New office bearers for Westhill & Elrick Community Council

W&ECC held their AGM in the Holiday Inn last night. Two office-bearers stood down. Audrey Findlay resigned from Chair and Anne Thomson resigned from the secretary’s post. Both have put an enormous amount of work in to the community council over the last few years. Westhill & Elrick is a very professional and diligent community council and is one that all elected members enjoy attending. It is an excellent opportunity for us to report back to the community about local issues and to be regularly held to account, rightly so.

The AGM was also attended by Robert Gray, Head of Planning and Building Standards and Thomas Barrett, Local Planner, Aberdeenshire Council who presented information on the Arnhall Business Development’s latest phase. One of the concerns I have about this site is that the land at the tip of phase 3, i.e. the gateway to Westhill, is under the planning authority of Aberdeen City which means it will be determined by City councillors and not Ward 13 local members. Of course local residents will be able to submit representations in the usual way, when detailed planning applications become live. I hope that Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council can work in close partnership to deliver an overall design that fits in well with the existing area and is pleasing to the eye for all who visit, live and work in Westhill.

The monthly W&ECC meeting followed the AGM where Alan Crichton was elected as Chair and Frank Yeates as Vice Chair. I am sure both will make excellent office-bearers. The group also gained two brand new members, Mervyn Barr and Stephen King – welcome additions to the “old faithfuls” who make invaluable contributions to the community throughout the year.

More details about Westhill & Elrick Community Council can be found on their website – www.westhill.org.uk

 

Wall at Broadshade Estate

dykeThanks to residents who continue to report and send in photographs of the dyke at Broadshade on Old Skene Road. I have again spoken to Stewart Milne Group who are responsible for maintenance of this wall and have been assured that they hope to appoint a contractor to make permanent repairs very soon. Aberdeenshire Council has also been made aware of the safety issues in the meantime. I will keep you updated.

10th September 2013 – Stewart Milne Group have confirmed that their contractor will commence repair work within the next 2-3 weeks. Meantime, safety barriers have been put in place.

R.I.P. RTB!

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Local authorites and registered social landlords across Scotland will be celebrating the Scottish Government announcement today that the controversial Right to Buy (RTB)scheme is to be abolished in Scotland.

There has been a net loss of around half a million social housing stock across the country because of RTB since it was introduced by Thatcher’s conservative government in 1980. The policy has caused much controversy with supporters advocating that it was a socially liberating policy whilst others insist that it was devisive, leading to properties being lost for people in housing need, families taking on mortgages but not being able to afford maintenance costs and the system being widely abused by tenants’ relatives and landlords.

RTB along with “Buy to Let” led to governments investing less in bricks and mortar and spending substantially more in housing benefit. The legacy of these policies is a lack of affordable housing, high house prices and misery for millions priced out of a decent home, whether to rent or buy.

In Aberdeenshire there were 17,628 social rented sector homes in 2011-2012. RTB resulted in the loss of 2,457 affordable homes between 2001-2001 and 2011-2012. The number of households on the council waiting list was 5,705 in March last year, but only 868 new lets were available. This means it would take more than 6 years to clear the current waiting list. Abolishing RTB will go some way to preserving stock for the future.

Following their announcement earlier today, the Scottish Government confirmed that social housing tenants will have three years to exercise their RTB following royal assent in Autumn 2014.

Now all we need is the Scottish Government to reconsider their position on the derisory housing grant levels and get social landlords building again.

Garioch Area Committee this Tuesday

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To see local planning applications to be determined by the area committee meeting on Tuesday 14th May, please see link below:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/detail.asp?ref_no=802572870061668E80257A9C00482A8E

Items referring to the Ward 13 area include new houses at Berryhill, fireworks at Echt Show and an update on the review of council depots. Please feel free to get in touch before the meeting with comments.

Aberdeenshire Councillor Leaves SNP to join Scottish Liberal Democrats

The Scottish Liberal Democrats in Aberdeenshire Council today welcomed Cllr Fergus Hood to the group.

Speaking today, Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes, Liberal Democrat group leader, said Cllr Hood will make a ‘big difference’ to the work of the Liberal Democrat group on the Council.

Willie Rennie MSP, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has welcomed news that Councillor Fergus Hood has left the SNP and joined the Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council.

Cllr Hood was re-elected to the East Garioch ward in May 2012.

Commenting, Willie Rennie MSP said:

‘The Scottish Liberal Democrats have a strong record of delivery in Aberdeenshire and I am delighted that Cllr Hood has joined our hard working local team.

‘On Aberdeenshire Council it is the Scottish Liberal Democrats who are working to build the stronger economy and fairer society that we all want to see. As part of the administration we are working hard to create jobs and boost key local services. I know that Cllr Hood will make a big contribution to our work in the months and years to come.’

Commenting, Cllr Hood said:

‘It is the Scottish Liberal Democrats who have the right policies for Aberdeenshire and are delivering in administration on the council.

‘Liberal Democrats on the council have been a huge support in helping deliver real progress in my ward.

‘This was not an easy decision to take but ultimately this is the right choice for me and the right choice for people in my ward.’

Scottish Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes added:

‘I am delighted to welcome Cllr Hood to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Having worked closely with Fergus on the council I know that he is a strong local champion who stands up for people in his ward.

‘Scottish Liberal Democrats are working hard to build a stronger economy and a fairer society in Aberdeenshire. I know that these are aspirations that Fergus shares. He will make a big difference as part of the Liberal Democrat group.’

Notice of Public Event – Demolition & Re-development of Elrick Site

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2008

 

NOTICE UNDER REGULATION 7 (2) (b)

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC EVENT

 

A public exhibition is to take place at Westdyke Leisure Centre, Westdyke Avenue, Westhill AB32 6QX from 4pm to 9pm on Thursday 9 May and 2pm to 9pm on Friday 10 May 2013 in respect of the proposals by Findlay Glover and Macaulay Limited for the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to form a mixed-use development of office pavilions gross floor area not exceeding 4,400 sq m; warehouses, workshops and offices gross floor area not exceeding 4,000 sq m potentially including builders merchants, vertical-axis wind turbines, solar panels, biomass energy & radio mast plus associated landscaping/open space, road infrastructure and car parking on land at the former block works site, Straik Road, Elrick, Westhill. 

 

Further information concerning the proposed development can be obtained from:

 

John Glover

c/o McAdam Design (Scotland) Ltd

Westhill Business Centre

ArnhallBusinessPark

Westhill

AB32 6UF

Mobile no. 07753 818397

Email: j.m.glover@talk21.com

 

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals should do so in writing to the above address no later than 31 May 2013. Please note that any comments submitted to the applicant/agent are not representations to the Planning Service. If and when an application is submitted to the Planning Authority, there will be an opportunity to submit representations to Aberdeenshire Council on the application at that time.

What will 2013 bring?

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Both Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader, in their New Year messages, show a “can-do” attitude to everyday issues the country is facing. They highlight the good work volunteers already carry out in caring for the elderly whilst acknowledging the “demographic time bomb”. They recognise opportunities for young people are threatened and families are struggling with rising bills. Willie Rennie resolves to play his part in climate change. Both leaders display their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get on with the job that needs to be done at this present time.

Meanwhile, Alex Salmond’s finger is hovering between the pause and the fast-forward button. He asks people to consider what difference could be made in policy areas if there was a “yes” vote in the referendum. He hails Scotland’s free education system although details of how this would be funded in an independent Scotland has yet to surface. He makes no mention of how his government is going to tackle the housing crisis we have here and now. No mention of colleges suffering today at the expense of his free university places. No mention of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland soon having to juggle front line officers at the expense of support staff in the highly political reorganisation of our police service. Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative leader, rightly critises Alex Salmond for not doing the job he gets paid for, talking down the UK and for putting life on hold.

If you’re a supporter of independence, you may just want to erase 2013 as it doesn’t look like much is going to happen in government. Set your alarm though for Autumn 2014!

Or you can take hope from the positive messages of the opposition leaders and like them, play your part in dealing with the dilemmas we all face on a day to day basis, here and now.

Remember – “one today is worth two tomorrows”. Have a very happy and productive 2013!