NMCC
2006-2007 (762- 775)
[The
postponed January Meeting]
Members:
Mr
Fergus Hood (Chairman)
[FH] Mr Alexander Buchan [AB]
Mr
Mike Taylor
(Secretary) [MT] Mr Robert Loughridge [RL]
Mrs
Fiona Duncan (Treasurer)
[FD] Mr Martin Morley, JP [MM]
Prof
Roy Bridges (Minute Sec.) [RB]
Mrs Pamela Young [PY]
Mr
Gordon Murray
[GM]
In attendance ex officio: Councillor Dr
Martin Ford [CllrF]
Abbreviations:
AC = Aberdeenshire Council; NMCC =
Newmachar Community Council
Apologies were recorded for: Mr Roberet Loughridge and Councillor Ford
In attendance as visitor(s): George Richardson; Terry Richardson; Nick Dunbar
(Turriff Com Coun); Richard Page; Irene Dunbar, Ann Buist and Isabel Page
(Oldmeldrum Com Coun); Caroline Alexander; Alan Alexander; Linden Wemyss; Tom
Milne; Hilary Milne; RB Ross; John Macintosh; Jim Mackintosh; Sean Bate (Evening Express).
Minutes
The
Minutes of the meeting of
(i) FH welcomed the visitors to the meeting,
especially the representatives from other community councils, who had come to
help NMCC formulate its reactions to the latest plans for the Northern Leg of
the AWPR as presented at the Consultation meeting in Newmachar on 25th
January. He invited each person present
to make a comment on the plans as they were revealed in the map, Figure 17, included
in the consultation documents. The
following points emerged.
1.
The proposed arrangements for the Parkhill Junction (A947/B977)and the Goval
Junction (AWPR/A947) had emerged to public notice only during the 25th
January Consultation. Too little time
had been available for these arrangements – so different as they were from the
earlier plans – to become known and understood by those likely to be affected
by them. Some residents had endeavoured
to obtain information earlier but had found officials unwilling to divulge
information.
2.
The Parkhill Junction arrangements plus the realignments of the A 947 both to
the north and south seemed unlikely to ease the current congestion experienced
in the area. The fact that, apparently –
although this was not indicated on the map – there would be four sets of
traffic lights, underlined the shortcomings of the proposals.
3.
The proposed A947/ AWPR Goval Junction was unsatisfactory, especially for
traffic coming from Newmachar and points further north. Access to the east and northbound
carriageways of the AWPR would be comparatively easy but much more traffic
would need to proceed southwards. This
would involve doubling back, negotiating two sets of traffic lights, a very
sharp left turn and a roundabout before the slip road was reached. Conversely, northbound traffic on the AWPR
trying to continue on the A947 would have a similarly convoluted route to
negotiate.
4.
None of the proposed arrangements seemed likely effectively to separate local
and through traffic or, indeed, to pay sufficient attention to the needs of
local traffic which was likely to be much greater in volume than through
traffic.
5.
Farming activity in the area of the two junctions would be adversely affected,
especially on Goval Farm. Expert opinion
is available to show that an alternative route slightly further north for the
AWPR in the Goval area would be perfectly viable and would make it possible to
avoid disruption to farming on the best parts of the land and also to avoid
destroying the ecological balance along the Goval Burn. It was also believed that the existence of
two oil pipelines did not necessitate the particular route chosen.
6.
There was concern about the effects of the scheme on the existing network of
local roads in the area. The Newmachar
Church Road (the ‘back road) would be inconveniently re-routed near the AWPR
leaving access to houses built along the ‘cut off’ sections much more difficult
for various services such as waste collection.
There were similar concerns in relation to the existing
7.
In addition to the concerns about the Parkhill and Goval Junctions, there were
worries about access to the Kirkhill Industrial Estate, the Aerodrome and the
Proposed Rail freight Terminal.. The
needs of commuters and commercial users coming from the north seemed to have
been ignored.
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(ii)
Some respondents, for various reasons, questioned the whole concept of the AWPR
but the meeting unanimously agreed that, if the scheme were to be proceeded
with in its present broad form, the arrangements for the Parkhill and Goval
Junctions must be rethought. NMCC would
itself send an official objection to the arrangements for this part of the
scheme covering the essence of the objections outlined above.
(iii)
FH urged individuals also to send in their own letters of objection before 9th
February. He also expressed the hope
that the Evening Express would run a
feature on the results of the meeting.
763. Impending Resignation of Chairman
Members
of NMCC took note of the fact that their Chairman would in the fairly near
future cease to be either a resident or the owner of a business in Newmachar
and therefore lose his eligibility to be a member. Clauses 5.1.1, 4.2.2 and 8.1.3 of the
Constitution were noted as not fully providing for the situation. The matter would be considered again at a
later meeting.
764. Request from Mrs Yvonne Cowieson
The
School Crossing officer, Mrs Cowieson, had asked whether NMCC could help her to
be provided with a shelter from inclement weather in the Pedestrian Crossing
area. Worries were expressed about
possible vandalism and traffic sightline obstruction. It was agreed that FH should advise Mrs
Cowieson to make an approach to her employers and that NMCC should be kept
informed of the situation.
765. Reflective Bands for Schoolchildren (See
Minute 751)
FH
reported that, through cooperation from Miss Tobin the Head Teacher and the
Police, a successful presentation at the School had taken place on the 25th
January as reported in the Press and
Journal . The bands themselves were
beginning to be worn. Grampian Police
had contributed £200.00 and NMCC £400.00 towards the costs of the bands.
766. Estimates for Printing Newmachar News (See Minute 743)
(i)
PY reported that Estimates for 1650 copies had been received from Langstane
Press, Claymore Graphics and McKenzie Print (formerly Rainbow Press). McKenzie had made a largely satisfactory job
of the Winter issue and their estimate at £819.00 per issue was lower than the
others. It was therefore agreed on the
motion of FH, seconded by MM, that the editorial team’s recommendation be
endorsed and that McKenzie be awarded the contract for one year.
(ii)
PY also reported that to meet increasing demands for advertising space, the
editorial team proposed to introduce two-line’classified’ type adverts for
those waiting for a quarter- or half-page slot.
767. Website and Newsletter Contacts (See
Minute 742)
FH
announced that he had asked for the NMCC website to have an announcement on the
home page that the Community Council would not communicate with anyone who did
not provide a full name and contact address.
A similar announcement should be made in the Newsletter.
768. Composting Scheme (See
Minute 755)
It
was agreed to postpone further consideration to a later date.
769. Youth Project (See
Minute 744)
(i)
It was noted that AC had paid for the construction of the path to the Centre. Further delay was the result of the need for
better disabled access.
(ii)
MM expressed the hope that the centre would open soon and praised the work of
all those involved in producing a really worthwhile addition to the community’s
facilities.
770. Hall Project (See
Minute 747)
(i)
GM asked that a page on the website be provided for news of the progress of the
Project. This was agreed and the Project
committee was asked to prepare the material they wanted to have displayed for
the webmaster to include it.
(ii)
GM announced that a disco on 23 February, a Casino Night on 30th
March plus the Summer Fun Day and Larig Ghru walk should bring in enough money
for the target to be almost reached.
(iii)
GM further announced the need for more volunteers to help with the various
activities.
771. Bus Services (See
Minute 748)
MT
had received a letter from Stagecoach saying that the NMCC complaint was being
investigated.
772. Village Notice Board
(See Minute 745)
PY
reported that tubs of a drying agent were too big to fit in. MM suggested efforts to obtain silica gel
should be made. FH agreed to
investigate.
773. Garioch Forum Business
(i) RB reported on the
AC Budget Briefing Meeting of
(ii) RB reported there
had been received the Scottish Executive Response to the Consultation Exercise
on “What Can We Do to Help Community Councils?” Ministers promise to make
public their decisions and recommendations in the near future. The Report itself does little more than set
out the nature and number of the replies received in the consultation. There is no indication that recommendations
made by the Garioch Forum for enhanced status and responsibilities for
community councils will be accepted. However,
ideas such as all CC elections being held on the same day in a local authority
area and a 16 years of age voting qualification are under consideration.
(iii) Aberdeenshire
Council’s revised Scheme for Community Councils is awaited
774. Correspondence: Community Planning
AC
had sent a letter asking for nominations for the Community Council
representative on the Community Planning Executive. RB agreed to consider the letter and report.
775. Aberdeenshire Council Business
CllrF
submitted a report in his absence as follows;
(i)
The path to the Youth Portacabin had been completed before Christmas.
(ii)
The Council Budget will be set on 9th February. Cost pressures remain but the Scottish
Executive has eased the position with an additional grant.
(iii)
The delay in completion of the
There being no further business, the
meeting closed at 2210.
The
next meeting was agreed as Thursday 22nd February 2007.