Invercairn Community Action Plan March 2017 Location Map Community Action Plan

2 Introduction Community Action Plan

This is the new Community Action All the ideas in this booklet came from Plan for the rural communities of the community. The table at the back Inverallochy and Cairnbulg. It has been shows those ideas that can be taken developed by Banffshire Partnership forward by the community on its own, Ltd following a community engagement those which require help from an event held at the primary school on external partner and those which can 23rd March 2017. only be taken forward by one or more external agencies, which can provide The event was attended by individual moral, technical and possibly financial Inverallochy shoreline. local residents and representatives support. of local community groups. Local Councillors and officials from It is recommended that this Action Aberdeenshire Council were also Plan has a maximum lifespan of three present as observers. years. Some projects may be completed quickly whist others may take much During the evening the residents and longer but all should be reviewed community group representatives regularly to ensure that they are still put forward many ideas in six specific relevant. categories and the vast majority of these ideas have been distilled into It is important that this booklet is seen those listed in the table at the end of by all interested parties, both within this document. the local community and the other partners that may be able to assist with This information can now be used the implementation of any actions set to guide the community and the out in the table. Community Planning Partners in compiling detailed action plans to take Banffshire Partnership Ltd is one forward the top priorities, as well as of a number of rural partnerships addressing the other issues which have in Aberdeenshire that run the Sunrise, Cairnbulg Harbour and Beacon. been identified. Community Action Plan initiatives which are sponsored by Aberdeenshire For each priority, or issue, this will Community Planning Partnership. involve agreeing who needs to be involved, what resources will be required and target dates set for completion.

Inverallochy coast.

3 History & Development Community Action Plan

The exact spot at which the coastline a boat pulled up, and the entire community north from Aberdeen turns to run west made use of the seashore washing lines to towards Inverness is debatable. But one dry their laundry. contender must certainly be Cairnbulg Point, two miles east of Fraserburgh and immediately Cairnbulg railway station was opened to the north west of the village of Cairnbulg on 1st July 1903. It was originally named and its eastern neighbour, Inverallochy. Inverallochy, but was renamed on 1st September, two months after it opened. The Cairnbulg Castle, to the south west of the railway closed on the 3rd May 1965* Cairnbulg Castle. village, can trace its origins back to the 14th Century and fishing communities were well Owing to the close proximity of the villages established on this coastline by the 1500s. In to one another, the name Invercairn has in the 1850s a visitor noted that the villages on recent years become used on a local basis the coast were little more than collections to represent both. of huts next to which fishing boats were Inverallochy is most renowned for its 18- dragged out of reach of the tide. hole links golf course, which looks out over The 1860s brought cholera to the area. The the North Sea from every hole. Although it first and main cholera epidemic was in 1849 can be described as “short” at 5,375 yards, with subsequent but not so severe an outbreak it is considered a “challenge for any level in 1866. The inadequate housing made the of golfer” due to dependency on the wind epidemic worse and it was later cleared away direction and strength. to make room for planned fishing villages at People may visit Inverallochy to see Maggie’s Inverallochy and Cairnbulg and, a mile or so Hoosie, a preserved 19th century fishwife’s down the coast, at St Combs. cottage. It features “old-time” streets The much larger new villages were needed with higgledy-piggledy paths, beaches and to cope with the boom in the herring Cairnbulg harbour, built in the 1920s as fisheries, and by the 1880s well over 200 a single pier. This was further-developed fishing boats operated from these two in the early 1980s using WW2 tank traps villages. The settlements were built as fisher to create an enclosed harbour basin. The facility is currently being re-developed with Cairnbulg Harbour at sunset. cottages set in rows, gable end to the sea to minimise the effect of storms. The spaces the help of a Lottery grant to deepen the between them were used to shelter the facility and add pontoon berthing for 20 boats dragged up out of the water. more berths.

Today the houses remain but most of the Inverallochy School was established in 1841 as boats have gone. Some leisure craft use a 36 × 20 feet building that seated 88 scholars. the tidal harbour at West Haven half a mile Increased attendance demanded further to the west of the village and overlooking funding in 1866 to seat 130 scholars and 240 Fraserburgh Bay. But by the end of the in 1872. It finally re-opened in 1965 after a 1800s most fishing activity had moved substantial extension to include eight new to Fraserburgh’s much more sheltered classrooms, a general purpose room, a school harbour. Getting the fishermen from meal scullery, an assembly hall-gymnasium their homes in St Combs, Cairnbulg and and an art room. The eight old classrooms Inverallochy to Fraserburgh presented a were turned into homecraft rooms with problem that was solved by the building of housewifery area, science rooms and library. a light railway linking the three in 1903. In 1951, a local profoundly-deaf boy, James The twin villages of Inverallochy and Duthie, fondly known as Dummy Jim set off Cairnbulg together form a wonderfully alone for the Arctic Circle on his bicycle. A atmospheric place. It must also be an feature film - partly shot in the area - and intimidating one in a northerly storm. But based on Duthie’s journal ‘I Cycled Into The catch it on a day with clear blue skies and Arctic Circle’ (first published in 1955) was Cairnbulg shoreline. the quiet streets, narrow alleys, and rows released in 2013. of cottages can easily carry you back to a *The above information was sourced from Undiscovered Scotland and very different time: when every cottage had Wikipedia 4 Top Five Priorities Community Action Plan

Invercairn Community The top five priorities to emerge from Action Plan 2017-2020 the community engagement event were, in brief and in descending order:- The ideas put forward at the community engagement event were 1. Reduce speed limit and grouped into six categories. introduce traffic calming measures in the village. These are listed below together with 2. Action on dog fouling/more the number of “ideas” for each shown dog waste bins. Typical street view, Inverallochy. in brackets:- 3. Upgrade the play/swing park. 4. Investigate improvements to Buildings & the Physical sea/flood defences. Environment (6) 5. Build a bridge over the Community Activities (8) Philorth. Roads, Paths & Transportation (8) Crime & Safety (2) Virtually all the ideas put forward have Health & Housing (3) been classified as either capable of Jobs & the Economy (1) being taken forward by the community themselves, or progressed by the At the event there were a number of community in association with an issues/actions put forward that were external partner or partners, or similar. Where appropriate, these have projects that can only be undertaken been amalgamated with their scores by external partners. into generic issues/actions. There were also a number of issues where the scores were very low and these have been excluded from the final plan.

The Waters of Philorth Nature Reserve.

Beacon and MV Sovereign, Cairnbulg Point.

5 Top Five Priorities Community Action Plan

The top five issues are in the categories Also in this section was the third most of being taken forward either with important issue raised. This was to an external partner or solely by an upgrade the play/swing park. (Category - external agency and are as follows:- “Community Activities”).

Projects which will require The fourth issue was also raised in action by an external partner: this section and was to “Investigate improvements to sea/flood defences”. Rathen Road. The number one priority issue raised (Category - “Buildings & the Physical concerned road safety. This was the Environment). amalgamation of a number of similar issues and was distilled into “Reduce The fifth most important priority also speed limit and introduce traffic appears in this section “Build a bridge calming measures in the village”. over the Philorth”. (Category - Roads, (Category - “Crime & Safety”). Paths & Transportation).

At the other end of the scale there Projects which will require were two “ideas” that received action by the community in substantial negative votes. These were:- association with an outside partner: • Open a Charity shop. • Introduce a conservation area. The second most important issue was to have “action on dog fouling/more Neither of these appear in the table at dog waste bins”. (Category - “Health and the end of the plan. Housing”).

Cairnbulg Point.

Cairnbulg street view.

6 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Invercairn Community Roads, Paths & Action Plan 2017 -2020 Transportation

Many other issues received positive Projects which the community support and these are listed below can take forward independently: under the six category headings. There is only one idea in this section:- Community Activities • Tidy up existing roads and paths. Sunset, Cairnbulg Harbour. Projects which the community can take forward independently: Projects which will require action by the community in The top scoring suggestion in this association with an external category came in at number 15 partner: and was to introduce outdoor gym equipment for pensioners. The top scoring suggestion in this category came in at number six Other ideas that were put forward were:- and was to create a cycle path to Fraserburgh. • Introduce bins and benches at the Harbour. The two other ideas in this section were:- • Create a community website/ Facebook page to advertise local • Improve bus connection for the events and activities. Fraserburgh to Aberdeen bus. • Investigate and consult with the Projects which will require council about additional road access action by the community in into the villages. association with an external partner: Projects which will require Grave of “Blen Meh’ee”, Cairnbulg. action by an external agency: At number seven in the list of overall priorities was “Refurbish existing The main issue in this section football pitch or create an all-weather concerned car parking which came in pitch.” at number nine in the overall list of issues. “Improve the harbour car park”. There were two other suggestions in Car parking was also mentioned again this section:- in this section “Improve the cemetery car park”. • Develop provisions for community café. In this section was one other suggestion:- • Improve broadband and mobile phone signals. • Church Street to be tarmacked.

Projects which will require action by an external agency:

There was one suggestion in this section:-

• Library hours to be extended and War Memorial and Inverallochy Church. used for more community uses when not open as a library.

7 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Health & Housing Crime & Safety

Projects which the community Projects which will require can take forward independently: action by the community in association with an external All the suggestions in Health & Housing partner: fell into this section and they were to: The only issue in this section is to Church Street, Cairnbulg. • Promote the prescription pick up “Increase police/community warden and drop off service for the villages. presence in the villages”. • Introduce bins for recycling clothes.

Cairnbulg and Inverallochy shoreline.

Cotton Gwite reflections.

8 Other Issues Community Action Plan

Buildings & the Physical Jobs & the Economy Environment Projects which will require Projects which could be action by the community in undertaken by the community association with an external independently: partner:

There was one idea in this section: The only suggestion in this category came under this section and was Inverallochy Castle. • Investigate if more trees can be number eight in the overall scoring planted. “Promote tourism for all aspects of the villages.” Projects which will require action by the community in Following the community engagement association with an external event on the 23rd of March a number partner: of questions were raised and were sent separately to various agencies such There were four suggestions in this as Aberdeenshire Council and Police section:- Scotland. These were not “actions” and they have not been included in the • Tidy/improve Maggie’s Hoosie. Community action Plan. • Create landscapes and features at village entrances. • Investigate improvements to land/ street drainage. • Consultations about community hall.

Projects which will require action by an external agency: Annual walk.

There were no suggestions in this section.

Village shore.

9 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan

External Agency External Library hours to be extended and used uses when not community more for open as a library. Reduce speed limit and introduce traffic Reduce speed limit and introduce in the villages. calming measures warden police/community Increase in the villages. presence Improve the harbour car park. Improve the cemetery car park. Improve Church Street to be tarmacked. Street Church

Partnership park. swing Upgrade the play/ pitch or Refurbish existing football pitch. an all-weather create café. community for provisions Develop and mobile phone broadband Improve signals. Agency External to sea/flood improvements Investigate defences. Hoosie. Maggie’s Tidy/improve at village and features landscapes Create entrances. to land/street improvements Investigate drainage. hall. Consultations about Community all aspects of the tourism for Promote villages. Build a bridge over the Philorth. over Build a bridge Create a cycle path to Fraserbrugh. Create Improve bus connection for the bus connection for Improve bus. Aberdeen Fraserbrugh to and consult with the Council Investigate access into the road about additional villages. dog Action on dog fouling/more waste bins.

Partnership Independent gym outdoor equipment for Introduce pensioners. bins and benches at the Introduce Harbour. website/Facebook a community Create and local events page to advertise activities. and paths. Tidy up existing roads can be planted. trees if more Investigate

pick up and prescription the Promote off service the villages. drop for clothes. recycling bins for Introduce

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

10 Action Plan Summary Community Action Plan

pick up and prescription the Promote off service the villages. drop for clothes. recycling bins for Introduce

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 members of Invercairn Community Council, the staff, parents and pupils of Inverallochy School for help in organising the community engagement event, the catering at the event and providing background information on the community.

March 2017 Banffshire Partnership Developing Communities The Old School • Boyndie • Banff • AB45 2JT T & F: 01261 843598 • E: [email protected]

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