Buchan Local Plan 2012 Update
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2012 Update This is the Community Plan for Buchan. It sets out the Buchan Community Planning Group’s main actions for the next two years. If you have difficulty understanding this document and require a translation, or would like a copy in a larger print, please contact the Buchan Area Manager, Chris White on 01779 483200 or email [email protected] Old Deer Abbey (courtesy of Valerie Wright, Peterhead Camera Club) Cover photograph – Peterhead Harbour © Aberdeenshire Council Contents 1 Foreword. .2 2 Purpose of the Buchan Community Plan. 4 3 Buchan Area Profile. .5 4 Key Projects & Opportunities. 8 5 Priorities. 10 6 Recent Achievements. 12 7 Timetable. 13 8 Actions. 14 A Community Wellbeing. 14 B Jobs and the Economy . 21 C Lifelong Learning. 24 D Sustainable Environment. 27 E Developing our Partnership. 31 9 How are we doing?. 33 10 Contact Us. 33 1 Foreword Introduction from Chris White, Chair of the Buchan Local Community Planning Group Welcome to the 2012 update for the 2010-2014 Buchan Community Plan. This Plan takes forward our vision of working together for the best quality of life for everyone in Buchan. The last two years have been marked by some significant investments in local infrastructure with the commissioning of the Smith’s Embankment in Peterhead Port, the start of construction of Scotland’s first Community Facing Prison at HMP Grampian and the creation of a new Maritime Skills College in the Bay. Equally importantly the Community Planning Partners have come together to look at key community safety issues such as safe driving, inclusion of migrant families and youth attitudes to alcohol. There has also been investment in community events and activities, with none better supported than the Leviathan Parade held in Peterhead during 2011 and the Adenstrom Event held in 2012 at Aden Country Park. This review of the Plan now shows 23 key areas that have been identified and developed by the Partners and Communities as priorities for the next four years. These are organised around five themes that embrace the Scottish Government’s targets for Buchan. We welcome your input to both taking these ideas onwards and also to identify new issues to address in future. Chris White Chair, Buchan Local Community Planning Group and Buchan Area Manager Aberdeenshire Council Arbuthnot House, Broad Street PETERHEAD, AB42 1DA Tel: 01779 483200 Email: [email protected] BUCHAN COMMUNITY PLAN 2012 Update 2 BUCHAN COMMUNITY PLAN 2012 Update 3 2 Purpose of the Buchan Community Plan The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 describes the two main aims of community planning as: a) Making sure people and communities are genuinely engaged in the decisions made on public services which effect them; b) A commitment from organisations to work together, not apart, in providing better public services. The Mission Statement that our Partners have agreed to fulfil this aim for the Buchan area is to: ‘Work together with the communities of Buchan to ensure they are genuinely engaged in how services that affect them and their communities are delivered’. The Buchan Community Plan outlines the key actions to be taken to meet local needs and priorities over a four year period and is a key strategic document for the area. It aims to demonstrate where funding and resources within our services need to be focused to help make a difference and improve the quality of life for our communities in Buchan. The Buchan Community Planning Group has assessed areas of need and engaged with local communities to establish priorities for Partners to focus on. Partners identified actions to tackle these key areas and these were agreed with locally elected members. All actions are based on robust evidence, delivered in partnership and can be influenced by members of the Buchan Community Planning Group. The Buchan Community Plan 2012 Update was agreed by our local Community Planning Partners in March 2012 and was endorsed by the Buchan Area Committee in June 2012, ahead of being put forward to the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Board for approval and publication. BUCHAN COMMUNITY PLAN 2012 Update 4 3 Buchan Area Profile Overview Buchan covers 587 square kilometres. The population is 39,368 and is most densely concentrated around Peterhead and Boddam. In rural Buchan the built pattern is much more dispersed and relies upon village service centres such as Mintlaw, Cruden Bay, Strichen and New Deer for most community facilities. Buchan has a good quality of natural environment. The 48-kilometre coastline comprises of sandy bays, dunes and rocky foreshores of national significance. The Loch of Strathbeg and the Bullers of Buchan are internationally significant sites for bird life. The built heritage is rich and varied, including traditional croft houses, outstanding conservation areas in Strichen and the centre of Peterhead, and some fine examples of great country houses. There is earlier interest also, including Deer Abbey and several intact stone circles. Demographics The most recent estimates show a relatively stable population with minor rises predicted over the next decade. The 2011 census shows 7% of the area’s population to be pre-school age, 16% to be of school age, 63% of working age and 15% retired. Buchan’s main towns are Peterhead (17,873), Mintlaw (2,756), Cruden Bay (1,540) and Boddam (1,158). Longside and St. Fergus have grown considerably over the last five years. Substantial further growth may well follow from the new Local Development Plan (please see Key Projects and Opportunities). BUCHAN COMMUNITY PLAN Feeding frenzy (courtesy of Joan Remington, Peterhead Buchan Ness (courtesy of Les Martin) 2012 Update Camera Club) 5 Economy The foundations of the Buchan economy have traditionally been fishing and agriculture. Since the 1970s the economic base has broadened, with Peterhead acting as an important Oil and Gas Service Centre and with the development of the St Fergus Gas Terminal. In addition, Peterhead Power Station, ASCO Oil Services, HM Peterhead Prison and Score Europe are significant employers. Peterhead is one of the largest fish landing ports in Europe, with 111,865 tonnes landed by UK vessels in 2009, representing a quarter of the UK’s fish. The value of UK landing exceeded £95m and the indications are that last year has seen a continued increase in both volume and value. Total turnover, including non UK landings exceeded £100 m for the second time. Tourism is a relatively small contributor to the Buchan economy but the natural and built heritage of Buchan has a significant interest for both visitors and locals. Attractions include Aden Country Park, the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, Slains Castle and Peterhead Marina. Employment The numbers of people claiming unemployment benefit is a useful indicator of economic progress. Again in contrast to many areas of Scotland, the Buchan claimant count has fallen from 682 in December 2011 (2.6%) to 607 (2.3%) in March 2012. The claimant rate is typically below the Scottish average of 5.5% but above the Aberdeenshire average of 1.5%. Housing The overall housing stock is fair and investment in new housing has lead to 800 dwellings being built over the last five years, the majority of which are in Peterhead, Mintlaw, Longside, Cruden Bay and St Fergus. Demand for affordable housing has not diminished and Peterhead is one of the most sought after locations for social housing within Aberdeenshire. Two significant schemes have been recently completed in Peterhead and Mintlaw with further projects being developed in Cruden Bay, Strichen and St Combs. BUCHAN COMMUNITY PLAN 2012 Update Fishing Boat (courtesy of Les Martin) Highland Coo (courtesy of Peter Lewis, Peterhead Camera Club) 6 Facilities Peterhead is Buchan’s main service centre. Developer interest in further housing and retail investment has continued over the last twelve months. Cruden Bay, Strichen, New Deer, Maud, New Pitsligo and most noticeably Mintlaw also offer a reasonable range of rural services and facilities. The area has 2 Secondary Schools, 25 Primary Schools and public facilities include a Swimming Pool in Peterhead and 6 Libraries. Health Care Services are provided through the Community and Ugie Hospitals in Peterhead as well as a range of GP practices throughout Buchan including the Maud Community Resource Centre, which opened in 2009 and provides services to the Central Buchan area. Access to Services is a key issue outwith Peterhead and by working with the Buchan Development Partnership and the local Development Trust, a number of projects have been developed to ensure that as many problems as possible can be overcome. BUCHAN COMMUNITY PLAN Kirk Street, Peterhead (courtesy of Joan Remington) Bullers of Buchan 2012 Update 7 4 Key Projects & Opportunities Energetica Energetica is an ambitious and exciting plan to create a new generation energy community stretching north from Aberdeen’s Bridge of Don area to Peterhead and west to the airport. Energetica differentiates itself because its aim is to create a renowned, world-class destination that will attract innovative energy businesses and highly skilled people as well as feature high quality housing and leisure facilities in an outstanding natural environment based on low carbon principles. A90 Trunk Road / Western Peripheral Route The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is a new road being developed to improve travel in and around Aberdeen and the North-east of Scotland, and is one of a number of transport projects planned to help improve road safety and accessibility, reduce congestion and grow the local economy and is vital for ensuring the North East remains a competitive business location. Its importance cannot be underestimated and that, along with proposals to upgrade the Balmedie-Tipperty section of the A90, provides a significant economic stimulus for the area.