Just back from the monthly litter pick and there were loads of these bad boys in the Denman Park. Do you think retailers have a social responsiblity to restrict the amount of carrier bags issued? What are your views on litter around Westhill? Who is responsible? Survey coming soon on both litter and dog fouling!! Watch this space!

I was delighted to chair the very first Ward 13 Community Ward Forum. The meeting was well attended and showed just how much local residents are really into making a difference in their community. Discussions focused around various ongoing projects with support for volunteers and funding being common challenges. One of the main aims of the ward forum is to share best practice and ideas, so hopefully as the forum becomes established, more local groups will come on board to make it a success.

The last couple of weeks have been very busy with council meetings and local community group agendas as well. Along with other Garioch Area members at the monthly area committee, we approved plans for the new shops at Westhill. It will be exciting to see them take shape in the months ahead.

My monthly surgery last weekend was busier than usual with more interesting cases! This is one of my favourite parts of the job, as I get a chance to meet new faces (and catch up with some familiar ones too), and you never quite know what issues are going to come up.

I attended the Community Development Group (CDG) in Westhill last week also. Items discussed included community based adult learning needs, the Youth Cafe and updates on the wide range of active groups including Duke of Edinburgh, 50+ Group and the Academy Parents Council.

Last Wednesday night saw a very good attendance at the Garioch Area Community Council Forum. Included on the agenda were windturbines, the Local Development Plan and general planning issues. The Forum is a great place for community councillors from all areas to get together and share ideas. We certainly had some lively discussions.

Thursday was full council day with more lively debates. A full round of these can be seen here: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/release.asp?newsID=2973

I will be available for consultation this Saturday, 3rd November 2012 from 10-11am in the Interview Room, Westhill Library. Look forward to seeing you there.

I attended Westhill & Elrick Community Council (W&ECC) monthly meeting last night. W&ECC are one of three community councils in the Ward 13 area. It was great to see some new faces interested in joining the group. There was a busy agenda as usual with reports from the litter, art project, bulbs and baskets and Christmas lights sub-groups. Anne Simpson from The Garioch Partnership also gave a short presentation to the group.

The three community councils in Ward 13 are fortunate to have a regular Police attendance at their meetings, giving members the chance to raise issues of concern with the local officers. Sergeant Jamie Harrison reported monthly crime statistics for the Westhill area over the last month which included 2 x dangerous driving, 3 x vandalisms, 3 x thefts, 1 x drugs offence and 2 x assaults. Sgt Harrison also updated the group on improvements on the Brodiach Road where larger speed signs and bold ’30’ road markings are to be installed. Discussions are ongoing regarding  an ‘elderly people crossing’ sign on Old Skene Road near Blackhills Court. An issue was raised from a member of the public regarding rules of pedestrian crossings and an education drive is to be initiated targeting both pedestrians and drivers.

A local resident raised concerns over horse fouling on the public footpath leading from Kirkton of Skene to Westhill. This pathway is used by walkers, families with buggies and cyclists.  

Although there is no legislation relating to horse fouling, since the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, riders and carriage drivers are allowed over more land than ever before, so BHS (British Horse Society) Scotland is advising riders to protect that access by being courteous and responsible.

I spoke to Sally McCarthy, Chair of BHS Grampian who advised:

“BHS Grampian endeavours to assist and educate all horse owners and riders in the Grampian region, through its committee of volunteers. Our advice to all local riders in the event of their horse producing dung on a public path or road is that where possible, they should move to the side of the path or towards the gutter of the road.

“It should also be understood that more and more horse riders are being forced onto paths and other types of off-road riding due to an increase in traffic levels and the speed of that traffic. BHS Grampian is keen to promote courteous path/road use by all riders in the area, to ensure that the quality and enjoyment of these paths can be maintained for everyone”.

Sally has also kindly offered to link the “dung guidance” leaflet to the BHS Scotland Facebook page and their website. The group are also to carry out a leaflet drop to all equine establishments in the local area. This positive response from BHS is very much appreciated.

I couldn’t pass through Sauchen on my way home tonight without checking out the new “notice board”. As previously reported, the community council-owned notice board at the other end of the village had been repeatedly vandalised. Richard Lattimer, a Cluny community councillor re-located the notices to the old phone box – perfect!

Huge congratulations to staff and pupils at Crombie, Elrick and Westhill primary schools who are celebrating after receiving a national award in recognition of their strong commitment to cycling.

Cycling Scotland’s Cycle Friendly School Award is received by schools in Scotland who are committed to promoting and encouraging cycling as part of a whole school culture aimed at benefitting both children’s health and their environment.

The national average of children cycling to school currently sits at 3.5%. The figure for Westhill is a whopping six times higher at 21%, four times higher at Crombie at 14% and more than double at Elrick where 8% of pupils cycle to school, according to the 2011 Hands Up Travel Survey carried out by Aberdeenshire Council.

Aberdeenshire Council’s transport strategy unit works with schools across the area to create travel plans and encourage staff and pupils to think carefully about the travel choices available.

The council has invested in suitable cycle storage at schools, as well as upgrading and adding new safe routes for pupils to use. Initiatives such as Walk to School Week and Park and Stride have been introduced at schools across the area, which are also lending their support to a cycling campaign called ‘Give me Cycle Space’.

Funded by Cycling Scotland, the campaign aims to encourage drivers to give cyclists more space on the road. Aberdeenshire is one of 13 local authorities in Scotland who are involved in the project, which consists of national and local advertisements, providing information to schools and hosting a cycling competition.

Aberdeenshire Council school travel planning officer, Joanna Stewart, congratulated the schools on their achievement: “I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of pupils, parents and staff alike has earned these schools recognition on a national level.

“Through the travel planning process all our schools have the opportunity to develop measures appropriate to their site which encourage safety, accessibility and sustainability within our communities.

“Initiatives such as those promoted within Westhill are examples of this and I congratulate the schools again for receiving this award.”

Head teacher at Crombie School, Kate Hopkins, was delighted to earn the Cycle Friendly status and praised staff and pupils for their effort.

She said: “We felt that this was a very worthwhile initiative for us, as a school, to get involved with and obviously to receive Cycle Friendly School status is testament to the hard work put in by our staff, the school travel planning officer, parents and pupils.

“It also sits well with our Curriculum for Excellence by helping our pupils to be responsible citizens and effective contributors within the community.”

Crombie Primary P7 pupil Chrissie Blanchard added: “I love cycling and I think it is a safe way to come to school. We should all cycle. It keeps me healthy too. I am glad that we have been given this award.”

I was joined by Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Sir Robert Smith, MP on Friday night to meet residents in Sauchen along with the team.

Sir Robert joined us again tonight in Westhill. Tomorrow is being spent in some of my other favourite country haunts then back in Westhill and Elrick on Wednesday before polling on Thursday.

I am beginning to count letterboxes in my sleep and can now run up stairs!