04 06 01

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

1 June 2004 at Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

Sederunt

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

Ward Councillors – Sandy Wallace

Members of the Public – D. Terroir, D. Morrish

Apologies – Molly Atkinson

1. Apology for non-availability of advance Agenda

Don Keith made apology for the lack of an advance Agenda.

2. Adoption of minutes of meeting of 4th May

Subject to an amendment to item 4.3 (to the effect that the dates that were to be announced were the dates that the reporters will review the objections already made), the minutes were proposed by Ron Stark, seconded by Jean Downie and adopted by the meeting.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of 4^th May

3.1 Nether Park Quarry

Ron Stark, Don Keith and Sandy Wallace had had a meeting with Leith’s, incorporating a site visit. The processing area and weighbridge were close to completion. The site entrance/exit would give adequate visibility, subject to adequate cutting of foliage. There would be a conveyor belt, but installation thereof had not yet commenced.

Ron Stark noted that it was not clear whether dust/noise monitoring had been accepted as a requirement by Aberdeenshire Council and – if so – what action would follow. Nor was it clear whether re-occupation of the farmhouse was proposed. Don Keith observed that the issues were linked – both with each other and with parallel issues elsewhere in the CDDCC area.

In general, the outcome of the meeting/site visit was regarded as generally acceptable. There would be follow-up meetings at approximately 6-monthly intervals.

Don Keith reported that – in a subsequent discussion – he had raised the possibility of sponsorship in kind of DYP by Leith’s. Leith’s had indicated that gravel would be available on free issue, but would wish to consider further the question of asphalt.

3.2 Local Plan

David Hirst noted that the enquiry into objections received in respect of the draft Local Plan would be heard as part of the third session (commencing 14 December). He pointed out that the enquiry would consider objections already submitted and would not consider new objections to the original draft.

Further information was available on the Aberdeenshire Council website www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

3.3 Housing Land Audit

David Hirst reported on the Local Authority Housing Land Audit. This considered:-

· Land with existing planning permission for housing

· Land which had been adopted (designated as) for housing

· Other land with agreed residential potential (in the Council’s opinion)

The summary information would be sent to developers (and to Community Councils) on or about 21 June. To alert CDDCC members to any information received (Action Jill Gow).

Following a brief period for comment, this would then be the basis of a meeting between Council planners and developers.

Don Keith proposed that – to raise the public standing of the Aberdeenshire Council planners - there should be a public meeting on the subject.

Sandy Wallace was unsure as to whether this would be accepted, but undertook to raise the general issue with the new Director of Planning Services, who would be replacing Eric Melrose (recently retired). (Action Sandy Wallace) The new Director was a lady from a Southern English council, who would commence with Aberdeenshire Council in August.

3.4 Glebe Lands

Don Keith reported that, subsequent to earlier correspondence, he had written to Aberdeenshire Council, drawing attention to the resultant lack of parking space for football games etc. He had received a reply from Iain Thomson, Landscape Services Officer, saying that parking bays had been considered but that no budget was likely to be available this year or next.

Sandy Wallace undertook to address this issue when he did the first of two tours of the area with Willie Munro during the coming month. (Action Sandy Wallace) The follow-up tour would probably take place in August/September.

3.5 Roadsigns

Sandy Wallace had discussed this issue further with Don Keith, but there seemed little prospect of a change in the Council’s previously-stated position. Sandy Wallace went on to propose a meeting with Mark Skilling to tour the accident hazard blackspots of the area.

To nominate such blackspots by email to John Hopkins (Action ALL)

To assemble a list (initial version as Appendix to these minutes) of such blackspots and send to Sandy Wallace by 15 June (Action John Hopkins)

To convene a suitable meeting with Mark Skilling during 2^nd half of June (Action Sandy Wallace)

To attend the meeting on behalf of CDDCC (Action Julia Mackay)

3.6 McInnes Report on Legal System Reform

John Hopkins confirmed that he had written on 8 May, stating that CDDCC would in principle wish to participate in the awareness (briefing) session about the McInnes Report on Legal System Reform.

4. Correspondence

4.1 To renew the CDDCC membership of the Friends of Planning Aid for Scotland (Action John Hopkins)

4.2 To respond, giving an indication of numbers attending, to the letter proposing training for CC members on Planning Gain (Action Don Keith)

4.3 To respond, on behalf of CDDCC, to the letter from Grampian Health about out-of-hours Medical Services (Action Ron Stark)

4.4 To read the recent minutes thereof and consider whether CDDCC could usefully engage with the K&M Community Council Forum (Action David Hirst and Ron Stark)

4.5 It was agreed to nominate Sandra Horrocks, Head of Durris Primary, for the invited place at the opening of the Scottish Parliament Building. (Action Julia Mackay) (DONE)

4.6 Don Keith said that CDDCC had consulted every household in Keithmuir Gardens about the Council proposal to make it a no through road. Every one rejected the idea. CDDCC wrote to this effect to the Council on behalf of these residents and was told that their letter would be treated merely as “an objection” (presumably singular) to the planning proposal.

Sandy Wallace said that he was very keen to see traffic islands installed in the North Deeside Road and that he believed that for technical reasons the two proposals might be linked.

To include this item in the blackspot list (Action John Hopkins).

5. Drumoak Youth Project

Don Keith stated that zero progress had been recorded in the last month because the issue was “blackholed” within the Council’s administration functions. The issues of a lease, of insurance and of long-term maintenance were seemingly insoluble.

John Hopkins noted that there seemed little point in the Council encouraging CDDCC to consult residents, raise money, design a youth shelter, obtain sponsorship in kind, pay to apply for planning permission, request permission to erect the shelter on Council land and generally expend large amounts of energy, when the Council’s officers still had no answer to basic questions that should have been (and were believed to have been) settled beforehand.

It would be better use of everyone’s time simply to insist that the Council provide the desired facilities.

To attempt to disrupt the obfuscation (Action Sandy Wallace). Don Keith asked that an attempt be made to resolve the issue within two weeks, in view of the looming school summer vacations.

Don Keith noted that no further attempt had been made to move ahead on the All-Weather Sports Field, in view of the obstacles placed in the way of the (less-ambitious) Youth Shelter.

6. Proposed Drumoak Houses

Don Keith referred to the responses by Stewart Milne to the questions posed by CDDCC in respect of the above. These had been informative but had offered little or no concession to the points made. They been published in the Church Newsletter distributed in the last few days.

It was not known whether the proposal would be submitted to the next Planning Sub-Committee meeting. To inform Don Keith urgently if it were including in the batch of papers for the forthcoming meeting (Action Sandy Wallace)

Dider Terroir noted that the latest revised plan (necessitated by a changed understanding of the location of the water main) showed a total of 69 houses. He outlined the content of his Objection (submitted earlier in the year). He accepted that there would be housing on these sites, but wanted to see more greenery, to preserve the rural nature of the area.

Don Keith had suggested that the woodland screening area should incorporate a footpath (for children to walk to school). He had been told that no public access would be allowed.

After some discussion, it was agreed to convene a second public meeting – so that local residents would be able to support or oppose the proposal in a more fully-informed way. The action plan was as follows:-

· To encourage supporters or opposers of the proposal to write individual letters (not form letters or petitions) to the Council’s planners

· To encourage supporters or opposers of the proposal to request the opportunity to address the Planning sub-committee at the time that the Proposal comes before it

· To encourage supporters or opposers of the proposal to lobby individual councillors (even those not in CDDCC area) on the Planning sub-committee

· To book the Drumoak Church Hall for the meeting (1930 hours on 16 June) (Action Jill Gow)

· To produce a one-page flyer for the meeting, giving an outline of the issues and names of one or two CDDCC contacts by Friday 4 June (Action Don Keith)

· To invite Stewart Milne, Planners and Sandy Wallace to attend the meeting (prior to 4 June, so that their presence may be advertised in the flyer) (Action Don Keith)

· To provide A1 sized plans of the latest proposal (Action Didier Terroir) (DONE)

· To reduce these to A4 size for attachment to the flyer and give these to Don Keith by Friday 4 June (Action John Hopkins) (DONE)

· To provide road map of Drumoak for distributors (Action John Hopkins)

· To obtain multiple copies for distribution by 7 June (Action Don Keith)

· To distribute the flyers (Action Julia Mackay and Jean Downie)

7. Other Planning Applications

None requiring discussion.

8. Any Other Competent Business

8.1 Unofficial Quarries

Ron Stark noted that there was an unofficial quarry operating at Cosy Corner. David Morrish noted that there was another – of long standing – at Milton of Crathes. To write to the Enforcement Officer at Viewmount, seeking clarification of the position (Action Ron Stark)

8.2 Co-option of Members

The co-option onto CDDCC of Didier Terroir (Drumoak) and David Morrish (Crathes) was proposed by John Hopkins, seconded by Julia Mackay and carried unanimously. Both gentlemen signified their acceptance thereof. They were welcomed to CDDCC by Don Keith.

9. Next Meeting

Tuesday 6 July, 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

APPENDIX

Part-list of Blackspots for meeting with Mark Skilling

(Lack of) parking at the Glebe

Keithmuir Gardens and adjacent section of North Deeside Road

Junction of Park Bridge Road and South Deeside Road

Reduce 50 signs to 40 in Kirkton of Durris

Junction south of Durris Bridge

Stable Brae perhaps needs a speed limit and more emphasis on not being suitable for heavy lorries

A speed camera in Kirkton might pay for any new signs