Glenkindie & Towie Community Action Plan 2019

Home , Corgarff, Gartly, Kildrummy, Logie Coldstone

Location Map Community Action Plan

Introduction Community Action Plan

This Community Action About Glenkindie and Towie Kildrummy, Cushnie, Tarland, Migvie and Logie Coldstone. Place Plan (CAP) has been A very rural area with prepared by a Steering An open rolling landscape beautiful scenery. Group with full members surrounds the main Past of the Glenkindie & settlements of Glenkindie There is evidence of a rich Towie Community Group and Towie; this is the Parish of Towie the boundaries of history through anecdotes and addresses a series which inform the loose passed on from generation of issues which have geographic area of this to generation and in the been identified as the Community Action Plan. The fabric of the land itself. This most pressing by current parish church, built in includes prehistoric evidence Glenkindie & Towie the early 19th century, is of man’s endeavours, community. located in the heart of the standing stones and other small hamlet of Towie, just to officially scheduled monuments The issues were identified the south of a large meander whose full meaning and following a thorough and of the River Don: here you purpose are still not fully inclusive consultation will find the Kirk, Primary and understood. There was programme carried out Nursery School, Village Hall believed to be a stone circle over a year. That process is and the site of Towie Castle. where one standing stone outlined in more detail The small road through can still be seen (although it below. Having identified Towie follows the boundary had fallen over and was put the main issues, the plan of the church graveyard, up again the wrong way), whilst four of the original then seeks to highlight the turning almost 90 degrees stones were brought up on actions and projects which, through the hamlet and out over the river, across the new sledges to the shoemaker’s it is hoped, will assist in bridge where a winding road house and one is supposedly resolving the issues, along leads past the war memorial used to hold the plaque of with key partners. A fuller to the hamlet of Glenkindie. the Upper Donside Bowling understanding of the Spreading along the main Green. Dr. Ross (now issues can perhaps be road you’ll find the Post deceased) remembered appreciated by looking at Office, Shop and Garage, the when he was at school the the setting and history of very first digital telephone stones being moved. Some the area. exchange in the whole of the were used as lintels. British Isles, Bowling Green This unassuming area was and the site of the currently central to the history and

closed Glenkindie Hotel. The politics of Scotland where beautiful landscape is shaped neighbouring Kildrummy by the area’s land industries Castle, built in the 13th of agricultural and sporting century, was a seat of the estates. Towie Parish in kings of Scotland for a time. Upper Donside shares borders with Strathdon, Glenbuchat, Cabrach, 3

History and Development Community Action Plan

The latter ruin, now run by manage the shooting, Historic Scotland, can still be fishing, gardens as well as visited today but unfortunately domestic staff for the ‘’Big the ruins of our own Towie Hoose’’. Although still a Castle, built in the early bustling community, the seventeenth century, were historically larger population razed to the ground in 1968 supported shops and services for fears of safety. Senior closer to home, and as such pupils at Towie School had there was a variety across the enjoyed spending lunchtimes area including grocers found on the castle. Not long after at Nether Towie, Newton, the demolition, the education Sinnahard, Inverden, and of these pupils was moved to Bridgend. Latterly the laird Alford Academy. Some former moved the Bridgend shop students still remember the down to Newbigging where ruins fondly as well as the a shoemaker could be found weekend when a memorial across the road, with a cairn was built and the ex second at Jacobs Stane on Towie pupils all camped in the Back Burn of Towie right Towie hall. Whilst the boys in the middle of a field! built the cairn, under the There was even a cycle shop supervision of Mr Brasso of where the garage is now and the Academy, the girls did where the ‘Monacled Mutineer’, the catering using old recipes Topless, left his bicycle when supervised by their domestic he was on the run from the science teacher. A plaque police. A woollen mill and a outside Towie Hall on the old lint mill could be found at wall points to the cairn. the mouth of the Kindie burn, Glenkindie and Towie were and graveyards at Nether always small hamlets but like Towie and Belnaboth where many rural areas, they were there had been chapels. The previously much more present 19th century church populous. Even as the parish likely occupies a much earlier with the greatest decrease in ecclesiastical site, and indeed population over the early a carved medieval stone built 20th century it was still busier into the graveyard wall attests over much of the 20th century to this. There were smithies than it is today. Over that at Burnend and near period, as they do today, Waterside, as well as meal estates owned much of the mills at the Mill house, Old land. These estates rented Mains and possibly Glenkindie out crofts and farms to Arms where the ‘Feein’ market tenant farmers and the Laird took place until it died out in employed people directly to the 1930s. The ‘Feein’ market 4

History and Development Community Action Plan

was where the agricultural to Corgarff. The Church of workers could change jobs Scotland Towie Kirk shares its and farms at term times in minister with Lumsden, May and November. Towie Kildrummy, Strathdon and boasts to have one of the Corgarff. Residents now oldest horsemen, who left travel for GP services in school at thirteen and spent either Strathdon or Alford; the next seven years of his senior students go to Alford life as horseman on his Academy, and the Post father’s farm. He had to Office is housed at the plough the fields and if a central garage, which also ‘yirder’ (very large stone) the home of the only shop in the Parish. stopped his plough, had to try and manoeuvre his way Through the Community round it. The meaning of Action Plan themes and Trancie Hill is ‘cultivated hill’. priorities, we will elaborate The estates also rented out on some of the community property for a post office and facilities and opportunities general merchant: the original but generally in this very post office was at Inverkindie friendly community, there are where the customers were lots of active volunteers served at a window before it keeping going facilities and moved first to Kindie Cottage, activities, supporting interesting then onto the shop at clubs or hobbies such as a Newbigging which in former Gun Club, bowling which years was a private girl’s takes place indoors during school, then a dressmaker. the winter months in Towie The Glenkindie estate also Hall, and outside on the built Brebber House to Upper Donside Bowling accommodate a doctor for green in the summer months. The traditional the parish. It was a busy Towie Pipe Band practices bustling place. are held in Towie Hall and Present the Towie & District Senior The population of Towie at Citizens Club uses the hall for the last census in 2011 was meetings and concert. Towie Hall committee hold different 126; the school roll has fundraisers as do the Glenkindie grown in recent years and at & Towie Community Group, present has over 50 pupils School Parent Council and although some pupils reside the Kirk throughout the year. in neighbouring parishes. There is also an excellent We very much hope this nursery school, the only one Community Action Plan will in the Upper Don glen serving help us make this great place preschool children all the way even better. 5

Planning Process Community Action Plan

The Glenkindie & Towie • worked with the local Community Group was primary schools to seek developed in 2017 with the views of the children representatives of the various on their priorities groups in the area including • analysed the responses to the Community Council, the questionnaire & primary Bowling Club, Towie Senior consultation including Citizens Club, Towie Hall, making sure that the Towie Pipe Band, the broad demographic was Glenkindie Gun Club and represented Towie Parent Council. A year on they recognised that it • feedback display and was a good time to discussions at a well- undertake the process of attended open public Community Action Planning. event The Association Chair and • collated and analysed all Community Council the information and drew representative contacted up a thematic outline of Marr Area Partnership who the issues and potential then supported them projects which emerged throughout the process. The from the questionnaire Steering Group endeavoured and Open Days to ensure everybody, as far as possible, had the opportunity • reached out again to to contribute their thoughts. groups, individuals and Some of the key activities the other stakeholders to steering group undertook further check interpretation are outlined as follows: and detail suitable actions • designed a questionnaire • prepared a draft Plan on and made it available to a the basis of all previous wide sample of community engagement, data groups and individuals gathering, analysis and discussion • highlighted the survey opportunity in the Press, on • presented the draft at a community social media, further open public event through posters and with to check the community direct communication in recognised it as a true local groups in an attempt to reflection of the maximise the number of community’s priorities responses. • prepared this final plan

Themes Community Action Plan

Areas for Action Key Themes The actions, issues, and aspirations raised, and THEME 1: Getting Around corresponding actions proposed by the community, have been grouped into THEME 2: Getting Connected three themes and are summarised in the table at the end of this plan. The THEME 3: Activities & Facilities context and further information about each theme are described in Themes Narrative more detail in the themes’ narrative that follows. These reflect the current situation THEME 1: Getting Around when the action plan was There is no public transport developed, but will be serving this remote rural supplemented by further community and it’s under- actions as these are stood that there will be identified over time. significant challenges to Community action planning is fully addressing the issues a dynamic and progressive around transport and process that will reflect the connectivity. This community priorities of the communities features on the SIMD as they evolve. It is also (Scottish Indicators of dependent on the involvement Multiple Deprivation) and energy of the community recognised as deprived in to enable actions to be terms of Access to Services. achieved. There is a relatively small population for traditional public buses and commercial operators and households are dispersed over a large geographic area around the two settlement clusters: Towie where the community hall, church, school and community playpark can

Themes Community Action Plan

be found, and Glenkindie hope that the route from where the garage/Post school to the woodland Office/local shop /Bowling school could be made Club and currently closed safer so that they could hotel can be found. use it more. For those that are able and confident The network of small, enough to take the winding but fast roads are informal walking routes not considered by most to be fit for walkers or cyclists. through the area they fully The majority of survey appreciate accessing the respondents, along with countryside and feeling school children, did not connected. Currently a feel that the area has cross community group is sufficient foot/cycle paths working on access issues generally or as an alternative and is promoting a high to using the roads, whilst level route from Corgarff also reporting that they to the South West and would walk or cycle more if Gartly to the North East. this were improved. Safe This project, known as routes to link the two main Kingdom of the Picts, settlements was agreed as aspires to have access the main priority, and a points to the settlements in good starting point with a the lower glens along the further desire to link route, including to Glenkindie settlements and individual and Towie. This will enable homes. This would also and encourage access to a enable access to the challenging walking route countryside including the linking local communities River Don which runs and potentially bringing between the two main visitors to support local settlement clusters, and primary children expressed

Themes Community Action Plan

services; however the and out of term time. A linking paths that have local charity known as the begun to be identified Silver Circle runs a could also be further shopping bus, with user developed as part of the contribution taking elderly network of safe paths that residents fortnightly in the are needed to link the local winter, and weekly in the area. summer to local towns, which is highly valued. Whilst it is appreciated that safe cycling and walking There were also some routes are part of the comments about maintaining solution, there is also a the road networks, including need to look at viable issues around maintenance transport options to link of surfaces particularly this remote dispersed potholes and overgrown community with services verges obscuring field of and opportunities in the vision. Responses were very larger towns particularly mixed around snow clearing Alford, where the local from ‘fantastic’ to ‘very high school, GP services poor’. and Community Campus are located, along with some transport links to the nearest city. Very specific issues arose around school bus times, and the need for young people to independently access extracurricular activities in

Themes Community Action Plan

THEME 2: Getting Connected Most respondents don’t Prior to the community feel satisfied with mobile action planning process or broadband services the Glenkindie & Towie although for some house- Community Group already holds there have been understood that it would improvements. Although be useful for the community some are satisfied with the to have a community service they receive, for notice board. The process others the service is poor highlighted that there is enough to have an impact wider desire for this and on work, including running also what locations would businesses, and education. be the most useful with the It’s understood that central shop/garage and neighbouring, similarly Towie Hall being the dispersed rural communities preferred sites. also have these issues. There is a new national policy for infrastructure improvements but it’s unclear what this will mean for this community. It is recognised that exploring this should be the first action, to include linking with neighbouring communities to clarify the situation and address the need.

Themes Community Action Plan

THEME 3: Activities & Facilities People appreciate the need and desire to see sense of community, the more going on for all age friendly nature of people groups. The community here and the public facilities have suggested a variety of that they have such as the activities and social events shop/ garage/ Post Office, including fitness focused school, school playground, activities. A number of Bowling Club, the Kirk and people are already Towie Hall. Those participating volunteering to support value and appreciate activities, however new groups that regularly meet volunteers would be needed such as the Bowling Club to support this. Positively and the Towie Senior some currently not Citizens Group, along with involved expressed that occasional events such as they would be willing to the Duck Race and one off support new activities. get togethers such as a Maintaining and developing Pop Up Bar in Towie Hall. facilities is critical to Others attend activities supporting more activities. such as the Silver Circle In particular Towie Hall Lunch Club in neighbouring could be better utilised with Strathdon(7kms). However, upgraded facilities especially the community do miss the kitchen. There was also having access to a hotel/ some interest in improving café/bar and there is outdoor spaces such as the evidence from the community ‘wild garden’ or improving action planning process play areas based at the that some people can feel primary school and isolated in this community, aforementioned paths and that there is both a networks.

Action Plan Community Action Plan

North Marr Community Community Marr North Paths Digital Area Marr Donside Community Donside Council Landowners Council Aberdeenshire Group Safety Picts the of Kingdom Group Group Paths SCDT Sustrans landowners Local All for Paths Partnership Marr Area Council Aberdeenshire Forum

PotentialKeypartners

• • • • • • • • • • • •

10 Years 10

LongTerm Goal

Actions3

Better quality/safer quality/safer Better roads roads user Multi accessbroad Good, well maintained, well network paths used development Further widely more for paths: accessible mobility Buggies/lower users connected Socially community. healthy used well Accessible, facilities

• • • • • • •

Forest

3 Years 3

Towie

Actions1

Aberdeenshire Council Council Aberdeenshire Make sure sure Make Council Aberdeenshire views. of aware is with Working develop to of understanding and responsibilities limitations opportunities Explore to community the for involved be

Way markers/ Way Link with recently with recently Link paths group established footpaths Safe developed Glenkindie School Towie Bridge)(Green School identified Routes promotion schedule Maintenance

Shortto MediumTerm

• • • • • • • • • •

Issue/Need

Condition of Roads of Condition Verge maintenance Verge (visibility Hedges issues) holes) (pot Control Traffic speeding

Safety Safety sufficient a have To to safely network paths the connect accessand community the and facilities countryside. all by accessible Paths • • • •

• • •

Projects

THEME 1: Getting Around Around Getting 1: THEME Improving Road & & Road Improving Safety Road & Development Paths Maintenance

Action Plan Community Action Plan

Aberdeenshire Council Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire Bus Bus Aberdeenshire Forum Transport Community Scotland SUSTRANS Neighbouring group community

PotentialKeypartners

Parent Council Parent CampusUsers Alford Group Council Aberdeenshire CLD &Leisure Sport

• • • • • • • • • •

10 Years 10

LongTerm Goal

Actions3

Access to education, education, to Access Sustainable, reliable, reliable, Sustainable, transport efficient and established options health, services, & work wellbeing opportunities

Sustainable reliable, Sustainable transport efficient safe, established options young all people where sameto the access have opportunities.

• • •

3 Years 3

provision

’ ’

Actions1

Review other rural otherrural Review areas

•

Link with neighbouring Link to communities aneffective establish Group Transport options Explore including: parent/youth Establish group tobroader Link as group transport above safe/formal Explore sharing transport options

Shortto MediumTerm

• • • • •

t t

’

Issue/Need

transport that don that transport Currently no public no Currently transport should community The for options have a accessing on rely car. private to transport links No connections

Issues with timings of timings Issueswith transport school journey of Length Issuesaccessing schoolforafter campus activities/study.

• • • • • •

Projects

THEME 1: Getting Around Around Getting 1: THEME Transport Solutions Solutions Transport Population Broad Solutions Transport People Young 13

Action Plan Community Action Plan

Towie Hall Group Hall Towie

Aberdeenshire Council Aberdeenshire Government Scottish Providers Service Neighbouring communities Group Community G&T Hall Towie Central Glenkindie Office Garage/Post Council Abedeenshire

PotentialKeypartners

• • • • • • • •

•

10 Years 10

10Years

Events/Jobs/Services better are Events attended

LongTerm Goal

Action3

Actions3

Fit for purpose, purpose, for Fit welland sustainable, hall used and social More activities wellbeing

All households, households, public All businessesand spaces mobile good have internet and coverage access maintenance & Upkeep

People are informed People • •

• • •

• •

3 Years 3

Design/Contract Determine position Determine site with Liaise owners Fundraise content Plan maintenance

Actions1

Actions 1 Actions

Establish if there arethereif Establish infrastructure planned improvements with neighbouring Link to communities unmet establish/map need.

Design and cost costand Design improvements Fundraising

Well located noticelocated Well board(s) • • • • •

Shortto MediumTerm

• • •

• •

Issue/Need

Patchy mobile and mobile Patchy provision broadband area the throughout developing/ on Impact and business running education local Better communication etc services & Events

The Hall could be be could Hall The with used better facilities upgraded not for is fit kitchen The purpose

• •

• • • •

Projects

THEME 2: Getting Connected Connected 2:Getting THEME Broadband and and Broadband Connectivity Mobile Board Notice

THEME 3: Activities & Facilities Facilities & 3:Activities THEME Hall Towie Development

Action Plan Community Action Plan

Group Towie Hall Towie Community G&T Group Club Bowling School Towie Church business/ Private instructor Walking Strathdon to Health Walks School Towie Group G&T Council Aberdeenshire

PotentialKeypartners

• • • • • • • • • • •

10Years

LongTerm Goal

Action3

Succession for for Succession Improved social social Improved opportunities healthy Vibrant connected communities volunteers facility Appropriate developed active Healthy, community space Social

Healthy active active Healthy community

• • • • • • •

3 Years 3

Actions1

Events group Events group potential in Coordinated approach approach Coordinated to new or support andgroups established activities: activities Regular e.g. outings Organised nights theatre/film fitness block trial Fund class shared interest Identify activities Walking/running/ nutrition of Feasibility multipurpose sports area community MUGAPitch improvement Playpark & fundraise Design

Shortto MediumTerm

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Issue/Need

Tackle socialisolation Tackle volunteers more Need to: activity current Support activity new Develop in interest Specific fitnessactivities group out- foroffer Improve activity door

• • • • • •

Projects

THEME 3: Activities & Facilities Facilities & 3:Activities THEME Social Opportunities & & Opportunities Social Events Fitness of Availability Activities Area Activity Outdoor 15

Community Action Plan

This booklet is one of a series This information can now It is important that this booklet produced by the Local Rural guide the community and is seen by all concerned as an Partnerships for a number of Community Planning Partners account of the community’s communities in Aberdeenshire. in drawing up detailed action views at the time of the latest plans to implement the top consultation, and that it will priorities as well as addressing have to be regularly updated. As This initiative is sponsored by the other issues which have some projects are completed, Aberdeenshire Community been identified. other issues will arise and take Planning Partnership and run For each priority or their place in future versions of by Aberdeenshire Local Rural the community plan. Partnerships. The aim is to issue this will involve agreeing provide community action who should be involved, what It is recommended that this plan plans in an attractive, easy to resources will be needed and has a maximum life of five read, professionally printed target dates for completion. It years. format. is hoped that this process will be driven by representatives of the community with support - moral, technical & financial - from the relevant Partners.

Thanks are due to all of the Glenkindie & Towie Area community who submitted their views, contributed to the validation of priorities and helped finalise the actions. Thanks to all those who provided photographs. Also thanks to Marr Area Partnership and Aberdeenshire Council for supporting our Community to undertake

this process.

For further information contact information contact Donside Community Council [email protected] [email protected] or

Creative Agency Agency Creative Marr Area Partnership Ground Floor • Victoria & Albert Memorial Hall Station Square • Ballater • AB35 5QB

Art Jax by [email protected]

Design by by Design www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk 16