Foveran Community Newsletter
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Foveran Community Newsletter April 2018 Issue 149 Knockhall Castle Secretary Report for Spring 2018 Newsletter If you want to place an advert in future editions of the newsletter which is published three times a year then please contact me on 01358 789761 or e mail [email protected] Foveran Community Council looks after the interest of the residents of Newburgh, Foveran, Udny Station and Cultercullen, and everything in between. The newsletter can be now be accessed after publication by anyone on https://foverannews.wordpress.com/electronic-news-letter/ We act as a focal point where you can bring to our attention matters that may concern you. Elected councillors from Aberdeenshire Council normally also attend our meetings which are open to all. Agenda’s for the meetings and minutes of the meetings are available on line at www.formartinecommunitycouncils.co.uk A list of community councillors and scheduled meeting dates is included in the newsletter. This newsletter would not be possible without the support of the companies who advertise in it, so please consider them when thinking of making a purchase. To the new residents of Foveran, welcome to our community. The Gallowshill Sports Hub in Newburgh is available to all in our community, including Foveran, Udny Station, and Cultercullen, and offers Amateur Football, Youth Football for both boys and Girls, as well as Netball, and Tennis. Dog fouling is again on the increase across our communities, so can we appeal to dog owners to PLEASE clean up their dog mess, and don’t throw bags containing dog mess into the shrubbery. Speeding is also a major problem in all our villages. Aberdeenshire Council is considering whether to grant our petition for a 20 MPH speed limit in Newburgh. W are amazed that some residents are still willing to put out their recycling bins in windy weather with the resulting rubbish being strewn over the street when the bin blows over or the lid opens, for someone else to clean up. Elastic bin straps to keep their wheelie bin lids shut, even if the bin blows over in strong winds, are FREE and can be obtained either from the driver of the refuse collection vehicle, from the household recycling site at Ellon, and from the area office at 45 Neil Ross square (next to Willox Kitchens) It is hoped that demolition of the old pavilion will commence shortly once the contractor has completed some work in Inverurie The application for houses in Udny Station was refused by the Aberdeenshire Council, however the applicant then appealed to the Scottish Government, and the decision by Aberdeenshire Council was upheld. Work will shortly commence on the Scotia development at Knockhall Road, Newburgh, and we have been advised that the heavy transport will access the site from the farm road on the B9000, and not via Main Street and Knockhall Road. Glen Douglas COUNCILLOR RICHARD THOMPSON WRITES Bypass Blues By the time you read this, Newburgh will either have been released in part from the transportation nightmare of the AWPR works, or hopefully an end will at least be in sight. I refer not to the continuing saga of road repairs which has been disruptive enough, but rather the continued closure of the B9000 west of the A90 which has disrupted travel between Newburgh, Foveran, Pitmedden and beyond for months. Councillors and the public were advised of the road closure – necessary to construct the remainder of the junction with the new A90 – on 24 September last year, with an estimated timescale being given for completing the works. On 6 October, this was updated to say that the closure would last until 15 December. I enquired privately of the AWPR management team on 23 October whether this was still on schedule, emphasising the impact the closure was having on east/west traffic. With various prompts, it took them until 6 December to confirm that Aberdeen Roads Limited could not give an exact timescale, but that they hoped to have this small section opened by the end of 2017. So much for that – on 21 December, the closure was extended until 22 February, then on 22 January, it was extended once more until 11 March, which at the time of writing remains the most up to date public information there is. I’m sure I’m not the only person who has gone down to take a sneaky look at the works underway. There is a roundabout in place as well as what looks like most of a tarred road and signposts. Really, given the amount of time that has passed since it was first closed, it’s hard to see any good reason why this section of road should not by now be completed and ready to reopen. No-one expects a project of this scale to go without a hitch or to happen without any wider disruption. It’s worth pointing out that over the same period the Foveran link has opened which together with the diversion of traffic onto the new road, has helped transform the village. However, this saga of the B9000 has gone on long enough – time to get it sorted, Aberdeen Roads. Cllr. Richrd Thompson. Leader of the Opposition, Aberdeenshire Council. Ward 9 – Ellon and District (SNP) Tel: 07876 475557 Hill of Fiddes Community Fund The Hill of Fiddes Community Fund Committee was set up in December 2011 to distribute annual funds received by the Hill of Fiddes turbines, now owned by Ventient Energy, through project bids put forward by local Community Groups or local Projects, which benefit the local community. The Committee met recently, at one of our quarterly meetings, to review and voted on three Community Projects put forward for funding. On this occasion, we were happy to unanimously agree to fund all three projects which had applied for financial assistance. This included applications from Cultercullen Primary’s Eco group for a Polytunnel, Udny Station Community Centre for a new front door, and Udny Station Pre-School and Playgroup for some new play equipment. The application process is very simple. Information, including application forms and guidelines, can be found on the Hill of Fiddes Community Fund website: www.hilloffiddescommunityfund.worldpress.com Our website will shortly be undergoing an overhaul so please watch this space for future updates. If you would like any other information or advice on completing an application please feel free to get in touch with Susan Watt (Chairperson) on 01651 843666 or Judith McKenzie (Vice- Chair) on 01651 843327. The dates for the 2018 Meetings as follows: Wednesday 16 th May, Tuesday 21 st August (AGM) and Wednesday 14 th November 2018. The deadline for receiving applications are two weeks before each meeting , Sunday 6 th May, Sunday 5 th August and Sunday 4 th November 2018. The meetings are held in Udny Station Community Centre at 7.30pm. Aromatherapy Thyme Based in Newburgh Aromatherapy Skin Consultation Facial Therapy Reflexology: Ingham Method Swedish Body Massage Pregnancy Massage Gift Certificates HND: Health and Beauty Technology Fully insured Tel: 07575 170100 LETTER TO THE EDITOR I found the article "Life in Medieval Forvie" in the December edition of the newsletter of great interest. I was surprised that records go so far back to know that summers became warmer after 1150. They cannot blame global warming on human activity in burning fossil fuels for increased temperatures 900 years ago. Any further articles on life in bygone times in our parish would be much appreciated. William H Grant Bank House Udny Station Thank you everyone who contributed to this edition. The next newsletter will come out at the beginning of August so if I could have any contributions by the 7 th of July that would be very helpful. Also, does anyone have a photo that could go on the front of the August edition? Janet Jones, South Minnes, Newburgh. Ellon. AB41 6BB. Tel. 01358 742304 [email protected] We are looking for people willing to deliver the newsletter to households outwith Udny Station. If you feel you could help, please get in touch with Willie Grant. (01651 842791) COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS Chairman: William Grant , Bank House, Udny Station. AB41 6QJ 01651 842791 Secretary: Glen Douglas , 23 Eider Road, Newburgh. AB41 6FD 01358 789761 Treasurer: Pauline Winslade 24 Eider Road, Newburgh. AB41 6FD 01358 788922 Katrin Präger , 1 Hardhillock Cottages, Tillycorthie, Udny. AB41 6SD 01651 842197 Ron MacDonald , 22 Mavis Bank, Newburgh. AB41 6FB 01358 789006 Pat Smith , Newburgh 01358 789821 Dave Hancock Cultercullen 01651 842813 Janet Jones South Minnes, Newbugh. Ellon. AB41 6BB 01358 742304 NEWBURGH GALA NEWS Newburgh Christmas Tree Lights Switch On – Sunday 10 December 2017 As per tradition, the Gala Committee organised for the community to come together for the switch on of the village tree lights. We are extremely grateful to those who came along and donated to the gala fund. The event would not have been possible without the support of: The Community Council who arranged the tree; Ian Alexander who put the tree up; K F Watson Electrical who hung up the lights; The church for providing shelter; The choir made up of children from the uniform groups in the village; Christine Fordyce who provided the musical accompaniment; Newburgh Inn for heating the mince pies and mulled wine. Race Night – Saturday 3 March 2018 Thank you Newburgh and surrounding areas! It was a real joy for the Gala Committee (and associated family members) to host those of you who attended the Race Night fundraiser. We especially appreciate you coming out to show your support in such freezing temperatures. There was a fantastic atmosphere and your enthusiasm for the races, the bar, the pies and even the coin tossing game made all the work that went into organising the event so worthwhile.