Udny Parish Community Action Plan 2012 Map Community Action Plan

2 Introduction Community Action Plan

Udny is a parish and Community seems to have Council area in central , consolidated around the junction of , approximately 15 two turnpike roads, Newburgh to miles north of . It is 4,926 Old Meldrum (opened in 1805), and ha in area and has a population of Aberdeen to (1825). Its church, 2,242 (2001 census). Over half of the located exactly on this junction, was population lives in Pitmedden, the main built in 1864 to house a congregation settlement, population 1,137 (2001 formed in 1843. census). Smaller villages include , Hattoncrook and Milldale. Pitmedden House & Gardens Udny Castle. The present Pitmedden House is a History 17th-century house, remodelled in The area seems to have taken its name 1853 after a destructive fire in 1807. It from the Uldney family who were is thought to incorporate, at its core, awarded a charter to these lands by a castle built c1430. Its 40 ha (100 King David II in the 14th Century. acre) estate was gifted to the National The parish was erected in 1597, being Trust for (NTS) in 1952. It disjoined from pre-existing adjacent contains a Museum of Farming Life, parishes and the Old Parish church at visitor centre, herb garden, ponds and Udny Green was constructed soon woodland walk. after this in 1605. Its centrepiece is the stunning Great Udny Castle is an imposing, Garden of Pitmedden, a breath-taking rectangular, tower house, five stories recreation by NTS of a 17th Century high and dating from the 15th Century. formal garden featuring over five miles It is a private residence, still occupied of box hedging arranged in intricate by the Udny family, whose forebear, patterns to form six parterres, filled Ronald of Uldney, was awarded the with some 40,000 plants and bursting original 14th Century charter. It with colour in the summer months. The emerges above the mature trees of a original garden was laid out in 1675 Pitmedden House. landscaped park. by Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Baronet of Pitmedden, but its design has been Udny Green is the picturesque lost. Three of the current elaborate “secret jewel” of Udny parish and formal parterres were reproduced possibly its original community, for from designs in the Gardens of the it is the location of an early chapel, Palace of Holyrood as depicted on a Christ’s Kirk of Udny, which predates 1647 bird’s eye view of Edinburgh by the formation of the parish, and of James Gordon of Rothiemay. A fourth the original 1605 parish church. The parterre is a heraldic design based on village is sited on the edge of the Udny Sir Alexander’s coat of arms. Castle landscaped estate and has all the architectural characteristics of a Later History planned estate village. It is grouped Agricultural Improvements around an asymmetrical village green The descriptions of Udny parish in with the current parish church (1821) the Statistical Accounts of Scotland, and war memorial crowning its north the Old (OSA 1794) and New (NSA side and the old cemetery with its 1840) give very clear accounts of the intriguing mort house on the south life and appearance of the parish and side. Nineteenth Century houses of of the changes over the intervening Pitmedden Gardens. compatible and sensitive design fill period resulting from the agricultural much of the rest of its circumference. improving movement. Thus in the OSA

3 Introduction Community Action Plan

the improvers are restricted to a few Recent Times pioneering large landowners such as The agricultural nature of the Parish the Udny estate and the changes are continued up to present times, but not widespread. Most agricultural land the parish took on an additional is managed under an infield-outfield function in the late 20th Century. The system and much of the land is broom, discovery of North Sea Oil in 1969 whins and bulrushes. The majority of and the subsequent expansion of the population is composed of farmers Aberdeen only 15 miles away, as the and their subtenants and there are no major European Oil centre, expanded Udny Green Church and War Memorial. towns or villages but 259 households commuting from the parish. Between living in scattered farmhouses and 1991 and 2008, Pitmedden’s population croft houses. The author bewails the grew from 870 to 1380 with expansion time wasted in cutting peats, the poor of modern housing estates, and many quality of the roads and the short country cottages and farm buildings leases which restrict the spread of have been upgraded for commuters too. the improvements. By the NSA, the new agricultural systems are much Proposals more widespread, with enclosed fields In 2008 Udny Community Council widely distributed, many farmers organised a first Planning for Real® following a scientifically based crop (PfR®). This was attended by 300 - 400 rotation and widespread ownership of people. This suggested a series of thrashing machines. There are a similar proposed projects and policies for number of households as in 1794, the area and, significantly, it endorsed now 280 families, and the majority of a proposal to develop a community- the population are still farmers and owned wind turbine to generate subtenants (192 families) but there is income to pay for many of these a wider number of agricultural service proposals. Udny Community Council occupations and the turnpikes have took this turbine project forward. The arrived, giving much improved trade turbine was commissioned on 6th July and access, and supporting seven inns 2011- the first wholly community- and six merchants. owned turbine in mainland UK. A Community Trust was formed to One intriguing passage demonstrates Pitmedden Church. disburse the income from the turbine how precarious agriculture and life and a second PfR® was held in March was under the earlier system. It 2011 to revisit and endorse the original describes how in 1782 crops were proposals and inform the Trust policies. exceedingly deficient “from want of sunshine to ripen it and by intense Udny Community Council undertook frost and snow which came on before a third engagement event in the it could be cut down.” Though no-one parish on the 18th and 19th May died, hunger and impoverishment was 2012 to confirm what had been widespread and the poorest had to be previously put forward and since fed by supplementary rations brought the Community Trust was now in a in by the Church Session and the position to distribute grants, it wanted government. Prosperity had still not confirmation of community aspirations. recovered to earlier levels by 1794 as The official launch of the Udny the OSA was being composed. Community Trust took place at this event.

Planning for Real® 2011: Model of Pitmedden. This document is based on the second and third engagement findings.

4 Udny Green Community Action Plan

Key Planning Objectives for the Settlement Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2012

General view of Udny Parish.

• To provide for local need for Existing Site housing. • Site EH1 has existing planning • To support local services, consent for 15 houses. Provision of particularly the Primary School. car parking, linkages to serve the Primary School and cemetery, and Protected Land open space is required. • Site P1 is protected to conserve the ‘green’ of Udny Green. Settlement Infrastructure • Site P2 is protected to conserve the • Local mains reinforcement may cemetery. be required for the water and • Site P3 is protected to conserve wastewater infrastructure. Udny Green south side. the recreation area of the Primary School and an adjacent woodland Proposed Site area. • Site H1 is allocated for up to 30 • Site P4 is protected to provide car houses. Up to 15 houses will be parking provision, linkages to serve delivered in the first phase with the Primary School and cemetery, the remaining 15 delivered in the and open space as part of the second phase, subject to review of development of site EH1. the plan. • Site R1 is reserved for a new • A design brief will be required to cemetery. coordinate the development of • The Udny Green Conservation sites EH1, P4 and H1 for up to 45 Area is shown hatched in the plan. houses.

Udny Green Morthouse in the Old Churchyard.

5 Pitmedden & Milldale Community Action Plan

Key Planning Objectives for the Settlement Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2012

Pitmedden Village Hall.

• Preserve the amenity of the settlement. • Provide opportunities for local employment. • Provide opportunities for housing to meet local needs.

Protected Land • Site P1 is protected to conserve Pitmedden housing estate. the landscape setting of the settlement. required to accompany any future • Site P2 is protected to conserve development proposals for these the playing fields and recreational sites and an appropriate buffer strip land. will be required adjacent to the • Site P3 is protected to conserve existing watercourse. Realignment the bowling green and tennis of the existing watercourse at site courts. EH1 would be welcomed. • Site BUS1 is safeguarded for employment uses. Existing Site • Site BUS2 is safeguarded for • Site EH1 is carried forward from employment uses. the previous local plan for up to • HG identifies land within the 14 houses to include community Pitmedden House Gardens and facilities in accordance with the Designed Landscape. agreed development brief for the site. Flood Risk • Part of sites EH1 and BUS1 lie For detailed viewing of the Pitmedden within the Scottish Environment and Milldale maps please visit: http:// Protection Agency’s indicative 1 in www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/plans_ Pitmedden House. 200 year flood risk area. A detailed policies/SGFORMARTINE.pdf flood risk assessment will be

6 Formartine Community Plan Community Action Plan

constantly changing to keep the Plan Formartine Local Community relevant and up to date. A number of Plan 2010-2014 (2012 Update) actions are detailed in the Formartine Community Plan 2010-2014 that relate The Formartine Community to Pitmedden/Milldale, Udny Green and Plan incorporates issues in local Hattoncrook. The Plan can be found communities as well as issues that online on the Community Planning are arising across the Formartine Website at www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/ area as a whole. The Plan lays out formartine ® the intentions for developments and Planning for Real 2011. projects over a four year period and Community Planning in Aberdeenshire reflects contact and dialogue with operates under five main themes; local communities, community groups, Community Wellbeing; Jobs and the organisations and individuals. The Economy; Lifelong Learning; Sustainable Community Planning Partners will be Environment and Developing Our developing these projects with local Partnership. Contained with each communities by working in partnership theme there are a number of actions with the area’s Community Councils that are being progressed in the and other partners. The Formartine Formartine area. The priorities detailed Community Plan is updated on a six in the tables over the page have been monthly basis following a monitoring cross referenced to actions within the exercise on existing actions and is Formartine Community Plan.

Heading/Lead Service Action/Project

Community Wellbeing Action A13 - To work with local communities to bring forward proposals for enhanced community facilities.

Sustainable Environment Action D3 -To work with local communities in maintaining and enhancing the appearance of towns and villages in the area through the development of: • Formartine in Bloom Competition • Provision of planting material and associated activities. • Haddo Country Park • Nature conservation • Coastal areas and beaches • Paths and Outdoor access • Town and Village Enhancement Grant. Pitmedden footpath projects. • Public Art.

Planning for Real® 2011: Model of Udny Green.

7 Top Four Priorities Community Action Plan

New play equipment is also requested, New Udny Community Hall particularly equipment that is suitable (Theme: Community Wellbeing - for a variety of ages that is interactive Facilities) and fun while promoting health and The provision of a new community hall wellbeing. Incorporated into this in the parish came out top priority of improvement it would be requested residents. It is anticipated that a new that a piece of public art for the village community hall could host a variety could be included and to look at of activities for the local community creating a village centre. The Pitmedden Dr Spence Memorial Hall, Udny Green. including a community cinema, a Playpark Trust are leading on moving community gym, keep fit classes and this forward. activities for children and young people. Action D3: To work with local communities in maintaining and enhancing the appearance of towns Action A13: To work with local communities to and villages in the area through the development of: bring forward proposals for enhanced community • Formartine in Bloom Competition facilities. • Provision of planting material and associated activities. Paths Projects • Haddo Country Park • Nature conservation (Theme: Sustainable Environment) • Coastal areas and beaches Paths linking certain areas of the parish • Paths and Outdoor access • Town and Village Enhancement Grant. have been highlighted as priority and • Public Art. it is proposed that three projects are implemented. The first project Udny Green Hall is a proposed route along Drove Refurbishment Road, with the road cleared and (Theme: Community Wellbeing - refurbished to provide safe access to Facilities) the Formartine and Way for The Community of Udny Green would walkers and young cyclists. The second like to refurbish their hall to make project is to propose an extension to the hall more eco friendly and reduce the Fisher Walk and extended into a heating bills. A programme of insulation, War Memorial, Udny Green. circular route from Linn Kiln Wood to new heating system and new double Raitshill, and back to glazing are proposed for the Hall. The Pitmedden Gardens. The third proposal management committee of the hall are is to link Udny Green to the post office prepared to lead on this project. at Milldale along a footpath near Udny Castle. Action A13: To work with local communities to bring forward proposals for enhanced community facilities. Action D3: To work with local communities in maintaining and enhancing the appearance of towns and villages in the area through the development of: • Formartine in Bloom Competition • Provision of planting material and associated activities. • Haddo Country Park • Nature conservation • Coastal areas and beaches • Paths and Outdoor access • Town and Village Enhancement Grant. • Public Art.

Park Improvements (Theme: Sustainable Environment) Park improvements in Pitmedden is a priority for the parish. It is Udny Community Wind Turbine. proposed that additional car parking be provided for use while at the park.

8 Other Issues Community Action Plan

In this sections that follow, list of Council and other community groups other priorities are given, together could be responsible for continuing to with a note of who would involved enhance the surroundings of the parish in taking action. A summarised action while looking to set up a specific Parish plan can be seen near the back of this Enhancement Group. Udny Community document. Trust has attracted funding to develop projects around Fuel Poverty and Music, Arts and Drama life skills and learning opportunities Festival throughout the parish. (Community Wellbeing) Udny Wind Turbine construction - delivery of tower sections. An idea to host a festival in the parish Tennis Court Lighting to bring the community together was (Sustainable Environment) supported during the planning for In an effort to prolong the use of the real process. This project could be tennis courts, new lighting is a need to supported and organised by the Udny ensure the facilities were able to offer Community Council along with other year round opportunities. local community groups. Youth Work Provision Environmental (Community Wellbeing and Lifelong Consideration And Learning) Enhancement Across The Residents of the parish felt that there is Parish a need for a youth worker in the area (Sustainable Environment) to be able to support young people A number of suggestions were and their ambitions and to look at put forward in order to increase opportunities for skill development. Udny’s contribution to sustaining the environment across the parish, as well Elderly Support Plans as those noted under the Top Priorities (Community Wellbeing) section, these include:- Often older people feel isolated and • An anaerobic digestor at the vulnerable in their communities and Pitmedden Udny and Tarves suggestions were put forward to pull Community Composting Project together services and activities for (PUT) older people. A newly formed group Udny Wind Turbine construction - • Polytunnels at PUT to grow plants called the Ellon Area Health and lifting the hub and blades. for use in the community. Wellbeing Group have focused their • General maintenance of the villages attention on older people and will including planting and shrubbery. be looking to address some of the • Renewable Energy Installations - issues raised in the Ellon area over the Udny Community Wind Turbine. coming months and years. • Energy Updates and Energy Audits for schemes such as home insulation and boiler replacement.

Udny Community Wind Turbine has now been built and will result in funding opportunities for the Udny Parish. Pitmedden, Udny and Tarves (PUT) Community Composting could potentially benefit from some of these funds when they become available to Udny Wind Turbine construction - realise their ambitions. The Community the driving force.

9 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan Target Date Target 2015 2013 2013 2013 Agencies Outside External Funders Involved Partners Aberdeenshire Council Aberdeenshire Education and Recreation Council Aberdeenshire Planning and Environmental Services, Landscape Services, Council Community Tarves Council, Community Udny Council Aberdeenshire Services, Landscape PrimaryPitmedden School Council, Community Udny Council Aberdeenshire Education and Recreation Independent Group Pitmedden Village Hall Pitmedden Council Community Udny Trust Community Udny Trust Park Pitmedden Hall Committee Udny Community Council Community Udny

New Udny Community Udny New Action Hall Committee Projects Paths Road Project Drove Project Walk Fisher Office to Post Green Udny Project. Improvements Park Refurbishments: Dr Spence Memorial Hall Green Udny This action plan summarises the issues highlighted in this report and details what partners will be involved in helping to achieve them. them. in helping to achieve and details what partnersThis action plan summarises the issues highlighted in this report will be involved FOUR PRIORITIES TOP

10 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan Target Date Target 2012 June 22nd & 23rd - completed. annually. Thereafter April 2012 - completed 2013 2013/2014 2013/2014 Sports Scotland Agencies Outside Big Lottery Fund SCARF Energy Trust Saving Dry Association Stone Walling and local dry stane dyke builders

Aberdeenshire Council, Council, Aberdeenshire Education and Recreation, Grampian Police. Licensing Dept, Trust Community Udny Involved Partners Village Hall Committee Council Aberdeenshire

Pitmedden Community Music Community Pitmedden Group Festival Club Tennis Udny Independent Group Trust Community Udny Trust Community Udny Udny Trust Community

(linked to the paths (linked Music, Arts and Drama Music, Festival Court Lighting Tennis Cinema Community Action Energy Audits and Energy of fuel poverty. reduction Skills and learning Life opportunities - Dry Stane Dyking projects) OTHER ISSUES OTHER

11 Making It Real CommunityCommunity Action Action Plan Plan

This booklet is one of a series plan is based on the results of resources will be needed and produced by Local Rural Planning for Real® exercises target dates for completion. It is Partnerships together with the carried out by the communities hoped that this process will be community under the banner themselves, together with any driven by representatives of the Community Action Plan. other available reports. This community with support - moral, process ensures that the plans technical and financial - from the The initiative is sponsored by are truly community-led. relevant partners. Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership and run This information can now guide It is important that this booket by Aberdeenshire Community the community and Community is seen by all concerned as an Economic Development Co- Planning Partners in drawing account of the community’s ordinators Forum. The aim is to up detailed action plans to views at the time of the latest provide community action plans implement the top priorities consultation, and that it will have in an attractive, easy to read, as well as addressing the to be regularly reviewed and professionally printed format. other issues which have been updated. As some projects are identified. For each priority or completed, other issues will arise For most communities, the issue this will involve agreeing and take their place in future content of each community who should be involved, what versions of the community plan.

Thanks are due to: Udny Community Council Udny Community Trust Company Limited Formartine Partnership Ltd Formartine Community Planning Group Pitmedden and Udny Green Primary Schools and finally the residents of Udny Parish.

August 2012 Formartine Partnership 29 Bridge Street • Ellon • AB41 9AA T: 01358 720584 • E: [email protected]

Design by Design by www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk

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