End of an era!

Sir Robert Smith MP, Cllr Iris Walker, Paul Melling

Despite the dreich start to the day, Sir Robert Smith, MP’s summer tour was a great success after four days travelling around his constituency. One of the traditional stops Sir Robert has made over many years looks set to be the last as Millers of Midmar restaurant and retail outlet announced today that the company has gone into administration. Millers has been a popular destination for both the farming and the equestrian world as well as folks coming from near and far just for a cup of coffee and what some say “the best scone around” as well as a browse round the quality gift, clothes and book departments.

Around 40 staff are set to lose their jobs. Millers has employed many local people over the years and it is that friendliness and local knowledge shown by staff that no doubt attracted customers. I spoke to one of the longest-standing employees today and she said that Millers wasn’t just a place of work; it was a place to socialise, a community in itself. Despite the business being advertised on the open market, no investor has come forward. The restaurant has already been closed and the shop will remain open until stock is sold off.

Press release: Relief for tenants as fees to be dropped

Liberal Democrat councillor Iris Walker has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government has agreed to legislate to ensure that letting agents do not charge private tenants unlawful fees.

A recent campaign by Shelter Scotland uncovered numerous cases where tenants were being ripped off by being charged hundreds of pounds for credit checks and inventories which only cost the agents a few pounds to produce. Under the new legislation, charges other than refundable deposits and rent will be deemed illegal.

Iris Walker, Councillor for Westhill and District said: “Private tenants are already penalised in Aberdeenshire by having to pay higher rents due to the buoyant economy. Due to the Scottish Government slashing investment in affordable housing, more and more residents are looking to the private rental sector for accommodation. Any move to ease the financial burden on these families and individuals is most welcome.”

Sir Robert’s Summer Tour

Robert Smith MP for West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine starts his summer tour tomorrow. On Thursday 30th August constituents can meet him at the following locations where his mobile office will be parked:

Blackburn                 10.00am Post Office

Lyne of Skene           10.25am Crossroads

Dunecht                    10.40am Garage & PO

Kirkton of Skene       10.55am Milne Hall

Elrick                         11.10am Broadstraik Inn

Westhill                     11.30am Shopping Centre

Garlogie                     12 noon Garlogie Inn

Cullerlie                      12.15pm Flora’s

Echt                            12.40pm Post Office

Midmar                       1.00pm The Millers

Sauchen                       2.15pm Play Park

Millbank                       2.30pm Old School

Monymusk                   2.50pm The Square

Craigearn                      3.10pm Budget Cycles

Kemnay                         3.25pm Village Hall

This is the 3rd summer tour I have joined Sir Robert as his driver. This year I am delighted to double-up as the local councillor! Sir Robert always gets a warm welcome on his 5 day tour and we get the chance to meet local constituents and hear about a wide variety of issues. If you want to email Sir Robert ahead of his visit, please contact him at robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk

Council encourages tenants to think ahead on changes to housing benefit due next year

Changes are planned to welfare benefits, which will be implemented from April 2013 through to 2017 by the UK Government.

One of the most significant of these changes is the introduction of size criteria in relation to the number of bedrooms in a property occupied by working age tenants in the social rented sector claiming housing benefit.

Aberdeenshire Council is providing information to people who rent a home from the council or a housing association as part of a range of measures to encourage residents to think about benefit changes.

Letters and leaflets are going out initially to council tenants of working age initially who will be affected by changes to the size criteria for housing benefit claims as of April 1, 2013.

At a later date information will also be sent to housing association tenants in receipt of housing benefit once the council has matched records to highlight people who may be affected.

Aberdeenshire Council’s head of finance Alan Wood said: “Welfare reform will have a significant impact on both residents and the council. Therefore throughout the transition we will provide information and support to people who need it.

“We are writing to council tenants and those in the social rented sector who are under-occupying their homes in terms of the size criteria to encourage people to start thinking now about the changes that will come in April 2013.

“Providing letters, leaflets and information online and at events are just part of a range of initiatives we hope to undertake with residents, as well as with our own staff, to get people to understand the implications of welfare reform.”

If people are under the qualifying age for state pension credit and have a household make-up with more bedrooms than required (under the size criteria) then their housing benefit entitlement will be restricted.

For those with one bedroom more than required (under the size criteria) then housing benefit will be reduced by 14%, for those under occupying by two or more bedrooms the reduction is 25%. 

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) criteria states that a separate bedroom is required for:

• every adult couple (married or unmarried)
• any other adult aged 16 or over
• any two children of the same sex aged under 16
• any two children aged under 10
• any other child (other than a foster child or child whose main home is elsewhere)
• a carer (or team of carers) who do not live with the tenant but provide them or their partner with overnight care

For more information contact Aberdeenshire Council’s benefits section at benefits@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or on 08456 08 01 49. More details on the size criteria can be found at http://ow.ly/cXos3

Call for responsible horse-riders using public pathways

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.

Confusing shop pricing must be changed – McInnes

Alison McInnes MSP

North East Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes is asking local residents to contact her with examples of confusing unit pricing they have come across while shopping. It is part of a move to support Jo Swinson MP’s Price Marking Consumer Information Bill which is making its way through the UK Parliament. The Bill has the support of the consumer organisation Which?

Ms Swinson explained: “The unit price is the price per kg, litre, 100g etc of a product and is provided to help shoppers compare prices between like-for-like products of different sizes where a direct comparison may not be straightforward e.g. a 600g jar of mayonnaise for £3.49 compared to a 400g jar for £2.50.

“The Bill will make it easier to work out which product is the cheapest. It calls for supermarkets to make sure:

the unit price is prominent and easy to read

that they use consistent units across the board

and the unit price is shown for items when they are bought as part of a promotion.

Mrs McInnes said “We are building a case against silly pricing and daft deals. Any constituents who come across examples of this can write to me at my constituency office at Ellon Business Park Centre, Broomiesburn Road, Ellon, AB41 9RD or email me at alison.mcinnes.msp@scottishparliament.uk

“They can also show support by signing the pledge at which.co.uk/unitpricing. Tweet any bad exampled of unit pricing to @whichaction using the hashtag #priceitright”

I’m backing Alison and Jo on this issue – please get in touch with Alison as above.

Help make it happen for local Post Offices!

Local residents want to access these types of government services at the Post Office. Without this work, our post offices will struggle to survive.

The government will soon decide whether people can continue to obtain driving licences, vehicle tax discs and other DVLA services at post offices.

Please help ensure the Post Office can continue to offer this, as well as other vital central and local government services.

Please write to your MP, Sir Robert Smith at Banchory Business Centre, Burn o’Bennie Road, Banchory, AB31 5ZU or email: robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk

Or alternatively contact me and I will be happy to pass on your details to him.

Housing proposals at Sauchen – have your say!

Kirkwood Homes in conjunction with Stewart Milne Homes are holding a public exhibition displaying proposals for up to 50 residential units and associated infrastructure located to the East of Main Street, Sauchen on

Tuesday 21st August, 2pm-8pm at Millbank Village Hall

Please note that comments made will be to the prospective applicant, not the planning authority. There will be an opportunity to submit representation to the planning authority, Aberdeenshire Council, upon submission of a planning application.          

A Gold for Westhill!

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MP, Sir Robert Smith and Westhill and District Councillor, Iris Walker post letter of congratulations to local Olympic gold medal winner Tim Baillie from the newly gold painted post box in Westhill.

Local MP Sir Robert Smith commented “I have written  to Tim Bailllie to congratulate him in winning his gold medal in the canoe slalom, this is a great achievement. It has been so good to watch team GB achieve so many medals and it is extra special to see local people from across the North East achieve their potential.”

Westhill & District Councillor, Iris Walker said “Residents in Westhill are very proud of Tim Baillie’s achievement at the Olympics and I think it’s a wonderful gesture by Royal Mail to mark the occasion with a gold mail box.  Behind all sporting heroes are people who have supported them and nurtured their passion for a particular sport and in Tim’s case his parents, Ken and Christine, and his extended family must be rightly proud”.