09 02 03

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

Tuesday 3 February 2009 – Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1. Sederunt

 

Community Councillors: Tony Butcher, Jean Downie, David Morrish, Jenny Watson, Ann Ross, Diana Robertson, Nicola Chambury, John Baillie, Doug Allstaff

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

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

Members of Public:  Marian McNeill, Barry McNeill, John Hopkins

Police Representative:  PC Wayne Smart

Apologies: Geoffrey Atkinson, Wendy Agnew

 

 

2. Minutes of August 2008

 

The minutes of January 2009 were proposed by Jean Downie and seconded by Ann Ross and accepted as an accurate record.

 

 

3. Potential Travellers’ Camp at Jackieshillock

 

Ann Ross stated that she, amongst others, had heard credible reports that Aberdeenshire Council proposed to overturn the covenant that restricted the use of Jackieshillock to training and to convert it into a travellers’ encampment.  Peter Bellarby said that he had heard a similar story and had asked Willie Munro (Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns) for clarification.  Jenny Watson said that the site had been considered, but that she believed that it had been deemed unsuitable for travellers.  She noted that the relevant Aberdeenshire Council contact for travellers was David Cooper of the Environmental Services Department.

 

To chase Willie Munro for a definitive answer on this issue (Action: Graeme Clark)

 

 

4. Speeding on Slug Road

 

Don Allstaff, supported by Ann Ross, raised the continuing issue of speeding on the Slug Road.

 

Either a speed lower limit or possibly a pedestrian crossing for Deeside Way walkers seemed to be the only way to limit excess speed here.  In response to a question, Wayne Smart said that he believed it would not be possible to install a pedestrian crossing whilst the road remained at the national speed limit of 60 mph.

 

To write to Mark Skilling, raising the issue once more and asking for a statement of what Aberdeenshire Council proposed to do about it (Action:  Doug Allstaff)

 

(Note: the road north of Durris Bridge, to which this minute refers, is technically not part of the Slug Road, which actually turns west towards Bridge of Feugh and Banchory before crossing the Dee - having been the toll road from Banchory to Stonehaven).

 

 

5.  SSPCA

 

Jean Downie stated that attention had been drawn to the issues of flooding and potential noise problems in relation to the proposed Animal Shelter at Mains of Drum.  She had obtained an extension to the date for comment, owing to the delayed publication of plans on the A/C website.

 

John Baillie drew attention to the surprisingly large number (35) of car-parking spaces.

 

Jenny Watson proposed that no action be taken by CDDCC until receipt of the SEPA and noise reports.

 

 

6.  Drainage on A93

 

Two particular flooding problems on A93 were drawn to CDDCC’s attention.  To draw these and other flooding instances to the attention of Mark Skilling (Action: Doug Allstaff)

 

Jill Webster noted that this was an ideal time to raise such concerns, as the Roads Department were currently putting together their Road Maintenance program for 2009.

 

Jenny Watson stated that, in view of the repeated flooding on the North Deeside Road adjacent to her property, she had asked the police for a portable FLOOD road sign, which she undertook to display when there was a problem.  To determine the progress of this proposal (Action: Wayne Smart)

 

 

7. CHAP’s advertising hoardings on South Deeside Road

 

Numerous reports had been received about the signs advertising the “Eco-Village”.  As there was no planning permission for this, this appeared premature.  The installation of advertising hoardings in the countryside also seemed illegal.  To contact Aberdeenshire Council planners to query both the permission for a sign and its content (Action: Jean Downie)

 

 

8. Comments on Local Plan

 

The draft letters in reply to Piers Blaxter’s letter of 2 December for (a) Crathes, Woodside of Durris and Kirkton of Durris (b) Drumoak and surrounding areas were read aloud to CDDCC.  Both had been circulated prior to the meeting, but several members had not yet had time to read the email.

 

Subject to the deletion of one line - about the current recession - in the second of these two letters, both were agreed by CDDCC.  To send both letters by email (with copy to Robert Grey, Head of Planning Services) on the following day (Action: David Morrish)

 

Nicola Chambury observed that a frequent comment at the Crathes public meeting had been that it was wrong that single house developments were banned by the Council, yet whole housing estates permitted.

 

Jill Webster said that the Council’s single house policy was once more under review.

 

 

8. Proposed Low Cost Housing at Denside of Durris

 

Jean Downie reported that she had, the previous day, been handed a courtesy copy of a bid for inclusion in the Local Plan for circa 16 houses (all to be marketed on an Affordable basis) at Denside of Durris.  This was regarded by CDDCC as somewhat surprising, as their deadline for comment was 4 February – and that itself was an extension.

 

It appeared, however, that the Local Plan deadline for builders and developers had been extended.

 

John Baillie proposed that CDDCC should send its two letters by 4 February, dealing with any further developments subsequently.  This was agreed.

 

 

9. Drumoak School

 

Marion McNeill informed CDDCC as a courtesy that the H&S representative of one of the Teaching Unions had visited Drumoak School and was preparing an adverse report thereupon.  A recent School Inspectorate report had been very favourable to the School and it was clarified that the Union report would be on the inadequacy of facilities, not on the results obtained despite these.

 

Graeme Clark stated that a new School for Drumoak was in the Council’s Plan.

 

 

10.  Drumoak Youth Project

.

To invite Gail Bleakley to attend future CDDCC meetings (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

11. CDDCC Priorities for 2009

 

The inclusion of Concerns about Health Service Availability amongst CDDCC’s priorities for 2009 was queried.  After discussion, it was agreed to drop this item from the list of explicit priorities.

 

The list for 2009 therefore becomes:-

 

  • Road Safety
  • Affordable Housing
  • Youth Amenity
  • New School for Drumoak
  • Continued successful operation of Crathes and Woodlands School
  • Strategic Plan and Local Development Plan
  • Engagement of CDDCC with its Constituents

 

 

12.  Local Community Planning

 

In the light of the non-appearance of the scheduled presentation on Local Community Planning, to contact Jacqui Christie or Karelia Wright to see if they wished to address the April meeting of CDDCC (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

13.  Report from Grampian Police

 

Wayne Smart reported that there had been nothing major in the local area in the past few months, although he was aware of a recent RTC (Road Traffic Collision – the term “accident” now being unfashionable) on the North Deeside Road.  To research this further and inform CDDCC (Action: Wayne Smart).

 

There had also been a number of break-ins in the last few months, involving Banchory-Devenick and Durris.  The targets were isolated dwellings, whilst unoccupied.  Police had identified two suspect groups operating out from Aberdeen City.  One was of a male and a female and the other of three males.  They had not yet been able to associate either these groups or others with the break-ins.  Householders were advised to keep stealable possessions out of sight, where possible, and to fit – and use – burglar alarms.

 

Wayne Smart noted that the end of the poor weather would mean the return of motorcycle speeding problems on local roads.  This year, there would be additional police motorcycle patrols.

 

 

14. Planning Applications

 

14.1 Durris

 

Jean Downie reported that there were 5 planning applications in respect of Upper Balfour Farm (on the road from Woodlands towards Kirkton).  All planning applications, including these, could be found on the Aberdeenshire Council website - see http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/apps/

 

The Upper Balfour Farm applications (APP/4342/2008, APP/4343/2008, APP/4344/2008, APP/4345/2008 and APP/4346/2008) cumulatively seemed like a substantial development.  To look at these applications (Action: CDDCC members).  If there were concerns about the developments, these could be addressed amongst CDDCC members, in advance of the March meeting, via email.

 

There was also an application to convert Dhault Hall into a two-bedroom house.  As this appeared to involve no external extension, it was regarded by CDDCC as uncontentious.

 

14.2 Crathes

 

Nothing additional, of note.

 

14.3 Drumoak

 

Nothing additional, of note.

 

 

15. Culter Car Showroom

 

Graeme Clark reported that the planners would not tell the applicants in advance where the pipelines were, so the application had been deferred whilst the H&SE were contacted for this information.

 

 

16.  Correspondence

 

Jean Downie and Ann Ross described - and circulated to interested members - various items of received correspondence.

 

To offer a slot at the May meeting for a proposed presentation on Community Learning (Action: Ann Ross)

 

To offer a slot at the June meeting for a proposed presentation on Community Composting (Action: John Hopkins)

 

To attend the Marr Area Forum (Action: Tony Butcher)

 

 

17. Next Monthly Meeting

 

In the light of the numbers attending the meeting and the numbers likely to attend the scheduled presentation by CHAP, to investigate the availability of the Crathes Hall for the March meeting (Action: Doug Allstaff) (DONE).  Note: Crathes Hall not available, owing to a cultural event.

 

Unless a further alternative is found, the meeting will be at 1930 hours, 3 March 2009, Irvine Arms, Drumoak

 

 

JFH 6/2/09

 

 

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)

Kirkton of Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sheila Watt)

Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)

 

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Banchory Public Library

By Hand

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

Insp. Jim Gordon

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

Insp. Stuart Ednie

PC Wayne Smart

 

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)