08 08 05

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

Tuesday 5 August 2008 – Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

1. Sederunt

Community Councillors: Molly Atkinson (Acting Chairman), Jean Downie, Caroline Cruickshank, John Hopkins, David Morrish, Ann Ross (part-time)

Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 16): Linda Clark

Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18): Graeme Clark, Peter Bellarby

Members of Public: Leslie Bray, Don Keith

Apologies: Jenny Watson, Wendy Agnew, Karen Clark, Tony Butcher

2. Minutes of July 2008

The minutes of July 2008 were proposed by Jean Downie and seconded by David Morrish and accepted as an accurate record.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of July 2008 meeting

3.1 Drumoak Sewage Treatment Plant

John Hopkins reported that the most recent communication from Aberdeenshire Council concerning the Freedom of Information (FoI) request had stated that it was hoped to send the requested information during week beginning 4 August 2008.

Graeme Clark had emailed Steven Scott of Scottish Water and understood that the site engineer was to be one John Ritchie.

Don Keith asked whether the minutes of the 1 May 2008 meeting at Viewmount were yet available. To again request a copy of these minutes (Action: Graeme Clark)

Local rumour - the most reliable source of information on this subject - currently suggested that Sewage Plant Upgrade completion was still at least two years away (i.e. 2010).

3.2 Durris School - Proposed Car park

David Morrish reported that he had spoken to Stewart Young (factor for the Estate) about the parking at Woodlands of Durris. He was told that the latest version of the plan for new housing incorporated car parking, but that the need to negotiate of a Section 75 Agreement - and other reasons – meant that this was some way into the future.

Concerning the proposal for a temporary car park in the field opposite the School, all parties (the Estate, the tenant farmer, McIntoshes) were content to proceed, but there was a delay with the Council. To ask the Planners to “come to the table” (Action: Graeme Clark)

CDDCC confirmed that it was happy to submit the relevant Planning Application (obtaining the 50% discount), provided that it were prepared by one of the principal parties involved.

3.3 Crathes Schools - Proposed Car park

Linda Clark had spoken to Chris Charnley, to tell him that a Planning Application was awaited from him, but cautioned that the ranks of the planners in Marr were depleted at present.

3.4 Myrebird Junction and other Roads Issues

Les Bray – injured in the Myrebird junction crash – had attended the meeting to express his concern that CDDCC’s focus had moved away from the Myrebird Junction, in favour of other sites.

David Morrish said that he had assured Les Bray that CDDCC would still be pursuing the issue of the Myrebird junction. He understood that the Roads Department had done the topographical survey, although he himself did not yet know the outcome.

Les Bray outlined the circumstances of his accident, noting that a mirror - sited to assist drivers emerging from the junction – had since been removed.

The possible causes of the accident and possible actions to avert a repeat were discussed. It was felt that to install Halt signs (with solid white line at the junction), rather than Give Way signs (with dotted lines) would be a worthwhile and not overly-expensive action at such locations. To ask the Roads Department for this to be done, both at the Myrebird junction and at Crathes where the road north from the Durris Bridge meets the North Deeside Road (Action: Graeme Clark)

John Hopkins reported that he had written to Mark Skilling asking how best to proceed with the suggested improvement at the South Deeside Road junction with Park Bridge Road, although – because he had written only recently – not yet received a reply.

It was noted that the speed-sensitive 40 mph sign at the eastern end of Drumoak was once again obscured by the rampant growth of the willow hedge. To determine who – whether Stewart Milne or the Council -

has responsibility for this hedge and get it cut back (Action: Graeme Clark)

David Morrish noted that he had emailed the Police, asking for improved attendance at CDDCC meetings. There was still no Police representation at the meeting, however.

4. Drumoak Youth Project

Caroline Cruickshank reported that she was submitting 6 further grant applications for DYP. She had recently been approached by local young people asking for skate park equipment. She suggested they collect signatures for a petition for this. They had obtained twenty-three. To progress the proposal for skate park equipment (Action: Caroline Cruickshank)

Caroline Cruickshank also noted that the Drumoak Park improvements now looked very impressive and the park was being well-patronised.

It was noted that Highland Games participants had been practising hammer-throwing in the park and that – apart from the hazard to other users – this was causing numerous holes in the ground. It was felt that they should be practicing in corners of harvested fields.

It was also noted that an unacceptable level of vandalism and aggressive behaviour was still occurring in parts of Drumoak. Les Bray reported that older people in his area of Drumoak lived in fear of this, but remained afraid to complain for fear of retaliation.

A discussion ensued about ways of dealing with this. The Crimestoppers phone line was mentioned, but criticised as anecdotally not leading to any useful action. The placing of ASBOs on parents of errant young people was also mentioned, but this would require action by the Police or Council, which seemed notably lacking.

Molly Atkinson said that part of the response to this problem should be to report all such incidents and keep on reporting them. This was generally agreed to be right, notwithstanding the belief within CDDCC that it was largely ineffective.

To write to the Chief Constable of Grampian Police, expressing CDDCC’s dissatisfaction with the lack of effective Police response to the problem and also mentioning the recent Glebe incident (Action: John Hopkins)

5. Planning and Other Issues

5.1 New Planning Applications

None to report.

5.2 Church in Banchory

David Morrish exhibited a copy of the drawings for the proposed new Church. This (architecturally-undistinguished) building would be between the Hill of Banchory Business Park and the Woodend Barn i.e. north of the Tesco site. It would have tree planting to ameliorate the view from the south.

5.3 Proposed new Tesco Supermarket, Banchory

David Morrish showed some pictures from his laptop to illustrate the level of landscaping in supermarket carparks in England. He expressed the hope that the new Tesco in Banchory would have such features, rather than being the sort of asphalt desert common in the North East, not least at Tesco at Westhill and at Bridge of Don. This was particularly important at the Tesco site would become the gateway to Banchory.

As the proposed Tesco was (just) outside the CDDCC area, to send copies of the pictures to Banchory Community Council prior to their meeting on 11 August (Action: David Morrish)

6. Access Issues

6.1 Overgrowth of Deeside Way

To contact Craig Stewart of Aberdeenshire Council requesting the speedy cutting-back of the considerable overgrowth of plantlife along the Deeside Way, between Dalmaik and Park Bridge Road in particular. This had been the cause of an accident, by concealing one of the large rocks intended to stop cars using the path (Action: Ann Ross)

6.2 Core Paths Plan

A disk had been received, containing the first consultation draft of the Core Paths Plan. This was believed to contain the same material that was now on the Web.

To send a detailed reply to Jim Brunton about the inclusion of Barrowsgate (Action: Molly Atkinson)

7. Draft Structure Plan

To draft comments to be considered at the September meeting (Action: David Morrish and John Hopkins)

To include the requirement to landscape supermarket carparks in the above comments (Action: John Hopkins)

8. Data Protection Registration

John Hopkins reported that he had followed-up the correspondence with the local MP and MSP on this matter. The reply had been circulated to CDDCC.

John Hopkins and Jean Downie would be attending the presentation by Ken MacDonald of ICO on 25 August at Woodhill House.

9. New Irvine Arms Licence Application

Caroline Cruickshank had consulted local residents and received little in the way of adverse comment on the proposed New Irvine Arms.

10. Litter near Drumoak bus shelter

It had been observed that the problem of litter near the bus shelter had improved – at least temporarily - once more, although no reply had been received to the second letter sent to Aberdeen Journals on this subject.

11. Bike Run

To publicise a new date for the CDDCC bike run (Action: David Morrish)

12. Next Meeting

1930 hours, 2 September 2008, Irvine Arms, Drumoak

JFH 06/08/08

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