New Deer Community Action Plan March 2017 ALP Map Community Action Plan OP1 Plans for new housing passed OP2 Development started OP3 Future housing land 2 Introduction Community Action Plan Origins and Development three licensed premises, a Church Centre with Café and New Deer, originally named a range of local businesses - Auchreddie (Pop. 641 - 2011 electricans, plumbers etc. In census) is described in Rev 2005, the Clydesdale Bank John B Pratt’s Buchan as a “long closed their branch in the village straggling place, stretching and the community successfully from north to south for nearly campaigned to purchase the Bank. a mile . picturesquely built bank building and subsequently along the ascending ridge of sold it to RBS who re-opened a steep hill; the upper end the branch in June 2006, of the village being at least a retaining banking facilities for hundred feet above the lower the community and surrounding extremity”. During the mid to rural area. late 19th century, New Deer was regarded as a cultural centre Community Activity of the north east being home to Gavin Greig, collector and editor Community activities are of the world’s finest collection centred around the Public Hall, of folksongs, the village chemist, and Pleasure Park both owned George Bruce, composer of and managed by the Community famous bothy ballads such as Association. The Association, McGinty’s Meal an’ Ale, James established in 1956 comprises Dickie, Gold Medalist fidder and of four trustees, public members the aforementioned Rev John and representatives from around Public Hall. Pratt, north east historian. Bertie 25 groups/clubs from the village Forbes, journalist, financier and and surrounding rural area. founder of Forbes Magazine These groups provide a wide was born and brought up in the range of activities for all ages area and is interred in the old and interests from the Toddler cemetery opposite St Kane’s Group and Young Farmers to Parish Church. Friendship Club and Sewing Group and from badminton New Deer Today to bowling and football. The local Church of Scotland - St Today the village is still a thriving Kane’s - own and manage the community with a Primary Church Centre which is the School, a range of local services base for Church activities and including two convenience outreach as well as being the stores, one hosting the Post home of the volunteer run Office, the other a bakery, a Mustard Seed Café. The Royal licenced delicatessen, a chemist, British Legion also organises a hairdresser/nail salon, a a varied programme of social Primary School. chip shop, filling station, bank, events throughout the year. Just Surgery, Veterinary Practice, outside the village is Craigieford 3 Introduction Community Action Plan Park, owned by New Deer the results of this and follow up Agricultural Association who prioritisation event. organise and host the New Deer Show in July. The Community Things we like about our Association also produce a community . bi-monthly newsletter “What’s On” which contains information “Huge community spirit. Services Planning for Real® Event about local events and activities. are excellent for a small village. The village is kept tidy by a local Love living here” village orderly funded through Deer Community Council’s “I’ve been here for less than a year Brighter Villages Scheme. In 2006 but really like the village - peaceful New Deer was awarded the and friendly!” Calor Gas Community of the Year award. “Fantastic school with lots of community events. Excellent A Planning for Real© exercise services in the village.” was held initially in 2003 and reviewed in 2007 which resulted “The Community Association in an Action Plan being drawn does great work - not always fully up outlining key issues for the appreciated. Thank you!” community. As a result of these consultations the Public Hall and What could be better . Play Areas at the Pleasure Park were upgraded, the All Weather “Improved bus service to Peterhead, Consultation. Pitch and Pavilion were built, Aberdeen and Inverurie - the big new housing at Clubb Crescent drawback to New Deer” and Pirie Road was developed, a regular programme of theatre “More paths for walking” shows and films for all ages and interests was introduced and “More parking - outside Hall and has been ongoing in the Hall Church and at the surgery” and speed calming measures were implemented and double “More flowers and shrubs in the yellow lines laid to ease traffic centre of the village” congestion. In 2016 the Community Association was kindly gifted an area of land by local resident the late Mr Wull Littlejohn which prompted the Association to The late Wull Littlejohn’s ground which he kindly carry out another consultation gifted to New Deer Community Association. to refresh the previous Action Plan. This plan is a summary of 4 Buchan Community Plan Community Action Plan New Deer - Buchan • Safer Communities Community Plan 2016-19 This includes issues around public safety ensuring that This is the Community Plan residents live in a safe for Buchan which sets out the environment, that road Buchan Community Planning safety is promoted and that Group’s main actions for people are supported to live the next three years. More lives free from harm due to Auchreddie Road. information about Community alcohol or other drugs. Planning in Buchan and Aberdeenshire can be found on • Stronger Communities www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk This includes addressing issues of poverty and Priorities For Buchan inequalities for the include: communities of Buchan, supporting physical and • Empowered Communities economic regeneration in our This includes support for communities and supporting the delivery of Commmunity the growth and sustainability Action Plans - so we are well of social enterprises in the placed to benefit having just area. produced our Action Plan. It also covers support for Communities such as New Community Councils and Deer have an important role to Community Groups - New play in helping to address these Play park. Deer is represented on priorities through the provision Deer Community Council and development of facilities, and we have a wide range activities and services in the of community groups in our village. village. • Healthier Communities This includes reducing health inequalities across the area, ensuring older people live independent, healthier lives in a community which respects and values them and that children have the best start in life through action with parents and children. Culsh Nursing Home. 5 Top Four Priorities Community Action Plan The top four priorities to 2015 and it is now not practical emerge from the consultation to use the current bus service to are outlined below. go to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary or the Cinema/lunchtime Lack of parking concerts in Aberdeen. This continues to be an issue A potential solution could be to Kirk Glebe. in the village. The parking organise a community meeting outside the Public Hall and to ascertain the number of Church Centre is not adequate people affected and to lobby for particularly when there are an improved service. events on in both facilities or a large funeral service at the Footpaths Church. In addition there is often congestion on Main Street This continues to be a priority around the school/bank/shops for residents and was almost area and on Fordyce Road at resolved a few years ago. There the Surgery or if there are busy is a clear demand for a safe events in the Pleasure Park. walkway from the edge of the village out to New Deer A small working group has been Showfield and ideally all the way formed with representation from to Maud. There is no safe suitable the Church and Community route out of the village for Association to explore options wheelchair/pushchair users and to create additional parking walkers/ joggers regularly have to Bus stop. spaces in the Glebe. dodge the busy flow of traffic. There was a suggestion to create Traffic Calming a one way system for traffic entering the Pleasure Park at the Despite traffic calming measures end of Fordyce Road and making being introduced since the an exit at the bottom of the last Plan was published - there park heading out at the Garage are still real concerns about on to Fordyce Terrace. speeding traffic in the village. Areas mentioned include High It was also suggested that part Street and Main Street, Fordyce of the former builder’s yard on Road, Fordyce Terrace and Main Street could be purchased Auchreddie Road. and a car park created there. Many other suggestions received Lack of Public Transport support and they are listed on pages 7 - 9. Parking. The lack of bus services is an issue for many residents. The service changed in November 6 Other Issues Community Action Plan A summarised Action Plan can Work and the Local be found on pages 10 - 11. Economy Housing • Broadband It was highlighted that • The late Mr Wull there was a need for better Littlejohn’s Ground broadband in the rural This area of land - off areas around New Deer - All weather pitch and pavilion. Stoneybank Gardens - was particularly Cairnbanno and highlighted at the consultation Brucklay. event and people were asked for their suggestions. • Units for Start Up The consensus was that Businesses a mix of housing would It was unclear if there was a be the preferred option real demand for such units including starter homes, - further research required three bedroom semis, two before any land is identified bedroom terraced houses for such a development. and - given the distance from the Pleasure Park - that a Health recreational area be included in any development. The • Smoking in public spaces Trustees and representatives While there is no smoking from the Community allowed in public buildings Association are progressing in New Deer, there was Better broadband.