Aberchirder Community Action Plan October 2015 Location Map Community Action Plan

2 Introduction Community Action Plan

This is the new Community Action Plan All the ideas in this booklet came from for the rural community of . the community. The table at the back It has been developed by shows those ideas that can be taken Partnership Ltd following a community forward by the community on its own, engagement event held at the primary those which require help from an school on Monday 25th May 2015. external partner and those which can only be taken forward by one or more The event was attended by individual external agencies, which can provide local residents and representatives moral, technical and possibly financial Signage promoting history of Foggieloan. of local community groups. Local support. councillors and officials from Council were also It is recommended that this Action present as observers. Plan has a maximum lifespan of three years. Some projects may be completed During the evening the residents and quickly whist others may take much community group representatives longer but all should be reviewed put forward many ideas in six specific regularly to ensure that they are still categories and the vast majority of relevant. these ideas have been distilled into those listed in the table at the end of It is important that this booklet is seen this document. by all interested parties, both within the local community and the other This information can now be used partners that may be able to assist with to guide the community and the the implementation of any actions set Community Planning Partners in out in the table. compiling detailed action plans to take forward the top priorities, as well as Banffshire Partnership Ltd is one addressing the other issues which have of a number of rural partnerships been identified. in Aberdeenshire that run the View east from top of Main Street. Community Action Plan initiatives For each priority, or issue, this will which are sponsored by Aberdeenshire involve agreeing who needs to be Community Planning Partnership. involved, what resources will be required and target dates set for completion.

Festive lights, Main Street.

3 History & Development Community Action Plan

Aberchirder which has a population of was a top priority in the Community approximately 1100 is a classic planned Action Plan of the day. In 2014 the village founded in 1764 by Alexander village celebrated the 250th anniversary Gordon. It was originally called and of its founding with a weekend of is still widely known as Foggieloan activities and events to mark the or just “Foggie”. As in other small occasion. rural settlements, the advent of mass motoring and supermarkets brought Community Facilities & Activities dramatic changes in services in the • Community Pavilion with gym Renovating shelter in Cleanhill Woodland. 1960s and 1970s. • Community website (www.foggieloan.co.uk) Sixty years ago there were 22 shops. • Community Facebook page Now there are just eight, with the bank (www.facebook.com/foggieloan) and Rose Innes care home closing a • Signage based on coat of arms decade ago. However, there is still a • Festive lights good selection of tradesmen in the village and Aberchirder has enough Recording Local History facilities - including a medical centre, • Virtual museum on our website pharmacy, three hotels, a post office, • Video and books recording local primary school, small supermarket and history and culture bowling club - to make it a pleasant place to live, even if the majority of Local Environment people have to travel to work. As in • Cleanhill - paths, signage, booklet, most of the rural North-east, public management plan drawn up with transport provision is very sketchy. Aberdeenshire Council • Bronchal Well area improved and Community Activity maintained Aberchirder has a long tradition • Flower beds and hanging baskets of volunteer activity, including an maintained by a team of volunteers Amenities Association which was set • The Square - the Jubilee Fountain up in 1930. The Community Council, restored in 2007 and an attractive until its demise in 2009, worked paved area with trees created in tandem with the Community round it in 2010. Begonias in bloom. Association it set up in 1996, to run projects based on a community plan. Challenges After a walkabout by local councillors St Marnan’s Sports Club runs a well- and officers, it was agreed that further supported youth programme and the environmental improvements were 5-a-side competition at the annual required within the village. One of Association Gala, while volunteers the aims of the projects to enhance provide a range of other activities the appearance of the Square was to for young and old age groups. The encourage private property owners to McRobert Park Association has play their part in making improvements planning permission for a sports hall and it is pleasing to note that several at McRobert Park, while a committee have recently done just that. However, has been reformed to raise funds to there remain numerous examples of replace the Memorial Hall demolished properties which are in a bad state in 2003. A large committee runs the of repair. There is probably little that annual Foggie Flower Show in August. Aberdeenshire Council can do to force private owners to act, so they need to The Community Plan So Far be identified and encouraged to tidy up In the past 19 years, thanks to external these buildings. funding now well into six figures, the community has achieved a lot, either There are two competing proposals to by itself or in partnership with other build a sports/community hall in the agencies, in particular Aberdeenshire village and it would be to the benefit of Council. Funding for the 2010 Square all village residents if both organisations Square after 2010 renovation. Environmental Improvement Scheme could work together on a single was procured in large part because this project.

4 Top Five Priorities Community Action Plan

Aberchirder Community Action Virtually all the ideas put forward have Plan 2015-2018 been classified as either capable of being taken forward by the community The ideas put forward at the themselves, or progressed by the community engagement event were community in association with an grouped into six categories. external partner or partners, or projects that can only be undertaken These are listed below together with by external partners. the number of “ideas” for each shown Derelict buildings, North Street. in brackets:- The top five issues are in the categories of being taken forward either with Buildings & the Physical an external partner or solely by an Environment (7) external agency and are as follows:- Community Activities (11) Roads, Paths & Transportation (4) Projects which will require Crime & Safety (5) action by the community in Health & Housing (4) association with an outside Jobs & the Economy (4) partner:

At the event there were a number of The number one priority issue raised issues/actions put forward that were was to renovate the run-down/derelict/ similar. Where appropriate, these have old buildings in the village. There are been amalgamated with their scores numerous examples of privately owned into generic issues/actions. There were properties in the village which are in a also a number of issues where the bad state of repair. (Category - “Buildings scores were very low and these have & the Physical Environment”). This issue been excluded from the final plan. was one of the top four priorities in the last Community Action Plan in June The top five priorities to emerge from 2010. Site of former Memorial Hall, North Street. the community engagement event were, in brief and in descending order:- Also in this section was the third most important issue raised. This was • Renovate run-down/derelict/ to develop a sports/community hall. old buildings. (Category - “Community Activities”). This • Install traffic calming measures issue is the result of amalgamating a and extend the 30mph speed number of similar themes, including limit on various streets/roads. developing the site of the former • Develop a sports/community Memorial Hall. Again this was one hall of the top four priority issues in • Stop trailers parking in various the last Community Action Plan. As streets. was the case in the last plan, there • Improve the safety of children are two competing projects, one for and parents at the school the Memorial Hall site and one for McRobert Park.

McRobert Park.

5 Top Five Priorities Community Action Plan

Projects which will require At the other end of the scale there action by an external partner: were two “ideas” that received substantial negative votes. These were:- The second most important issue concerned road safety. This was the • Stopping tractors using North amalgamation of a number of similar Street issues and was distilled into “install • Move the old well at Taylor Drive traffic calming measures and extend to the end of the Fire Station to Twenty’s Plenty, Wellfield Terrace. the 30mph speed limit on Banff Road, improve emergency access. Cornhill Road, North Street, Main Street, South Street and Causewayed Neither of these appear in the table at Crescent”. (Category - “Crime & Safety”). the end of the plan.

The fourth most important issue was to stop trailers parking in Main Street, North Street, The Square and opposite Nurses Lane. This was also an amalgamation of a number of issues. (Category - “Crime & Safety”)

The fifth highest priority also relates to safety and again is an amalgamation of similar issues. “Improve safety of children and parents at the school vehicular entrance and the approaches”. (Category - Crime & Safety”). This related to poor parking at the school, no pavement on the road Trailers, Main Street. approach to the school and inadequate drop-off provision.

School Lane at a quiet time.

6 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Aberchirder Community Action in 2006 and has lain unoccupied since Plan 2015-2018 then. Two schemes were put forward, one to redevelop it back into a care Many other issues received positive home and the other to demolish it and support and these are listed below build houses on the site. Neither came under the six category headings. to fruition. The site is still for sale on Aberdeenshire Council’s website for Community Activities an undisclosed sum. The community is keen to investigate if the property Rose Innes, former hospital and care home. Projects which the community is available for transfer under the can take forward independently: Community Asset Transfer process.

The top scoring suggestion in this There were four other suggestions in category came in at number 14 and this section:- was to create or develop a village website and village map. • Create an Astroturf surface. • Install modern equipment in the Other ideas that were put forward playpark. were:- • Establish a community museum/ centre. • Instigate projects for all ages to • Establish a community storage get involved and improve the facility community. • Reform the youth club. Projects which will require action by an external agency: Projects which will require action by the community in There were two suggestions in this association with an external section:- partner: Playpark, Main Street. • Construct a swimming pool At number eight in the list of overall • Expand the library. priorities was “Develop Rose Innes With regard to the former, this back into a care home or other is unlikely to proceed as there is business.” already a swimming pool in Banff, one in and one in , The care home which when built in all within reasonable travelling 1895 was originally the local hospital, distance. was closed by Aberdeenshire Council

Library, Main Street.

7 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Roads, Paths & Health & Housing Transportation Projects which the community Projects which will require can take forward independently: action by the community in association with an external There were two suggestions in this partner: category:-

Quality bus transport (Route 308). There is only one idea in this section:- • Promote cycling and walking. • Establish walking clubs. • Establish cycle paths and a rural paths network to promote health. Projects which will require action by the community in Projects which will require association with an external action by an external agency: partner:

The main issue in this section One suggestion came in this section:- concerned transport links which came in at number seven in the overall list • Action on dog fouling/more dog of issues. “Create a community and/ waste bins or better bus services to Banff, Huntly, Elgin, and to hospitals”. This topic is always high on the list of Better transport links was one of the issues with all communities and came top four priorities in the last Plan in at number six in the overall list of priorities. Other suggested ideas were:- Projects which will require • Extend the footpath out of the action by an external agency: Old style dog bin. village on the Banff Road • Repair roads There was only one suggestion in this section:-

• Build housing for pensioners and first-time buyers.

This issue is becoming more prevalent in communities that have undertaken the Community Action Plan process.

Site of former Doran houses, Market Street.

8 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Crime & Safety Jobs & The Economy

Projects which will require Projects which will require action by the community in action by the community in association with an external association with an external partner: partner:

The only issue in this section concerns There were three suggestions in this road safety - “Crack down on boy racers”. section:- Former waste collection site, North Street.

Buildings & The Physical • Encourage new businesses to the Environment area and support them • Establish small/niche shops - Projects which could be butchers/bakers undertaken by the community • Establish a community shop/coffee independently: shop/health shop.

There was one idea in this section: Projects which will require action by an external agency: • Erect a series of plaques telling local history There was only one suggestion here which was to relocate the Co-op to Projects which will require larger premises. action by the community in association with an external partner:

There were two suggestions in this section:- Shop opened in 2015, Main Street.

• Create community allotments in the area • Create a community energy efficiency scheme and install mains gas

Projects which will require action by an external agency:

There were two suggestions in this section:-

• Establish a new or re-open the waste collection area • “No more wind turbines”

The latter is more of a statement and it is unclear what the Community Association or the community as a whole can do to progress this. In view of this it does not Co-operative store, Main Street. appear in the list of actions in the table at the end of the plan.

9 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan Lane South Street and Causwayend South Street roads External Agency External pool Construct a swimming Expand the library and/or better bus a community Create Aberdeen Elgin, Huntly, services to Banff, and to hospitals out of the village on Extend footpath the Banff Road pensioners and Build housing for First-time buyers Install traffic calming measures and Install traffic calming measures extend 30mph speed limit on Banff Main North Street, Cornhill Road, Road, Street, Stop trailers parking in Main Street, and opposite The Square North Street and parents of children safety Improve entrance and the at the school vehicular the waste or re-open Establish a new collection area Relocate Co-op to larger premises shop/coffee Establish a community shop/health shop Partnership a sports/community hall Develop Rose Innes back into a care Develop home or other business surface Astroturf an Create the playpark Install modern equipment for museum/centre Establish a community storage facility Establish a community Establish cycle paths and a rural health to promote network dog Action on dog fouling/more waste bins Crackdown on boy racers on boy Crackdown buildings run-down/derelict/old Renovate allotments in the area community Create energy a community efficiency Create scheme and install mains gas businesses to the area Encourage new and support them Establish small/niche shops - Butchers/Bakers Independent the village website or develop Create and village map all ages to get for Instigate projects the community and improve involved club the youth Reform and walking cycling Promote Establish walking clubs a series of plaques telling Erect local history

4. Crime & Safety 4. 1. Activities 1. Community Transportation & Paths Roads, 2. Repair Housing Health & 3. Crescent Nurses approaches The Physical Buildings & 5. 5. Environment The Economy & Jobs 6.

10 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan Lane South Street and Causwayend South Street roads External Agency External pool Construct a swimming Expand the library and/or better bus a community Create Aberdeen Elgin, Huntly, services to Banff, and to hospitals out of the village on Extend footpath the Banff Road pensioners and Build housing for First-time buyers Install traffic calming measures and Install traffic calming measures extend 30mph speed limit on Banff Main North Street, Cornhill Road, Road, Street, Stop trailers parking in Main Street, and opposite The Square North Street and parents of children safety Improve entrance and the at the school vehicular the waste or re-open Establish a new collection area Relocate Co-op to larger premises shop/coffee Establish a community shop/health shop Partnership a sports/community hall Develop Rose Innes back into a care Develop home or other business surface Astroturf an Create the playpark Install modern equipment for museum/centre Establish a community storage facility Establish a community Establish cycle paths and a rural health to promote network dog Action on dog fouling/more waste bins Crackdown on boy racers on boy Crackdown buildings run-down/derelict/old Renovate allotments in the area community Create energy a community efficiency Create scheme and install mains gas businesses to the area Encourage new and support them Establish small/niche shops - Butchers/Bakers Independent the village website or develop Create and village map all ages to get for Instigate projects the community and improve involved club the youth Reform and walking cycling Promote Establish walking clubs a series of plaques telling Erect local history

4. Crime & Safety 4. 1. Activities 1. Community Transportation & Paths Roads, 2. Repair Housing Health & 3. Crescent Nurses approaches The Physical Buildings & 5. 5. Environment The Economy & Jobs 6.

11 Making It Real CommunityCommunity Action Action Plan Plan

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

Thanks are due to the Aberchirder & District Community Association, the staff, parents and pupils of Aberchirder Primary School, and the Aberchirder School Parent Support Group for help in organising the community engagement event, the catering at the event and providing background information on the community.

October 2015 Front Cover: Lucy Forrest, Age 9, P5. 9, Age Lucy Forrest, Cover: October 2015 Front Banffshire Partnership Developing Communities The Old School • • Banff • AB45 2JT T & F: 01261 843598 • E: [email protected]

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