08 01 08

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

Tuesday 8 January 2008 – Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

1. Sederunt

Community Councillors: Molly Atkinson (Interim Chairman), David Morrish, Jean Downie, Jenny Watson, John Hopkins, Sandy Wallace, Ann Ross

Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 16): Linda Clark, Jill Webster

Member of the Public: Derek Forbes

For Natural Power Consultants: Donald Spiers, Clare Edwards (both section 9 of meeting)

Apologies: Peter Bellarby, Wendy Agnew, Graeme Clark, Karen Clark

2. Minutes of December 2007 meeting and 2007 AGM

It was noted that Jenny Watson had been omitted from the list of attendees at both meetings. Subject to this correction, the minutes of both meetings were proposed by Jenny Watson and seconded by Jean Downie, and accepted as an accurate record.

3. Membership and Office-Holders

Molly Atkinson confirmed that the office holders were as listed in the December 2007 minutes. Additional responsibilities were agreed during the January 2008 meeting. The resultant list is:-

Interim Chairman Molly Atkinson

Vice Chairman Jean Downie

Treasurer John Hopkins

Secretary Ann Ross

Minute Secretary John Hopkins (Jan to Mar)

Planning Geoffrey Atkinson (Drumoak)*, David Morrish (Crathes), Jean Downie (Durris)

Park Quarry Liaison Donald Keith*, William Downie*

K&M CC Forum John Hopkins

Marr CC Forum David Morrish

Website John Hopkins

* non-members

There were now 10 (possibly 11) members. To contact Jill Gow to clarify her status (Action: Jean Downie).

David Morrish said that Doug Allstaff might rejoin, given the change to his work location.

4. Garden Centre at Mains of Drum

Molly Atkinson introduced Derek Forbes, who had agreed to come to brief members about the present status of the Garden Centre. He said that:-

• there would now be no constraints on the sourcing of goods for sale
• a new planning application had been submitted (possibly to be decided on 5 February), which would modify the internal layout and usage of the basement and first floors of the building
• construction would resume as soon as possible after permission was granted for this application
• the Garden Centre would be expected to open for business within 6 to 9 months of receipt of this planning permission

5. Matters Arising from Minutes

5.1 Police – Outstanding Actions

John Hopkins confirmed that he had written to PC Jenny McHattie, in respect of actions outstanding from October 2007. He had received no response.

5.2 Myrebird Junction Incident

Jenny Watson reported that the amicable negotiations were continuing between the Council and the owner of the corner site, with a view to improving sightlines.

5.3. Keithmuir and DYP

Jean Downie had received a reminder that applications for the Shell Small Grants Scheme had to be submitted before the end of January. To follow this up (Action: Caroline Cruickshank)

5.4 Illuminated Speed Warning signs at Drumoak

The failure of the eastern sign had been reported to the Council on 13 December. It was still not functioning.

5.5 Drumoak Sewage Treatment Plant

No apparent progress.

6. Planning and Other Issues

6.1 Crathes Housing Development

No further news had been received, although it was noted that the field had been ploughed on 7 January, so presumably no construction was envisaged until after the harvest.

In a separate development, Dunecht Estate was understood to have discussed with the Leys Estate the matter of diverting access to the river bank forming the southern boundary of this site. It was noted that the riverbank paths along the Dee had been used by the public for many years. In the light of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, any restriction or diversion of access would seem to be inappropriate.

Sandy Wallace noted that the question might depend upon whether a diverted route were materially different from the traditional one.

6.2 Proposed Used Car Sales business adjacent to Drumoak Farm Shop site

A planning application had been lodged. Comments had been sent by CDDCC and receipt thereof acknowledged.

6.3 Structure Plan

No-one was clear when the draft Structure Plan would go before the Council. To monitor the situation (Action: John Hopkins)

The website is http://www.nest-uk.net/acssp/t_22/Index.html

6.4 Weight Limit Signs on Park Bridge

A reply had been received from Iain Gabriel, which expressed the hope that authorisation for the revised limit might be sought by year-end 2007. Nothing was said about when the signs would be changed.

Sandy Wallace said that his understanding was that a 4 ton weight limit had no force in law, which was why the signs needed changing. John Hopkins observed that we therefore currently seemed to have the interesting situation of the Council being financially liable for both bridge and vehicle, if any damage were caused by an overweight vehicle crossing it.

To progress this issue with Willie Munro (Action: Sandy Wallace)

6.5 New House (Land at Drumview - APP 2006/3887)

To check Aberdeenshire website for the Report to Area Committee and - if necessary - contact the named Planner to obtain this (Action: Molly Atkinson).

7. Access Issues

7.1 Park Estate

Some gates in the Park Estate are padlocked and draped with barbed wire again. The Deeside Way gate (near the Walled Garden) was closed. To raise these issues with the landowner’s agent (Action: Molly Atkinson)

7.2 Dogs

Jenny Watson reported that one Crathes resident was most annoyed by badly-controlled dogs chasing – and in one case killing – his hens and peacocks. It was noted that he had the right to shoot any dogs attacking his livestock. The possibility that the opening-up of the Deeside Way had increased such problems was discussed, but it was noted that his property did not lie on the Deeside Way (which diverged from the route of the railway line at that point) and that anecdotally the problem related principally to one particular dog.

To ask Don Keith to remind dog-users via the local newsletter to control their dogs properly (Action: John Hopkins)

8. AOCB

8.1 Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative

Linda Clark drew attention to the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) website. This offered grants for private houses of 30% of the installed cost of renewable energy measures up to £4,000. To ask Don Keith to follow this up in the Newsletter (Action: Linda Clark)

8.2 Scottish Screen Locations

Scottish Screen Locations offer “a free and confidential service to find (filming) locations in Scotland”. The portentously-titled Aberdeen City and Shire Film Office offers the same. The Marr Area Manager has asked for people to nominate suitable locations. This will presumably save Scottish Screen Locations and the Aberdeen City and Shire Film Office the effort of doing their own research. To write to Leslie Allan nominating suitable locations (Action: All).

8.3 Friends of Durris Forest (FdF)

Molly Atkinson referred to the FdF Pitcowdens Project, in respect of which FdF had asked that it might cite the support of CDDCC in applying for a “Breathing Spaces” grant. CDDCC agreed to this.

To invite Mark Allen of FdF to speak at the next meeting (Action: Molly Atkinson)

8.4 Weekday for Meetings

It was agreed that CDDCC meetings would remain on Tuesdays, at least in the near future.

9. Midhill Windfarm

Donald Spiers and Clare Edwards of National Power Consultants had asked for permission to speak before the meeting.

The following points were noted from their statements:-

· there is a pending planning application (to the Scottish Executive, because of the size of the proposed installation) for an increase in the size of the towers and generators for the already-authorised Midhill Windfarm

· the previously-noted problem of obtaining a National Grid connection for the Midhill Windfarm had worsened because of competing demands for connections

· if a 2009 slot were obtained for a Grid connection, construction of the windfarm would start this summer

· turbines would now be Siemens 2.3 MW models as those originally proposed were no longer available

· Fred Olsen, the Midhill Windfarm developer, now wishes further to increase the size of the Midhill Windfarm (by 8 to 15 additional towers)

· unless there were an early Grid connection, it would be proposed to develop Midhill 1 and Midhill 2 (the latest proposed extension) together

Sandy Wallace observed that it would have been helpful if Fred Olsen had been candid about the projected size of the Midhill Windfarm from the start. The “give them an inch and they take a yard” approach provoked antipathy and distrust from the public.

The roadworks necessary for access for construction were discussed, with particular reference to the listed Bridge of Sheeoch. Donald Spiers undertook to include this issue in the follow-up letter that he would be sending to CDDCC (Action: Donald Spiers)

Jean Downie asked why such an extension was necessary, given the low seasonal output of windfarms, the high subsidy and the recent government recognition of the necessity of additional nuclear power stations to achieve CO₂ reduction targets.

10. Next Meeting

1930 hours, 5 February 2008, Irvine Arms, Drumoak

JFH 10/01/08

Distribution
Email	Post	by hand	Other
CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson)	Jenny Watson	Park Shop (via John Hopkins)	Website www.durris.net (also for previous minutes)
Cllrs. Linda Clark, Karen Clark, Jill Webster (Ward 16)	Crathes Hall Notice Board (via David Humble)	Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)
Cllrs. Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward 18)	Banchory Public Library
Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns	Community Police Officer (Drumoak/Durris/Crathes), c/o Banchory Police Office
Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr	Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)
Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris	Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)
Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sheila Watt)
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Alister Bisset
Leanna MacLarty (Press and Journal)
Clare Edwards (Natural Power consultants)
Donald Spiers (Natural Power consultants) (via Clare Edwards)
Derek Forbes