09 12 01
Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
(CDDCC)
Minutes of Meeting
1
December 2009 at Drumoak Church Hall from 19.30 hours
1.
Sederunt
Community
Councillors:
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18): Graeme Clark, Peter Bellarby
Aberdeenshire Councillors (North Kincardine): Paul Melling
Members
of the public: William Downie, Molly Atkinson,
Apologies: Doug Allstaff, Ann Ross
2.
Drumoak Public Hall
Jenny Watson drew attention to the state of Drumoak Public Hall. Although this was known to be the responsibility of the Council, maintenance had been neglected over a long period and, more recently, the Hall’s insurance had been allowed to run out, with the result that the booking of the Hall for dog-training had been refused.
Graeme Clark noted that the new School and the new Irvine Arms should both have accommodation for meetings.
Jenny Watson suggested that the people of Drumoak should be asked what they wanted, in terms of a Public Hall, given that there would be likely to be certain limitations on the usage of School and Public House.
To invite Evelyn Crossan, of the Drumoak Public Hall Committee, to the January meeting so that CDDCC can learn more about the situation (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson).
3.
Police Matters
David Morrish noted that more Police Reports had recently been
received. To put these Reports on the
website (Action: John Hopkins).
It was also noted that local policeman Wayne Smart would be bringing a
specialised police van to Drumoak on 17 December, to conduct a “surgery”. This could be the start of a series. He was looking for a suitable place to locate
the van. To ask the Bowling Club for permission
for this and to inform David Morrish, who would pass the message to Wayne Smart
(Action: Diana Robertson)
4.
Planning (Local)
4.1 Crathes
Nothing to report.
4.2 Drumoak
Geoffrey Atkinson reported that he had sent comments about the proposed
row of houses at Upper Park.
To review the proposal for a house to the east of West Park Farm (itself
adjacent to the Myrebird Junction) and comment if necessary (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson).
4.3 Durris
A planning application had been made in September 2009 for a restaurant and staff accomodation at Cairn Mon Earn (on the Slug Road). Foundations and some walling had been built on this site during the last year or so, under a previous planning permission. This location was formerly the site of a café, which “went on fire” many years back.
CDDCC decided to support the application. To register this view on the website (Action: David Morrish)
5
Correspondence
5.1 Northern Community
Justice Authority
It was noted that NCJA was looking for community projects on which to
utilise persons sentenced to community service.
5.2 Preparing for Flooding
Two substantial pamphlets on Preparing for Flooding for Small and Medium
Sized Businesses were received. To put
material relevant to households onto the website (Action: John Hopkins)
The repeated problem of water run-off from Keithmuir Park into local
authority and private housing was discussed.
It was noted that the relevant Council contact was Stephen McFarland at
Stonehaven.
6.
Road Safety
6.1 Myrebird Junction
There had been no apparent progress.
To be reviewed at the January meeting (Action: CDDCC)
6.2 Bus Stop in Drumoak
Geoffrey Atkinson noted that the siting of the eastbound bus stop in
Drumoak (which was opposite Park Bridge Road) caused a hazard when vehicles
overtaking a stationary bus could be in collision with vehicles turning out of
Park Bridge Road. To raise this with
Neil Stewart at Woodhill House, who is the Bus Forum representative (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)
It was noted that there was another eastbound bus stop in Drumoak, about
150 yards to the west
6.3 Flood debris on
Roads
To email Malcolm Christie (Mark Skilling’s replacement), drawing to his
attention, the sand and shingle on the road 100 yards north of the junction of
South Deeside Road and Park Bridge Road – and any other such instances (Action: John Baillie)
6.4 Floodlight in
Carpark at Garden Centre at Mains of Drum
Molly Atkinson drew attention to the problem for westbound drivers
caused by the above. To write to the
Garden Centre on this in the first instance (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)
7.
Drumoak School
John Baillie raised the matter of the recent letter from Aberdeenshire Council about the siting of the new School. To email him with information about the historical background to the potential Keithmuir Park site (Action: John Hopkins)
To act as the link to the School Council, ensuring that any relevant
CDDCC correspondence is passed to them
(Action: John Baillie)
8.
Barrier near Park Bridge
To draft an email to Malcolm Christie along
the following lines (Action: John
Hopkins)
There is a
vertical drop (perhaps 30 feet) immediately outside the line of the
now-dilapidated fence. Because of the
traffic priority rules for the bridge, cars travelling southwards often had to
pull off the road to the left at this precise point. Don Keith noted that – because of the
cloaking effect of the tree at the south-west flank – this manoeuvre often had
to be done suddenly.
To send the draft email on behalf of CDDCC (Action: David Morrish)
9.
Banchory Town Forum
To represent CDDCC on this body
(Action: David Morrish)
10. “Future of
Aberdeenshire”
Peter Bellamy said that there had been a meeting in Marr Area to discuss
how to deal with expected budget cuts for Aberdeenshire Council. There would also be one for K&M Area, to
which it would be useful for CDDCC to send a representative.
11. Aberdeen City and Shire
Economic Future (ACSEF)
It was noted that the above body, which is apparently behind the
proposal to build over Union Terrace Gardens (notwithstanding an existing
planning permission) is an unelected quango, with representation only from
Councillors and business.
To draft a letter to Christine Gore asking about this and any similar
bodies attended by Councillors or Council Officers, in particular what is their
remit and why is there apparently no democratic input (Action: David Morrish and Nicola Chambury).
12 AOCB
Geoffrey Atkinson and Diana Robertson said that they want to see a regeneration
of – and improved public access to - Robbie Ross’s Loch, which is hidden in
woods to the east of the Drum Castle site.
They would come forward with a proposal at a later date (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson and Diana
Robertson).
It was suggested that Cordiner’s (believed to be the landowner) might be
prepared to help in this.
13 Next Meeting
7.30 on 5 January at the Irvine Arms
JFH
4 December 2009
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Distribution |
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Email |
Email |
Email |
Post |
Other |
|
CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson) |
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Insp.
|
Jenny Watson |
Website
http://www.durris.net/ (also for
previous minutes) |
|
Cllrs. Linda Clark, Karen Clark, Jill Webster (Ward 16) |
Leanna
MacLarty (Press and Journal) |
|
Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie) |
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Cllrs. Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward
18) |
Kirkton
of Durris Hall Notice Board (via |
PC |
Banchory
Public Library |
By Hand |
|
Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns |
Rev. |
Crathes Hall Notice Board (via Nicola Chambury) |
Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith) |
Park
Shop (via |
|
Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr |
Neighbourhood
Watch Co-ordinator – |
Local
Newsletter Editor (Don Keith) |
|
Drumoak
Post Office (via |