07 03 06

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

Tuesday 6 March 2007 - Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1.         Sederunt

 

Community Councillors: David Morrish (Chairman), Jean Downie, Tony Butcher, Molly Atkinson, Ann Ross, John Hopkins

Ward Councillors: Jenny Watson (part time)

Apologies: Sandy Wallace, Lorna Heppolette, Keith Whitehead

 

2.  Minutes of February 2007 Meetings

 

 Proposed:  Tony Butcher                     Seconded:  Jean Downie

 

3. Correspondence

 

Actions arising were as follows:-

 

·        To respond - if he deems it applicable - to the Licensed Victuallers’ paper on Disability, Discrimination & Equality (Action: Tony Butcher)

·        To respond to NKRCC noting that CDDCC was an objector to AWPR and asking to see their draft Press Release with a view to supporting it (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)

·        To reply to the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society, accepting their invitation to the Opening of the Platform at Milton of Crathes Station (14 April, from 2 p.m.) and indicating the numbers of community councillors and guests proposing to attend. (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)

 

It was also noted that a Bus Forum paper had proposed two contract terminations and two contract variations for subsidised bus routes.  As none of these was adjacent to the CDDCC area, no comment was deemed necessary.

 

4.      Major Developments

 

4.1  Crathes Housing

 

David Morrish reported that about 50 people had attended the Public Meeting on 12 February at the Crathes Public Hall.  The consensus of the meeting had been to accept that there was to be a housing development at Crathes, but that - where a Planning Brief had been created and agreed - it was essential that Planning Applications be consistent with it.  Any deviation from the Brief should be viewed as a material consideration, forming the basis of an objection to such Application.  CDDCC had therefore responded to the Outline Planning Application along those lines.

 

Full compliance to the material contained in each Planning Brief was a test of the Marr Area Committee’s credibility.  Any departure would call into question the whole purpose of Planning Briefs.

 

It was noted that the Marr Area Planners had said that the deadline for comment on the present Planning Application had been extended.  Further comments would be accepted right up until the finalisation of the recommendation report to the Marr Area Committee.  Anecdotally, this Application was unlikely to come before the Committee until after the forthcoming Elections.

 

David Morrish said that, shortly after the 12 February Public Meeting, he had been invited to a meeting at Dunecht Estates.  His impression from this meeting was that the Applicant might simply begin the Outline Planning Application process afresh.

 

The “chicken and egg” question of road speed limits adjacent to proposed housing developments - with particular reference to Crathes - had been raised by David Morrish with the Roads Department.  They were aware that it was insufficient for them simply to be reactive after the event.  To continue this conversation with Roads Department.  (Action: David Morrish)

 

To discuss Planning Gain in respect of the Crathes Housing development with Stewart Robinson. (Action: David Morrish)

 

To register with Les Allen (Area Manager, Marr) CDDCC’s desire to speak before the Marr Area Committee when the Crathes Housing Planning Application was considered. (Action: David Morrish)

 

4.2  Woodlands of Durris Housing

 

The draft Development Brief for the Woodlands Housing development was now on the Aberdeenshire Council website.  The Public Meeting in respect of the existing Planning Application, being organised by the Durris School Board, would be at Woodlands of Durris School on 14 March at 7.30 p.m.  As a minimum, David Morrish, Ann Ross and Tony Butcher would attend the meeting from CDDCC.  (Action: David Morrish, Ann Ross and Tony Butcher)

 

To make a representation on the Planning Application, following the Public Meeting (Action: CDDCC).

 

4.3  Drumoak Nursery

 

It was noted that the removal of all the previously-agreed conditions regulating the Drumoak Nursery had been agreed by the K&M Councillors, against the recommendation of their Planners (and notwithstanding an objection by CDDCC).

 

 

5. Planning Applications (Weekly Lists)

 

5.1 Crathes

 

Nothing to report.

 

5.2 Drumoak

 

Nothing to report.

 

5.3 Durris

 

It was noted that, at Darnford, there was a Planning Application for the demolition of a residential property and erection of a barn on that site.  It was understood that this was to replace barn capacity previously lost at Nether Mill.  CDDCC did not consider it necessary to make any comment on this Application.

 

 

6. Keithmuir and DYP07

 

A meeting involving the Drumoak Three, Sandy Wallace, Jill Sowden and David Morrish would be taking place in the near future.  To inform Don Keith of the meeting (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

 

7.      Park Quarry Liaison Meeting

 

No meeting has been held recently.

 

 

8.      Meeting with Christine Gore

 

Along with other CDDCC representatives, to meet the Director of Planning & Environmental Services and to emphasise the gap between Aberdeenshire Council’s avowed intentions on Community Planning, Consultation and Involvement, on the one hand, and the actuality as experienced by CDDCC, on the other.  (Action: David Morrish)  To circulate information about the date/time/venue of the arranged meeting.  (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

9.      Access Issues

 

9.1 Core Paths Plan

 

Molly Atkinson noted that Access Forum members would be able to see the current draft of the Core Paths Plan in the near future.  A further round of consultation was due to take place over the period April to June 2007.

 

9.2 Dalmaik Farm

 

It was now understood that a stile would be erected over the seven-strand barbed wire fence.  To monitor the actuality of this (Action: Molly Atkinson)

 

9.3 Infringement of Public Access

 

To ask Colin Miller how best to deal with infringements of rights of public access under the Land Reform Act.  (Action: Molly Atkinson)

 

A particular case in point was the barbed wire obstruction recently created at the Park Estate at Myrebird.  After receipt of the advice from Colin Miller, to follow-up this issue (probably with Ian Stewart, Park Farm Manager, of Mains Farmhouse).  (Action: David Morrish)

 

David Morrish suggested that we needed a standard format for countering such infringements.  This might include (i) writing to the Council, (ii) alerting the Access Forum (iii) contacting the landowner.  To consider developing such a format.  (Action: CDDCC)

 

 

10.  AOB

 

10.1 Kirkton Wood Site

 

CDDCC expressed full support for the potential purchase of the Kirkton Wood Site by Friends of Durris Forest.  This could be the best means of averting sporadic housing development in an inappropriate location.

 

10.2 Future of Street and other Public Lighting

 

To draft and circulate a reply to Mr I Gabriel’s response on the Future of Street and other Public Lighting.  (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

11.  Next Meeting

 

19.30 hours on 3rd April at Irvine Arms

 

JFH 08/03/07

 

Distribution

Email

Post

by hand

other

CDDCC Councillors

 

Councillor Jenny Watson

Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sarah Hopkins)

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

Councillor Sandy Wallace

Crathes Hall Notice Board (via David Humble)

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – new appointee not known

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

Banchory Public Library

 

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

 

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

Community Police Officer (Drumoak/Durris/Crathes), c/o Banchory Police Office

 

 

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)

 

 

David O’Donnell (Woodlands)

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)