Strichen Community Action Plan ALP Map Community Action Plan

This is from the 2002 Local Plan which is under review. Information on the new plan which has yet to be approved can be found at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/ldp

2 Introduction Community Action Plan

Strichen - A Planned Village Strichen House was built in 1821 Hall is home to the famous for Thomas Fraser of Strichen. In Strichen “roups” which are held In the late 1700s all the Lairds 1954 a fire destroyed the house once a month, selling furniture, were vying with each other to and it is now just a shell. Beside household items and antiques. see who could plan the best, the house, on a little ridge is the The Countryside Group most successful village. In 1764 Stone Circle. (Dr Samuel – who were instrumental in the Captain Fraser, the Laird, Johnson and James Boswell creation of the F&B Way are planned his village with broad visited the Circle on their travels based in the village. streets and interconnecting lanes in 1773). The former hospital and One remaining feature of the all leading to the common the old school were demolished grounds of Strichen House is the ground and water beside the and the sites designated for beautiful Community Park and River Ugie. At that time it was housing. The Town Hall in the Lake which is owned and called Mormond Village because centre of the village, now a listed maintained by the community. It of course, it nestles at the foot of building, dates from 1816 and the has been extensively landscaped the famous public library in the Anderson and the group have recently Buchan landmark. To encourage and Woodman Institute was been awarded funding to people to come and build a opened in 1923. In 1985 part of refurbish the derelict lodge house he offered a prize for the the village was designated as a house and create a community “first reekin lum” and this was conservation area cafe. The area has become a very won by two people – Taylor and Strichen was once a bustling popular place for recreation – Deacon. The house still stands village with dozens of shops and there are several beautiful walks near the Mormond bridge. services, today there are two around the Lake and Captain Fraser encouraged churches (the Parish and the surrounding woods and it is craftsmen to come to the village Episcopalian), a convenience located close to the hence the fact that eventually store with Post Office, Chemist, and Buchan Way. there were three mills – Butcher, Doctor’s Surgery, woollen, meal and linen – Veterinary Surgery, one Hotel, In 2010, the Ritchie Hall and wheelwright, carpenters, two pubs, British Legion Club, a Gala Committee organised a blacksmiths and masons to name hairdresser and a library. The meeting of all the groups in the but a few. Town Hall is the meeting place village and it was decided to carry out a community When young Captain Fraser for the Pensioners’ Club and the consultation exercise over the returned from the war in Gilzen Community Council, The Ritchie summer. The outcomes from this in the 1770s he told his father of Hall is home to a wide variety of have been used to create this the bravery of Sergeant activities including, Mums and prioritised Action Plan to help Hutcheon who had given him his Toddlers, WRI, Young Farmers, the community to focus and horse in order to escape. Indoor Bowling, Badminton, develop their future goals. Unfortunately, Sergeant Highland Dancing, Wine Club, Hutcheon was subsequently Zumba Dancing, the Gala/Hall Things we like about killed so the Laird had the estate Committee and all sections of Strichen (as given by various workers build a horse of white Mormond Thistle Football Club, members of the community of quartz stone on Mormond Hill The Primary School which different ages) in his memory. He also had a currently has six classes and a “Countrified, and homely and local stone mason build Hunter’s Nursery is the meeting place for sociable – everybody says hello” Lodge on top of Mormond Hill. Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and “Good school” It was a two storey building with Boys’ Brigade. The Playgroup “The Lake” the gamekeeper’s quarters on meets in the All Saints Church What could be better the top floor and the ground Hall and the Guild is held in the “clear notices of events in the floor was one room where the Parish Church Hall. The outdoor village where people can see Laird entertained his guests after bowling green is situated beside them” a day’s hunting. the Ritchie Hall. The Templer “more housing” 3 Buchan Community Plan Community Action Plan

Strichen: Buchan with the local communities and Community Plan 2012-2014 local community groups. The The Buchan Local Community plan can be accessed on Plan brings together the key www.ouraberdeenshire.gov.uk/ actions and projects of a number buchan of public agencies under five The latest version includes themes – Community Wellbeing, actions specifically for Strichen Developing Our Partnership, and there are several general Entrance to Strichen. Sustainable Environment, Jobs intentions in all categories and the Economy and Lifelong within the plan which might Learning. It also includes affect Strichen. actions based on consultation

Specific Actions Heading/Lead Service Action/Project (with reference in LCP) Community Wellbeing A1 – Affordable Housing To work in partnership with the Scottish Government, Private Developers and Registered Social Landlords to assist in the delivery of affordable housing on both Gala Day. Brownfield and Greenfield sites throughout Buchan. Strichen is named as a top priority area.

A13 – Community Service by Offenders To identify and develop innovative projects which are constructive, are to the benefit of residents in the Buchan area. Work in Strichen Community Park is mentioned as a best practice example.

Jobs and the Economy B11 - Social Economy Sustainability of social enterprises – Strichen Community Park Cafe project is named as a priority

B12 – Community Assets To work with active community groups to investigate funding and develop a schedule of Strawberry Teas in the Ritchie Hall. works for the upgrading of community halls – The Ritchie Hall in Strichen is named as a priority.

Sustainable Environment D3 – Conservation Area – to develop a restoration project for Strichen Town House – an A listed property at the heart of the conservation area in conjunction with Education Learning and Leisure and the community.

Strichen Town House.

4 Top Four Priorities Community Action Plan

The top four priorities to Play Area (Theme - emerge from the review are Environment) outlined below The play area is in need of improving to include more Ritchie Hall (Theme - equipment for older children (eg Community Facilities and zip line/obstacle course), more Activities) accessible equipment for less Refurbishing of Hall and Car able children and also some The Ritchie Hall. Park. The Ritchie Hall was seating for adults accompanying identified as a central hub for children to the park. community activities and events. It was suggested that Traffic Issues (Theme - Traffic improvements could be made to and Transport) make it into a more attractive There was concern about access venue to hold other functions along Water Street – when cars and activities eg weddings. The are parked on both sides of the resurfacing of the car park street it is difficult to drive along outside the Hall was also a key the street. There was also Tennis Courts and Pavilion. priority for many people. concern that the access through Mormond Place to future Tennis Courts (Theme - housing land behind it would be Environment) a problem as the road is The tennis courts behind the congested at the moment. Ritchie Hall are no longer in use and are in need of repair. It was Other issues suggested that some sort of all Many other suggestions received weather surface would be a support and these are listed on better option so that the area pages 6 - 9. A summarised Playing Fields. could be used for a variety of Action Plan can be found on sports. Since conducting this pages 10 and 11. consultation, Community Learning and Development workers have started working with a group of young people in Strichen. The young people have been using the old tennis pavilion as a meeting place. Water Street.

5 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Community Facilities & • Classes in the Hall – there Activity were suggestions for classes to be held in the Hall – eg IT. This theme produced one of the The community could top four priorities (see page 5). approach the colleges (Banff The comments in this category and Buchan and ) to were wide and varied. see if they could help progress this initiative. Play Area. Other key issues which arose in the consultation were:- • Issues concerning access – it was suggested that a handrail • Play Area should be fenced off was needed in the Ritchie and the area adjacent to the Hall between the Main Hall play area tidied up and a and the Redwood Lounge. picnic area created. There was also a need for disabled access to the • Strichen Town House - Bowling Club. The Bowling Club. Aberdeenshire Council are working with the community • There was a call for the to explore how best to use village to have designated this building in the future. It is space for advertising events a listed building and is in a preferably somewhere that is poor state of repair. easily accessed at all times.

The Library.

Strichen Primary School.

6 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Local Environment • Paths – there were several issues around paths and walks This theme provoked the in Strichen and the greatest response in the surrounding area consultation and produced two top priorities priority (see page - Formartine and Buchan 5. Way – the stretch between Strichen and Maud needs The Formartine and Buchan Way. • Dog Mess – this is seen as a improving and the link major problem in the village completed at Brucklay especially around the Pleasure Park and Lake area. - On the Strichen to It was also felt that the stretch of the problem was not with the Formartine and Buchan dogs themselves but dog Way the bushes need to be owners who do not clean up cut back and cleared after their pets. They should be made aware that they - There is a footpath sign at Recycling. could be fined. Hillfoot Bridge but there is no clear footpath here to • Litter - there were comments Hillfoot Farm Road that more bins were required in the village and this is to be looked at along with the provision of dog bins.

• Village Orderly – there was a Strichen Community Park - The Lake. query if the Village Orderly duties covered Brewery Road and the Lake.

• Recycling – there were people who felt more recycling facilities were needed in the village eg a skip similar to the one in New

Pitsligo. It was also felt that The Lodge at the Lake. the area could be kept tidier.

7 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Traffic and Transport Health and wellbeing

This theme produced one top General: This is a category that priority (see page 5) in addition attracted very few comments, to the proposals below. In most though people valued their local cases the actions can only be put surgery and chemist into effect through partnership working – mainly with For those outside the village The Shop. Aberdeenshire Council. transport for GP appointments was a problem. • There was a problem identified with cars parking Jobs and the Economy on double yellow lines outside the shop. General: This was a category that attracted little comment. • There was a call for better Unemployment in the area is access for wheelchairs on the low. The Surgery. pavements in the village. There was general consensus that the village had a reasonable range of services but there was concern that the local filling station/convenience store was about to close.

The Butcher’s Shop.

The White Horse Hotel.

8 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Housing Crime and Community Safety • There was concern about a property on Bridge Street Issues were: which was derelict. People felt it should be demolished • Police Foot Patrols – there or rebuilt as it was not only was a call for more Police an eyesore but a safety issue foot patrols in the village. House on Bridge Street. as well. Police have introduced their Police on bikes initiative • There was a call for more which is allowing better housing but that vehicular coverage within rural villages access to the areas being such as Hatton. developed should not be through already congested residential streets.

Since this consultation was Episcopalian Church. carried out, the filling station has closed and has been demolished for houses to be built on the site.

The Stone Circle.

Church from High Street.

9 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan under one Agency ransport to GP appointments Partnership improvements area Play Classes in Ritchie Hall Outside Litter Improved recycling facilities Paths – condition of and access to Problem with derelict house on Bridge Street Club improvements Independent Advertising of Community Courts and area Pavilion Tennis Events & Activities Bowling Many of the key actions fall in to more than one category. For the purposes of this summary be mentioned For each action will only than one category. actions fall in to more of the key Many category to avoid confusion. category to avoid 1. Community Facilitiestheat access Disabled Ritchie Hall and Car Park 2. Health3. Local Environment4. Housing T Dog fouling

10 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan ed cars on Water Street causing Street Water ed cars on congestion Road access to proposed new housing through Mormond Place Other agencies: Buchan Community Safety Group Grampian Police Grampian Fire and Rescue Service NHS Grampian Safety Partners who may help to deliver the above help to deliver Partners who may Aberdeenshire Council services: Education Learning and Leisure Work Housing and Social Administration Law and Planning and Environmental Services and Infrastructure Transportation Private Investors 5.Transportation & Traffic Park 6.Communityand Crime Police foot and bike patrols

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