Community Action Plan ALP Map Community Action Plan

Mintlaw West Mintlaw East

This is from the 2002 Local Plan which is currently 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

Origins and Development and wider rural area. Museum, which is situated within Mintlaw (, , Maud, , has been New , , , approved as a Recognised Mintlaw is the largest settlement , , Collection of National in central - the , New and Significance by the Scottish population was recorded in the Kininmonth). Mintlaw has never Museums Council (SMC). The 2001 census at 2,647 but it been a Parish and has no Parish Park itself was recently awarded serves a wider rural area of Church - the boundaries of a prestigious Green Flag award, around 13,000. The village, Longside and Old Deer parishes being recognised as one of the established around 1813, owes pass through the village. country’s best green spaces. its existence largely to its geographical location, sitting at Unusually, the centre of the Over the years several the crossroads of the old coach village - “The Square” is actually community consulations have routes from to a busy roundabout. Community been conducted in Mintlaw - and to activities centre around the notably in 2003 when a Banff. The village has grown Public Hall which was built in comprehensive consultation rapidly over the years - notably the late 19th century with a using Planning for Real® was in the 1860s, when the railway bequest from a local merchant, carried out. In 2010, at a session line from Aberdeen to Peterhead Sylvester Davidson and a with the Community Council opened and also in the 1970s donation from Charles Farquhar, and at the local Gala during the with the arrival of the North Sea a local bank agent. The Trustees summer, this information was oil and gas industry. In the latest still own and run the Hall and reviewed and updated. The draft of the Aberdeenshire Local Park today. The Hall is the centre outcomes of this have been used Plan, housing land has been for community activities and is to create this prioritised Action allocated that will see the much in demand. Plan to help the community to focus and develop their future population almost double over There are community activities goals. the next 25 years. for all ages but there is a severe Mintlaw is an important service lack of suitable community Things we like about centre and is able to sustain a facilities which it is fair to say Mintlaw (as given by various variety of shops and businesses - limits the number and range of members of the community of including a butcher, chemist, activities and events that could different ages) convenience stores, filling be sustained in a settlement the “Central location” station, garden centre, hotels, size of Mintlaw. The Gala “ beautiful setting” takeaways etc. Several businesses Committee organise a popular “ friendly community / people - are located in and around the Gala each year and the still has a village feel about it” industrial estate providing community have actively “Aden Park - the jewel in employment to the local fundraised for Christmas Lights Aberdeenshire’s crown - right population. There is also a which are admired by all who on our doorstep” travel through the village during Health Centre, Veterinary What could be better the festive season. Practice, Library, Police Station, “better leisure facilities - Dentist and Bank. There are two To the west of the village is especially for the younger primary schools - Mintlaw Aden Country Park - a 230 acre generation” Primary and Pitfour Primary and park which was once a country “less litter” one secondary school, Mintlaw estate and home of the Russell “better play facilities in the Academy, which takes in pupils Family. Aberdeenshire Farming village” from all the surrounding villages 3 Buchan Community Plan Community Action Plan

Mintlaw: Buchan local communities and local Community Plan 2012-2014 community groups. The plan can The Buchan Local Community be accessed on Plan brings together the key www.ouraberdeenshire.gov.uk/ actions and projects of a number buchan of public agencies under five themes - Community Wellbeing, The latest version includes Developing Our Partnership, actions specifically for Mintlaw . Sustainable Environment, Jobs which are listed below and there and the Economy and Lifelong are numerous general intentions Learning. It also includes actions in all categories within the plan based on consultation with the which might affect Mintlaw. 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 brownfield and Greenfield sites throughout Buchan. Mintlaw is named as a top priority area. View of Square showing Public Hall. A18 Modernising Government/Joint Futures - To undertake early implementation of electronic sharing of single shared assessments for older people between Health and Social Work. Central Buchan will be the first priority for the Joint Older Peoples’ Team

Jobs and the Economy B2 A90 Trunk Road - To improve road safety and access in and out of Buchan. Road improvement scheme at Toll of Burness is included as a priority and well as the duelling of the Tipperty- road. B5 Central Buchan Industrial Potential - To promote the development of a high amenity site at Mintlaw and look at the potential sites in the other villages in Central Buchan B11 Social Economy - Sustainability of social enterprises – the MACBI project is named as a priority Lifelong Learning C2 Active Schools Programme - To increase the level of participation in sport and physical activity by young people in Buchan. To develop improved links from schools in Buchan to sports and recreation clubs in the wider community through the Community School Network that covers the Mintlaw area. Aden Country Park. C3 Holiday Activity Programmes - To continue to support and promote the Holiday Activity Pro- grammes and increase the range of activities, through the Community Schools Network at Mintlaw, which includes all the feeder Primary Schools to enable young people to participate. C5 Young People - To work with the Central Buchan Youth Forum to carry out youth consultations with peers and respond and act on current youth issues. To work in conjunction with Community Learning and Development and Mintlaw Academy, offering a pilot project to support a number of young students experience volunteering opportunities within a community based project as part of the exceptional entrance program and within the More Choices More Chances Strategy. Engage with hard to reach young people through arts and media work – the ‘Let’s Make Music’ Project based in Mintaw is named as an example Develop a Youth Cafe in Mintlaw in partnership with young people, community groups, Community Learning and Development, Princes Trust and Grampian Police. C10 Cultural and Heritage Opportunities for People of All Ages - To improve and promote access to the collections of Aberdeenshire Council. The education resource centre in Mintlaw will be developed as The Discovery Centre focusing on family friendly and school orientated activity Happy Plant Garden Centre. linking to the Curriculum for Excellence. C15 Play Areas - To continue to work with communities and others to upgrade existing play facilities in settlements - Mintlaw

Sustainable Environment D7 Aden Country Park - To work with the Development Group and produce a five year plan to promote the existing facilities and widen representation on the group. To explore the feasibility of extending the Caravan Site to cope with increased demand To continue the establishment of an Arboretum D9 Nature Conservation - To look for opportunities for future tree planting across Buchan to increase sources for marketable timber - Aden Country Park is named as an example D10 Paths and Outdoor Access - To continue the delivery of the core paths plan - the and Buchan Way is named as an example. To produce a revised edition of the Formartine and Buchan Way leaflet 4 Top Four Priorities Community Action Plan

The top four priorities to was still perceived to be a emerge from the review are problem. outlined below Play Area (Theme –Lifelong Lack of leisure activities Learning) (Theme –Lifelong Learning) The consultation exercises There is a clear identified need identified a need for play for a leisure facility in the central facilities within Mintlaw. The Buchan area to provide a centre old tennis courts are now where a wide range of unusable and the Hall and Park community activities can be Trustees have plans to create a delivered. In the 1990s a play area there since tennis can successful campaign to raise the be played on the all weather money for a swimming pool surface at Mintlaw Academy. Proposed new Community Facility. (SPLASH) was thwarted at the final stages when the local Traffic issues (Theme – Jobs authority were unable to and the Economy) guarantee to cover any potential A lack of parking continues to loss the facility might incur in be an issue for the community in future years. From the Planning Mintlaw. Parking for the shops for Real© exercise in 2003, a at the Square is directly off the new group was formed to take roundabout which means drivers forward this project – MACBI have to reverse directly on to (Mintlaw and Central Buchan the roundabout – an extremely Initiative). After fact finding hazardous and somewhat bizarre visits to other community manouvre. Commuters from Play Area. facilities in other areas of the outlying rural area using the it was decided that the bus service in to Aberdeen use most sustainable option was to the parking spaces at the playing build a multi purpose community field. hub which could cater for a wide variety of sporting and cultural Other issues activities and events. This Many other suggestions received project is well advanced, full support and these are listed on planning permission has been pages 6 - 9. A summarised Action Traffic manouvres on the roundabout. granted, the site secured and the Plan can be found on pages 10 group are currently applying for and 11. the remainder of the funding.

Litter (Theme – Sustainable Environment) Litter continues to be of major concern to residents – it was identified as an issue at the first consultation and at the review it Litter at the Square. 5 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Lifelong Learning Jobs and the Economy

This theme produced two of the This theme produced one of the top four priorities (see page 5). top four priorities (see page 5). Since the original consultation While people felt that Mintlaw exercise - the all weather benefited from its central pitches at the Academy have location and had a good been built which are used by a selection of shops there were Mintlaw Primary School. variety of clubs and groups. other issues to address However there are problems with community access at • more employment weekends which is something opportunities MACBI are hoping to address, in • MACBI facility coming to partnership with the Local fruition Authority. For many years, the • better road links young people in Mintlaw have • better hotel facilities, campaigned for a drop in facility encourage tourist related Pitfour Primary School. and for more activities. facilities to keep holidaying Community Learning and families in the village Development staff have recently • garden centre should be open worked with a group of young longer (esp. in Summer), people to open a youth drop in • more eating facilities in facility at the football pavilion to village after 4.30pm, address this need. • dual carriageway at least to Toll of Birness. Other key issues which arose in the consultation were – The Pavilion. • amalgamate the two primary schools • increased opening hours at the library • the need for more classes- particularly for older people • the cultural heritage facilities at the Discovery Centre need

The Fish Factory. to be promoted to the public

6 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Community Wellbeing

Since the original consultation – some housing needs have been addressed. In addition to new private housing, a new very sheltered housing at Abbey Court has recently been opened New housing, Sutherland Close. which provides 23 flats with tenants receiving 24 hour supporting care and living services. Aberdeenshire Council has recently completed phase 1 of their new build development in Pine View which includes 10 units providing 4 one bed flats and 6 1 bed bungalows. Phase 2 should be available in 2011 Abbey Court. comprising another 7 units.

Other issues included

• More Police presence • better policing of underage drinkers / boy racers • more parking – especially at the Health Centre • more affordable housing Health Centre. • the ability to get a Doctor’s appointment when required • safer routes to school – Sutherland Way – pathways

Police Station.

7 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Sustainable Environment

This theme attracted one of the top four priorities (see page 5). People clearly valued having Aden Country Park right on their doorstep. Other issues included - Recycling Centre.

• less potholes • wooded areas around Mintlaw (not Aden) need to be cleared of rubbish • pavements need to be swept • proper cycle paths • new recycling facilities – should not be at entrance to Formartine and Buchan Way. village • park and ride • path from Academy to Aden Park to be reinstated, encourage children of all ages to walk and cycle safely to school (since the consultation this has been completed) • less untidy gardens

Aden Country Park - MACBI Fun Run.

View west towards The Square.

8 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Developing Our Partnership (Working with others):

It was generally accepted that there was an enthusiastic core of volunteers who organise and look after the village. In Aden Country Park. particular the Gala Committee who work very hard each year to put on the summer Gala, despite increasing health and safety legislation.

Other issues were

• Attract more people on to the Community Council The Library. • Community Council needs more realistic funding • Would be good to integrate the schools with community events

Filling Station and Convenience Store.

View from Mintlaw Station.

9 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan under one Agency Amalgamate the two Primary Schools Increased opening at the library Better road links Better hotel facilities Longer opening hours at the Garden Centre of Burness Toll at least to Duel Carriageway Less potholes Partnership Leisure – Community MACBI Centre facilities play Improved More classes for older people Better promotion of the Discovery Centre Outside Issues – parking and Traffic roundabout More employment opportunities coming to fruition project MACBI More eating facilities in the village after 4.30pm Less litter Aden) cleared (not areas Wooded of rubbish New recycling facilities (not at entrance to sweptPavements Proper cycle pathsPath Academy Aden from to Park Park and Ride the village) Better Parking Independent 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 Lifelong Learning and the Economy Jobs Local Environment

10 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan Better policing of underage drinkers and boy racers More parking at the Health Centre More affordable Housing when appointment Ability to get Doctor’s required Other agencies: Buchan Community Safety Group Grampian Police Grampian Fire and Rescue Service NHS Grampian Better integration of the schools and community events More realistic funding for Community Councils lbeing Safer routes to school More Police presence 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 Developing OurPartnership Attract more people on the Community Council Local Environment (cont)Wel Health and Less untidy gardens

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