Improved Dial-A-Bus services for Westhill and District

A2B_bus_163

 

In order to cope with passenger demand the popular Westhill A2B dial-a-bus service is being extended to offer a Saturday service starting on 8 March 2014. On Saturdays the bus will operate within the Westhill area between 0930 hrs and 1400 hrs providing shopping trips within Westhill as well as connections for onward travel into Aberdeen. All Saturday trips need to be pre-booked at least the day before by calling the A2B booking line on 01224 665599.

Westhill A2B is operated by Stagecoach Bluebird and is open to any member of the general public. It is most popular with older residents and people with mobility issues who are able to benefit from the door-to-door service that is provided. All A2B dial-a-bus services are operated by wheelchair-accessible vehicles and I’m pleased to advise that the old Westhill bus was recently replaced by a brand-new Optare Solo.

For further information please contact Marion Mackay (Principal Officer) or Denise May (A2B dial-a-bus Co-ordinator) of the Public Transport Unit.

Stagecoach North Scotland seek customer comments for timetable proposals

Stagecoach are appealing to customers across the North East and Highlands of Scotland to comment on new bus timetable proposals to commence 5th May 2014.

Stagecoach Bluebird and Stagecoach in the Highlands have carried out extensive monitoring of the routes within the network of services, particularly during peak time traffic and have been working on changes to the routes to improve reliability.  

The company have put together proposed services for the network and are now asking customers to have a look at the proposals and share their thoughts, whether in support of the revisions or any concerns accordingly.

Steve Walker, Managing Director, Stagecoach North Scotland said: “Our monitoring has shown that some of the routes in this area would benefit from these proposed timetable changes to increase journey reliability above all else, so it’s important we get these changes right.

“Our commercial team have put together proposed timetables which we believe will improve our service offerings, all within a realistic level of service provision relative to the demand we see in certain areas.  We’re asking our customers and indeed prospective customers to let us know what they think, so we can take any comments. The proposed timetables are an outline with the details of the changes available to view at website: www.stagecoachbus.com/HIghlands and Bluebird timetable review.aspx
Customers can view the draft timetables, emailing comments directly to Stagecoach for consideration at bluebird.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com or highland.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com  Stagecoach ask emails have the subject line of ‘Timetable Consultations’ to ensure all comments are considered.
 
In addition, the company are holding eleven consultation events in the area, inviting customers to come along, to view the timetables and speak to local staffts on board and make any amendments where possible.”

Your nearest meeting is on Monday 17th February 2014 from 1700-1900hrs in Ashdale Hall, Westhill

At the events customers will be able to pass on their feedback and gain answers to any questions regarding the proposed schedules.

Mr Walker added: “It’s always difficult to please everyone with network changes such as these, so we want to be able to explain the proposed changes and the benefits it can bring to certain areas, particularly where services will be altered – we hope the events will be well attended by bus passengers.”

Overall the draft timetables should deliver improved reliability across the network and will improved services across the region, as well as faster journey times and more direct routes on many journeys.

The proposed timetables are now available to view at www.stagecoachbus.com/bluebird and www.stagecoachbus.com/highlands, any comments can be sent to bluebird.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com or highland.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com  .

 

 

A944 Alford to Aberdeen Road at Tesco Roundabout – road closure notice

roadworks

Please note that due to FORMATION OF A NEW ROAD to be carried out by Nicol of Skene Ltd it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to apply the following restriction to traffic.

OFF PEAK LANE CLOSURE

Monday to Thursday 09.30 – 15.30.  Friday 09.30 – 14.30

FULL LANE CLOSURE

From Friday 19.00 through to Monday at 06.00

ON A944 ALFORD TO ABERDEEN ROAD

FROM TESCO ROUNDABOUT, WESTHILL TO BISHOPDAM BRIDGE

From 24 February 2014 for 4 weeks

Access for pedestrians and to adjacent properties will be maintained at all times.

The alternative route is via B9119, Prospect Road and Endeavour Drive as shown on the attached plan. 

Alternative route B9119

Workers urged to dress for saddest day!

dr who

 

Some researchers claim that the third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year and urge workers to dress brightly today, 20th January, to combat “blue Monday”. Mental Health Research UK (MHRUK) said that thanks to a combination of bad weather, debt, the need for Christmas detox and poor motivation, the nation’s collective well-being is expected to sink to an all-year low today. A poll conducted by the charity found that one in five employees will not wear colourful outfits to work because they were considered “less professional”.

My favoured option is to find an extra colourful duvet to hide under for the day!

Happy blue Monday!

Primary School Registration Week

school uniform

Registration Week for Primary 1 is 27th January to 31st January 2014.
All children who reach their fifth birthday by 28th February 2015 are invited to register for Primary 1 for admission in August 2014.

Aberdeenshire Education, Learning & Leisure Service has a common starting date for all its schools in the middle of August in any particular year. You will be informed of this year’s starting date at the time of registration at school.

Parents are asked to visit the Primary school of their choice during Registration Week. If this is not possible, parents should try and visit the school by the end of February 2014. To register for Primary 1 the child’s birth certificate is required as evidence of their date of birth.

Aberdeenshire Education, Learning & Leisure Service makes no provision to admit any children who are five after the end of February, unless that child has previously been registered and has commenced full-time attendance (excluding induction) in a state supported or Forces school and is transferring into Aberdeenshire. In this case, the local authority can exercise discretion. Registration for a nursery or playgroup does not count for the purposes of this exception.

A copy of the admission form is available to download below

 

Road casualty figures released at Road Safety Scotland Seminar

Cllr Iris Walker with Samantha Seeds of Scottish Fire & Rescue

Cllr Iris Walker with Samantha Seeds of Scottish Fire & Rescue

 

Last week, I attended Road Safety Scotland’s annual seminar in Edinburgh.  Transport Scotland released their road statistics on day 1 of the seminar. They can be viewed here:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j285660-00.htm

Aberdeenshire is moving steadily towards Scottish Government targets on reducing the number of adults and children killed on our roads by 2020. In tandem with a general reduction in road accidents throughout the UK, the number of fatal accidents in Aberdeenshire has seen an appreciable drop. In 2006 there were 43 fatal accidents, but by 2012 this had fallen to 14.

The main theme of the seminar was “partnership”.  Aberdeenshire Council work in partnership with Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue and many other organisations to promote initiatives focused on the 4 E’s approach of engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement.

Concerns were raised with Police Scotland’s Chief Constable, Sir Stephen House over the withdrawal of resources for road safety education. Sir House reassured delegates that any local initiatives, such as Safe Drive, Stay Alive, which are known to be effective, would still be supported by Police Scotland.

Other highlights from the conference can be found on Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cllr-Iris-Walker-Westhill-and-District/245153495579313

 

Re-think needed on local fire control centres

 fire station

Scottish Liberal Democrats are throwing their weight behind local fire control rooms ahead of a crucial meeting on the future direction of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Proposals are being considered which would close five out of Scotland’s eight fire control centres immediately – Aberdeen, Inverness, Dumfries, Fife and Falkirk – and  with the eventual closure of the Edinburgh centre. This would only leave control centres in Dundee and Johnstone.

Liberal Democrats have launched petitions urging the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Government to rethink the plans.

The proposals will be considered at a meeting of the national fire board in Aberdeen on Thursday 26 September.

Ahead of the meeting, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson and North East MSP Alison McInnes said: “The closure of six out of eight of Scotland’s fire control centres would strike a real blow to local communities. I have real concerns that staff will be asked to make life and death decisions without having crucial knowledge of the area. We know that this is particularly important in rural communities.

“It could lengthen response times and potentially put residents at risk. It seems completely illogical to close a state-of-the-art control room in Aberdeen only to then invest in upgrading the Dundee facility.”

“Many of the firefighters in rural areas are retained staff. I believe that it takes additional expertise to deploy and manage these resources.”

“This is the true face of the SNP’s centralising tendencies.”

Gordon MP  Sir Malcolm Bruce said: “We need a fire and rescue service that reflects and responds to local needs. I am deeply concerned that the move of the control room from Aberdeen could lengthen response times and potentially put residents at risk.”

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Sir Robert Smith added: “It is really important that the Fire and Rescue Service understands the rural nature of Aberdeenshire and this is best achieved by keeping the service local.”

Westhill and District councillor Iris Walker said “Our residents need the assurance of a locally-led service. The jobs of experienced staff are at risk here and there seems to be no end to the SNP centralisation agenda”.