ternan Fair as individuals, if possible (Action All)

 

4.7 To ask Sarah Hopkins to review the possibility of using the St. Ternan Fair as an opportunity for DYP fundraising (Action John Hopkins)

 

 

5 Correspondence

 

5.1 It was noted that the new surfacing of the Old Deeside Road sections of the Deeside Way has led to usage of the route by cars and motorcycles.  In addition, complaints of motor vehicle damage to the Glebe grass surface had led the Council to erect a locked gate preventing access, but thereby exacerbating the lack of parking.  To raise these issues again with AC (Action Don Keith)

 

5.2 To write stating that CDDCC would in principle wish to participate in the awareness (briefing) session about the McInnes Report on Legal System Reform (Action John Hopkins)

 

5.3 To respond to the letter concerning Housing Land Audit (Action David Hirst)

 

 

6 Drumoak Youth Project

 

To ask Jenny Watson/Sandy Wallace (Action Don Keith) to press Willie Munro for answers on whether AC would:-

 

  • consent to the use of land for the Youth Shelter
  • take on future responsibility for the Youth Shelter
  • take on future responsibility for the Multi-Sport Pitch

 

 

7 Drumoak Houses

 

Don Keith had received a formal response from Stewart Milne Homes to CDDCC questions. The number of houses was likely to be 67 (instead of 72) due to Planners’ landscaping considerations.

 

It was apparent that the extension to the sewage plant was intended to provide capacity only for the present scheme.  It was not clear what the longer-term implications of this might be.

 

Preparation of the presentation for a Long Term “Planning for Real” exercise for Drumoak should continue (Action John Hopkins and Donald Keith) but caution was necessary to avoid stimulating an expectation of additional housing.  To provide input to help avert this possibility (Action David Hirst)

 

8 Nether Park Quarry Liaison Meeting

 

This would be on 10 May.  To attend (Action Don Keith and Jean Downie).  To ask Douglas Grey for a 4 p.m. start time (Action Don Keith)

 

 

9 Planning Applications

 

9.1 The Deeside Nursery application includes a shop, a coffee shop, revised road access and parking.  Because the development seemed much preferable to leaving the site in its present state, it was agreed to write to support this application, but with a caveat on access road location (Action Don Keith).

 

9.2 A&M Welsh (Hardgate)  It was felt that the new submission offered evidence that the application was essential for the efficient operation of a necessary business in the countryside and – on this basis - it was agreed to write to support this application.  (Action Don Keith).

 

 

10 Next Meeting

 

Tuesday 1 June Irvine Arms (19.30 hours)

 

 

 

 

Distribution

 

CDDCC Councillors (by email)

Councillor Jenny Watson (by post)

Councillor Sandy Wallace (by email)

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns (by email)

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr (by email)

Crathes Hall Notice board (by post) *

Banchory Public Library (by post) *

Durris Hall Notice board (delivered by Sarah Hopkins) *

Drumoak PO (delivered by Don Keith) *

Park Shop (delivered by Don Keith) *

Rev Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris, Banchory AB31 6BU (by email)

Community Police Officer (Drumoak) - PC Allan Tennant c/o Banchory Police Office (by post)

Community Police Officer (Durris) - PC Kevin Skivington c/o Banchory Police Office (by post)

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator - Mrs Lesley Moore, “Patchways” Drumoak AB31 5HA (by post)

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

 

 

* printed on coloured paper