The deadline for responses to a survey on the future of Aberdeenshire’s playparks has been extended. A review of children’s play parks is being undertaken across Aberdeenshire and parents and children are being asked for their views as part of the process. The review is aimed at providing the best quality play areas in the best locations with the money available. The online survey will now run until Friday 14th November.
This video explains more about the review.
NO ACCESS TO CAR PARK
CLOSED FOR SURFACING WORKS
TUESDAY 11TH NOV 10PM TO 6AM
WEDNESDAY 12TH NOV 10PM TO 6AM
Please note that there will be NO access to the shopping centre car park on the above dates/times. This is to allow reconfiguration of the entry/exit to the car park. When the car park re-opens on the Wednesday, there will be a new layout. Please see attached drawing (phase 3). Please note that the car park will remain open during the day on both of these dates.
Residents have raised concerns over restricted disabled parking spaces at Westhill Shopping Centre while construction of the new retail units is underway. The contractors, Barr Construction have now provided four dedicated spaces near to the footpath leading to Royal Bank of Scotland.
The work on the car park is due to be completed at the beginning of December with a final completion date for the retail units anticipated to be in April 2015. Sewer diversion works are of course ongoing and due to be completed at the end of November.
I was delighted to be a substitute member today on the Rural Affairs Working Group held at SRUC at Craibstone. As well as admiring their artwork (see pictures), we received an excellent presentation from Chris Stockwell, Head of Agriculture & Business Management Department and Richard Huxtable, Head of Farms Group. We heard all about their teaching programmes and the SRUC Consultancy Services. SRUC work with a raft of partners across the North East, the rest of Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Committee were then updated on the Rural Internship Project, a joint initiative between Aberdeenshire Council, Ringlink and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS). The meeting concluded with an update on the Common Agriculture Policy Pillar One 2015-2020.
As a result of the Children and Young People Act (Scotland) 2014, Aberdeenshire Council are consulting with all stakeholders on the provision of early learning and childcare. Over the next few weeks they will be consulting on the provision of early learning and childcare in Aberdeenshire. This will provide information to help them create a more flexible and integrated service.
As well as looking at flexibility of early learning and childcare provision, the consultation will also look at out-of- school hours care. I know this is a big issue for many parents in both Westhill and the rural areas of ward 13.
Views are being sought from parents/carers, professionals and other interested stakeholders on how best the services can meet their needs through a series of consultation methods which will include drop in sessions and a survey monkey, which will be available on the website from next week. You can access the survey here from Monday 22 September.
A consultation session will take place on Wednesday 8th October 2014 at Crombie Primary from 1530-1800 hrs.
The consultation drop in sessions will give all stakeholders the opportunity to look, compare and comment on our current model of delivery and two alternative models.
Current model:
1. 3 hour 10 mins sessions x 5 days a week x 38 weeks per annum.
Alternative models:
2. 4 hour sessions x 4 days x 38 weeks per annum.
3. 8 hour sessions x 2 days x 38 weeks per annum.
Aberdeenshire Council also seek the views of the community on:
What they see as the ideal model for them
What distance they would be willing to travel to secure their favoured placement
What they would be willing to pay for wrap around care
Out of School Hours Care
This consultation will give families the opportunity to comment on:
The provision they currently access
Future developments
Alternative models of delivery and levels of choice
Their preferred method of early learning and childcare e.g private, childminder, local authority
This consultation process will help the authority to plan services across Aberdeenshire and support providers to develop appropriate services in your area.
Please pop in to the session at Crombie Primary if you can on 8th October and/or complete the survey.
Further to my last post regarding concerns raised over the planned closure of part of Westhill Drive from 6th October, I have received the following information:
In the interests of public safety, NO WAITING restrictions will be applied on Kinmundy Drive (both sides from the junction with Kinmundy Gardens to the junction with Westhill Road) for the 8 weeks from 6th October 2014 until completion of the works.
See map here: kinmundydrivewesthill061014 2
Access to the school from the top end of Westhill Drive will be maintained, as will the push button crossing outside the school.
Road closures are normally the last resort so as to minimise disruption to the travelling public, but where the council have no option due to the nature of the works or to protect the public and workforce, they do consider the knock-on effects. Aberdeenshire Council consider the following aspects when authorising road closures:
1. Diversions are normally made on to the same class of road, but this can be difficult in an urban environment.
2. Length and width of the diversion route.
3. Suitability for HVSs etc
4. Issues with public transport and delays.
5. Timing of works.
6 Phasing of works.
7. Residents and businesses affected.
Aberdeenshire Council Roads officers are committed to working closely with the contractor to modify and review the traffic management as required.
The Safer Routes to School officer is liaising with the Head Teacher at Westhill Primary regarding parents’ concerns over inconsiderate parking at the school.
Millbank Hall Committee are to host a referendum debate on Monday 8th September at 7.30pm. Speakers are: for Better Together, Mr Ian Lakin and for the Yes campaign, Mr Kenny Anderson. A mock ballot will be held before and after the debate/question and answer session. Light refreshments too!
The ten-day countdown to polling day will have begun by then, so don’t miss it!
Due to the Air Training Corp swimming gala, Westhill swimming pool will be closed on Sunday 24th August from 13.00-16.00.
Children and parents are being asked for their views on improving the public play parks on offer in Aberdeenshire.
A consultation has begun as part of a review of children’s play parks aimed at providing the best quality play areas in the best locations with the money available.
It will include a series of public meetings and presentations and feedback can also be given in an online survey.
There are currently 446 council play parks across the council’s six local areas. Key elements to be addressed in the review include: equity and location of provision, play value, condition, safety, funding models, partnership working and maintenance and replacement regimes.
Around £550,000 is spent every year on managing and maintaining local facilities owned by the council.
Over half that sum is required to ensure the sites are adequately inspected and repaired. This includes a thorough annual safety inspection to identify risk levels, overall conditions, Play Value and defects.
The remaining budget is available to fund upgrading and replacement of existing equipment. However, costs associated with the purchase and installation of new equipment are substantial and the current budget gives limited opportunity for major improvements.
Typically the replacement, or addition, of a set of swings with required safety surfacing will cost around £5,000. To refurbish a medium-sized play park with around ten items of equipment costs in the region of £75,000.
The review will look at current play park provision and gather the widest possible view on the existing play park portfolio as a whole, and on individual sites.
The aim is to develop a strategy which delivers the best possible portfolio of play parks in communities across Aberdeenshire.
Head of Roads and Landscape Services, Philip McKay, said: “We’re keen to ensure that the investment we make in our play parks meets the long term needs and aspirations of our communities.”
The council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Stephen Archer, said: “We genuinely want to hear from as many people as possible, those who use the play parks in particular.
“These facilities have the capacity to help improve children’s learning, health and fitness as well as making our towns and villages more atractive places to be and we want to make sure they’re meeting the needs of residents and visitors.”
Schools’ pupil councils will also be included in the consultation to try to ensure as many young people as possible are able to say what they think.
You can take part in the consultation online.
Paper copies are available from all 36 Aberdeenshire Council libraries, the four service points (Westhill, Huntly, Ellon, and Turriff) and at Aberdeenshire Council leisure centres.
A video outlining the review can be seen on YouTube.