St Fergus Community Action Plan ALP Map Community Action Plan eh1 and eh2 have been developed. ch1 is partially developed 2 Introduction Community Action Plan St Fergus village is situated a few leisure time, be it brisk walks in miles north of Peterhead on the the colder weather or paddling A90. There are two distinct in the warmer summer months. parts to the village – Kirktown to the upper west end of the In June 2003 St Fergus village and Newton to the lower Community Association east end. The village is named conducted a Planning for Real® after an Irish bishop who built a exercise. In April 2009 a review Planning for Real® picture. Basilica in the area in the early was carried out and the 8th Century. outcomes of this, together with the results of an inter-agency Originally the village serviced workshop looking at the main the needs of the surrounding issues have been used to create local mixed arable farms. The this prioritised Action Plan to discovery of oil and gas in the help the community to focus and North Sea changed the shape of develop their future goals. the village in the 1970s. Opened in 1977, the St Fergus Gas Things we like about Terminal receives and processes St Fergus gas from the North Sea and (as given by various members of provides a natural gas supply for the community of different ages) the UK. More recently the “safe village to stay – everyone village has expanded - new looks out for each other” houses have been built and the “hanging baskets” Aerial view of terminal. school roll has increased, “when they did the bonfire and securing its future. However, it fireworks – can we have this took until 1991 for the village to back please!” get its own supply of gas. What we don’t like The village was once home to “people not clearing up after several shops and local their dogs” businesses. Now there is only “not enough amenities” one convenience store, a garage “not enough play facilities” and pub left with other services being accessed in Peterhead. Community activities are centred round the Public Hall and Primary School. Outdoor games/activities are held in the Park adjacent to the School and football in the Playing Field which was the former Glebe. St Fergus Parish Church now is a linked charge. Scotstown Beach is a popular spot for locals and visitors at all times of year for 3 Buchan Community Plan Community Action Plan St Fergus: Buchan www.ouraberdeenshire.gov.uk/ Community Plan 2008- buchan 2012 The Buchan Local Community The Buchan Community Plan Plan brings together the key 2008 – 2012 recognises the actions and projects of a number importance of the St Fergus Gas of public agencies under five Terminal to the village of St headings – Community Fergus and surrounding area and Kirktown of St Fergus. Wellbeing, Developing Our the considerable growth of the Partnership, Sustainable village over the last five years. Environment, Jobs and the The latest version includes Economy and Lifelong Learning. actions specifically for St Fergus It also includes actions based on and there are several general consultation with the local intentions in all categories communities and local within the plan which might community groups. The plan can affect St Fergus. be accessed on Specific Actions Heading/Lead Service Action/Project (with reference in LCP) Lifelong Learning P&ES Play Areas C9 To continue to work with communities and others to upgrade existing play facilities in settlements - St Fergus is named as a priority Sustainable Environment P&ES Coastal Footpath D9 Primary School. To continue to develop the coastal path around Buchan and implement improvements at Scotstown Head General Intentions Heading/Lead Service Action/Project Community Wellbeing Grampian Police Police local priorities A10 NHS Grampian Joint Health Improvement Plan A28 BCSG Community Safety Agreements A13 Jobs and the Economy BEAR Scotland A90 Trunk Road B2 Lifelong Learning Learning/NHS Grampian Community Schools Network C1 EL&L Young People C2 Adult Support C3 Halls and Recreational Facilities C8 Sustainable Environment P&ES Household Waste and Recycling D5 Increasing Awareness of waste reduction, reuse and recycling D6 Traffic on A90. Environmental Improvements D12 Beaches D14 Developing Our Partnership LCPG Increasing Community Involvement E3 Community Profiles E6 Key to Lead Services P&ES – Planning and Environmental Services BCSG – Buchan Community Safety Group 4 EL&L – Education Learning and Leisure LCPG – Local Community Planning Group Top Four Priorities Community Action Plan The top four priorities to (Theme: Traffic) emerge from the review are outlined below The condition of some roads – in particular the unadopted Improve Community Park/ Urquhart Road and the access upgrade of village play areas road to the Beach were (Theme: Leisure, Recreation identified as a problem. The and Community Facilities) community would like to work Play area. with the Council to explore The Community Park area was how these can be improved and one which attracted a number of upgraded. suggestions. Drainage was a problem, the play facilities were Traffic Calming – A90 in need of an upgrade and there (Theme: Traffic) was a request for floodlighting. There were also a few Traffic speed along the A90 was suggestions to cover an area identified as a problem, with Astroturf but others who especially for those who have to were not in favour of this. The cross the busy A90 to get to the Community have established a only shop in the village. The working group to look at these community would like to work issues with the aim of improving with BEAR Scotland to explore the area for community use. measures to reduce the speed of traffic travelling through the Recycling village. Recycling. (Theme: Environment) Other issues It was felt that recycling facilities in the village needed to be Many other suggestions received improved and expanded. At the support and these are listed on moment there are no facilities pages 6-9. A summarised Action for recycling cardboard and Plan can be found on pages 10- residents have to travel to 11. Peterhead to do this. Currently only paper waste is collected from households (blue bin collection) and other materials eg glass and plastics etc have to be taken to the bins outside the Public Hall. There was also Unadopted road. interest in a garden waste collection/community composting scheme Improving roads 5 Top Four Priorities (cont) Community Action Plan Community Facilities & • Floodlighting at the Activity Community Park – the provision of floodlighting will This category provoked the be looked at as part of the greatest response in the Community Park consultation and produced one Improvement Project. of the top four priorities (see page 5). The comments in this • Library – it was recognised Hall. category centred around that while it was not feasible improving the play facilities in to have a permanent library in the village. the village at this time, the times of the Mobile Library The Public Hall is an essential could be advertised on the facility for community activities community noticeboards. and its maintenance is an ongoing priority. The heating • There were suggestions for system and wiring in particular different activities to be held need to be improved/upgraded. in the village hall eg evening classes, Christmas Party etc. Other key issues which arose in the consultations were:- • Community Bonfire – there was a desire to hold the Community Bonfire again as a Childrens ideas at Planning for Real®. way of bringing the community together. A group has just been established to organise this. Flowers. 6 Other Issues Community Action Plan Local Environment • Beach Clean up – although Aberdeenshire Council’s This theme produced one top beach squad cover Scotstown priority (see page 5). Other Beach as part of their regular comments in this category round of litter picking, it was centred on keeping the village felt the community could be tidy for residents. more involved in ensuring that the area remained an Rubbish at beach. • Dog Mess – this is seen as a attractive environment for major problem in the village. the public to use and enjoy. The location of dog bins is to be reviewed and the Dog • Open ditch at new Warden is to be asked to development – it was pointed work with the community, out that this area was a including the school, to potential hazard and that the improve the situation. It was developer should be asked to also felt that dog owners who make the area safer do not clean up after their pets should be made aware • Fly tipping – this was that they could be fined. perceived to be a problem at the Football Park bridge • Litter - there were comments that more bins were required in the village and this is to be looked at along with the Football Park. provision of dog bins. • Shed at Football Park – this has been a target for vandals and is in a poor state of repair. Steps are to be taken to get it removed from the Park. Beach Car Park. 7 Other Issues Community Action Plan Traffic and Transport Health and wellbeing This theme produced two top General: This a category that priorities (see page 5) in attracted very few comments at addition to the proposals below. the PfR® exercise. Health In most cases the actions can Services are accessed in only be put into effect through Peterhead, Crimond and partnership working – mainly Mintlaw. Danger spot outside school. with Aberdeenshire Council. • Crossing outside the school – Jobs and the Economy it was highlighted that a stone dyke obscures the vision of Unemployment in the area is the children coming out of low.