10 03 02

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

2 March 2010 at Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1.      Sederunt

Community Councillors: Ann Ross, Jenny Watson, Diana Robertson, John Baillie (Acting Chairman), Nicola Chambury, Geoffrey Atkinson, Jim Williamson

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

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

Member of the public: Rosemary Pirie, Mickey Ramsay, Dave Shand, Michael McKendrick, Amanda McKendrick, Gillian Bruce, John Hopkins, Molly Atkinson

For Community Learning & Development, Banchory: Alison Ritchie

For Drumoak School Council: Gary Cormack

For SSPCA: Jim McArthur (Hardies); Michael Pruett (SSPCA); Lynn Suttie (Hardies)

Apologies: David Morrish, Wendy Agnew

 

 

2.      Previous Minutes

 

The minutes of February 2010 were proposed by Ann Ross and seconded by Geoffrey Atkinson and accepted as an accurate record. 

 

3.      Presentation on behalf of SSPCA re Proposed Animal Refuge

 

At the invitation of John Baillie, Jim McArthur (Hardies) introduced himself, Michael Pruett (SSPCA) and Lynn Suttie (Hardies project manager).

 

Jim McArthur noted that the Aberdeenshire SPCA had merged into SSPCA some years ago, with a proviso to the merger being that SSPCA would provide an Animal Refuge in Aberdeenshire.  They had subsequently been fortunate to have been bequeathed five fields in Drum.

 

The proposed Animal Refuge was not just a “dog and cat home”.  It would also have other small animals and horses.

 

There were six SSPCA staff currently operating within Aberdeenshire.  As some ten people would be required at the Refuge, there would be some employment created locally, although the management positions would probably be filled from elsewhere.  Houses would be built onsite for the two managers and families.

 

Planning permission had been granted, but SSPCA were now applying for variations to the conditions of that Permission.  These were entirely to omit the noise protection bund, to add some trees and to modify the design of the houses.  Omitting the bund would save SSPCA (a charity) a substantial amount of money.  Jim McArthur claimed that omitting the bund and planting some trees instead would avoid spoiling the views in the area.  They had also redesigned the centre, repositioning the individual dog runs to face the courtyard interior of the building, although the dog exercise cages were not shielded in this way.

 

Amanda McKendrick (who lives in the immediately-adjacent Daisy Cottage) said that the key issue was how much noise would come from the site.

 

Michael Pruett said that he currently lived on a site with a large number of dogs and that well-trained dogs did not bark.

 

Rosemary Pirie said that she had visited a similar site in Cambridge, with 70 to 80 dogs, and she considered there was no noise problem there.

 

Gillian Bruce pointed out that the new noise report stated that the local area could be considered “semi-industrial”.

 

John Baillie asked what decibels were predicted at the edge of the site, so that the meeting could compare this figure with known noise levels.  Jim McArthur said that he could not state these.

 

Jenny Watson notes that she kept working dogs in her kennels and that there were no complaints from neighbours, because of the muffling effect of the trees on her property.  These, however, were mature trees.  Was there any commitment to plant the trees early and would they be of sufficient size?

 

John Baillie said that the Community Council would discuss the issues amongst themselves later in the meeting and thanked Jim McArthur for the presentation.  The SSPCA representatives left the meeting.

 

 

4.      Drumoak School

 

Gary Cormack (Drumoak School Council) said that the potential Keithmuir Park site for the school was no longer an option, as the HSE had changed the guidelines on building adjacent to pipelines.  The School Council had campaigned against the site proposed by the Council, which was immediately adjacent to an electricity sub-station and away from the centre of the settlement.  More recently, it appeared that the Council’s planners were going to change the proposed site to the area (identified as P1 on their maps) that was immediately north of Sunnyside Farm.  Gary Cormack said that this would be a welcome change.

 

Graeme Clark confirmed that the planners’ new preferred site was, indeed, P1.  This would formally be proposed to Councillors the following week.

 

 

5.      Community Learning & Development

 

Alison Ritchie was invited to make her presentation by John Baillie.  She said that she had not been sure what was the format of the CDDCC meeting and had brought numerous materials to cover all eventualities.

 

In view of the crowded nature of the agenda, she simply decided to describe relevant current actions.  These were to:-

 

 

The objective of these actions was to implement a local programme from the Autumn 2010 term onwards.

 

Nicola Chambury asked whether similar actions were envisaged for Crathes.  Alison Ritchie confirmed that they were.

 

 

6.      Police Matters

 

John Baillie gave a summary of the recent report (available on www.durris.net) from PC Wayne Smart.  This noted that problems had continued to be at a low level, although minor snow-related roads incidents had occurred.

 

Wayne Smart had made enquiries of the Road Traffic department about snow on cars.  He had been advised that bulletins about winter driving were issued to local papers and radio.  If anyone is seen driving with snow on the windscreen, police deal with this as an offence.  Driving with snow on the roof or bonnet of the car is not an offence, however.  It is a matter of common sense to sweep this off before driving.

 

There would be a further Police Surgery on Monday 15th March between 11am and 1pm.  This will be advertised via posters and the local newsletter.

 

 

7.      Planning

7.1  Proposed House to North East of Park Smithy, Drumoak

Copies of the proposed house for an “agricultural worker” were circulated.  Whilst recognising that it was not the province of CDDCC to comment on what size and style of house was suitable for an agricultural worker, it did seem likely in this case that the agricultural worker argument was simply a way of attempting to evade planning controls, in order to build a large house in the countryside.

 

To submit a comment on the Application, drawing the attention of the Planners to the need to permit only genuine agricultural worker exemptions and, where appropriate, to enforce this condition (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)

 

7.2  Upper Park Houses and Steading Conversion, Drumoak

Geoffrey Atkinson noted that this planning application (to which CDDCC had objected) had been withdrawn, although a resubmission would not be a surprise.

 

7.3  Infill House on South Side of North Deeside Road, Drumoak

Although the proposed house seemed somewhat oversized for the smallish site (west of the Stewart Milne houses), it was probably not more so than certain houses elsewhere in Aberdeen City and Shire.

 

7.4 Proposed House east of West Park Farm

To write to the Council querying the justification for a house here in the countryside (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson).

 

7.5  Playing Fields, Milton of Crathes

An application for increasing the size of the soccer changing rooms at the playing fields at Milton of Crathes was noted without comment.

 

7.6  House extensions at Durrisdeer and Gardeners Cottage (Durris)

These were noted without comment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

7.7 Animal Welfare Centre, Drumoak

Rosemary Pirie noted that it was not clear what the “landscaping” in the revised Application consisted of.

 

John Hopkins noted that if the noise report did indeed describe the area as semi-industrial in nature, then this was a serious error and could invalidate the report.  Michael McKendrick argued that the Planners should commission an independent noise report, rather than rely on one from a consultant paid by the applicant.

 

To send a letter of Objection, making reference to the noise and landscape issues (Action: John Baillie)

 

7.8 Local Area Plan (Main Issues Report)

Graeme Clark said that the Main Issues Report for Kincardine & Mearns Area would be discussed by Councillors in the coming week.  It was understood that, for the local area, the Planners would recommend:-

 

·         Drum – any development to be under the Rural Development Policy

·         Drumoak – site North of Sunnyside Farm to be reserved for new School: up to 35 houses in the site north of this

·         Durris – No additional development in Woodside, Kirkton or Denside

·         Park Quarry Eco-village – not needed, contrary to Structure Plan, not to be included in Local Plan

·         Park – 6 houses on site West of Drumoak Public Hall

 

The Main Issues Report for Marr Area (which covers Crathes) is still under preparation.

 

7.9 Car Showroom

Ann Ross drew attention to the need for CDDCC to avoid being misquoted in the Press or elsewhere as being in favour of (or against) particular developments.  Jill Webster observed that certain local newspapers often misquoted Councillors on such matters.

 

7.10 Peterculter Burn Development

Whilst outside the CDDCC area, the proposed Peterculter Burn Development is close to the boundary.  For that reason, details had been copied to CDDCC.  There would be a public meeting on this development.

 

 

8. Road Safety

8.1 Myrebird Junction

Jenny Watson noted that a further accident had occurred at this junction.  She also noted that the “transponder” system seemed to be working erratically.  If anything, this increased the danger to schoolchildren.  To invite a representative for the Roads Department to the next meeting (Action: Jenny Watson).  Jill Webster asked that local people be reminded that – for trials such as that of the “transponder” system - it was important for them to report any negative (or positive) experiences to the Council.  The relevant phone numbers were all included in the booklet recently issued along with Council Tax Demands.

 

 

9        Youth Amenity

It was noted that Durris School had recently been inspected by OFSTED.  Issues identified included the need for the carpark opposite the school and for a possible increase in catchment area.

 

 

10    Barrier near Park Bridge

David Morrish and John Baillie had inspected the site and had agreed that action was required.  To write to the Council (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

11    Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF)

To draft a letter to Iain Gabriel (Council representative on ACSEF) asking what is their remit and why there is apparently no democratic input (Action: David Morrish and Nicola Chambury).

 

 

12     Robbie Ross’s Loch

To investigate options (Action: Diana Robertson).

 

 

13    Administration Grant

To inform Aberdeenshire Council that CDDCC continued to believe it inappropriate to register under the Data Protection Act and, accordingly, to return the sum of £35 (Action: John Hopkins).

 

 

 

14    Next Meeting

7.30 p.m. on 6 April at the Irvine Arms.

 

 

JFH

8 March 2010

 

 

 

Distribution

Email

Email

Email

Post

Other

CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson)

Danny Law (Deeside Piper)

Insp. Andrew Todd

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)

Insp. Jim Gordon

Banchory Public Library

 

Cllrs. Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward 18)

Kirkton of Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sheila Watt)

PC Wayne Smart

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)

By Hand

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Crathes Hall Notice Board (via Nicola Chambury)

 

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Alister Bisset

Local Newsletter Editor (Don Keith)

 

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)