Residents rejoice at Traveller rejection

Residents were today delighted after plans for a permanent Travellers’ site were marked for rejection.

A report by Aberdeenshire Council officials said the site at Tillgreig near Udny could not be justified.

A report which urges councillors to reject the plan said there is no justification for the site to be used for Travellers.

Space for three caravans, a tarmac access and a patio area were put forward for the farmland, near Udny Station and Newmachar.

Today resident Fiona Milne, 43, who lives in a cottage opposite the site, said: “We welcomed the officers’ recommendation.

“It’s obviously good news – it would be out-of-keeping with the area, totally out of character.

“The cottages are traditional stone cottages. And the site was very near our home – right opposite our garden.”

Mrs Milne and husband Steve had objected, claiming the scheme would affect their privacy to the plan claiming they would lose privacy if the scheme went ahead.

The couple were also worried about noise pollution as caravans, cars and trucks moved on and off the site
accessing moving to and from the site.

Mrs Milne added: “It’s a single track road so with the extra vehicles, the road wouldn’t cope.

“It was also right in the middle of a Christmas tree plantation.”

Community councillor Brian McDougall, 62, of Pitmedden, was also pleased at the officials’ recommendation.

He said: “Lots of residents had big concerns about it – they thought it was in the wrong place. It would have been on a very narrow road, so it was not suitable for access. The site itself is also an old water board site, so it’s very damp and the water ends up in the Ythan Estuary. We were worried about that getting polluted.

“We’ve had many deserving people who want to build houses there getting turned down – so why should this be different?”

Architect and planning consultant Forbes Rowan Spence Marr, who represents the applicant, said he felt the reasons for refusal could not be justified.
He said: “Having just read through the paper, I did not accept as reasonable the reasons that have been offered to justify a refusal.

“I have made a request for an opportunity to make a presentation to the committee and I’m hoping I will be given the chance.”

Councillors are due to consider the plan at a meeting on Tuesday.

Work shy Scots abandon Jeremy Kyle for work

The number of unemployed people in Scotland has fallen since November according to recent official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said unemployment had dropped by 16,000.

Also, the number of adults out of work and claiming benefits in Scotland fell by 2,100 in February.

Secretary of state for Scotland, Michael Moore welcomed the figures but warned against complacency.

He added: “There are still too many Scots out of work and the government is determined to help.”

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scottish government’s robust actions to support jobs, skills and training are delivering real results.”

One example of the government’s actions is the ‘Steps To Work’ awareness event held this afternoon at Woodside Community Centre in Aberdeen.

The event focused on helping those whose benefits have recently been cut and help them to understand their potential options.

One of the programmes aims is to help unemployed people gain confidence to enter into the workforce.

Alona Murray, Principal community learning worker said: “I think people can get depressed. It is a horrible situation to be in. You have got to be positive that you can get back into work.”

Police weed out drug dealers

A man was held in custody today after he admitted to being in possession of £4,000 of cannabis.

27-year-old Andrew Law of 16D Milbank Place admitted being involved in the supply of drugs between October 10th and November 8th 2009 at an address in Bucksburn.

The depute fiscal said that police had recovered £346 of the drug.

Law’s defence solicitor said that “he was a father of one who has never been in prison before.”

Sheriff McKernan said “This is the kind of activity which the court has frequently deplored.”

Law has been detained and remanded in custody until his trial date this month.

Earlier today another man, 29-year-old Silvano Volpi admitted growing the drug at his home in North Anderson Drive. His sentence was deferred till later this year.

Council plans to clamp six-figure profit from Aberdeenshire motorists

Aberdeenshire Council will hear a plan tomorrow to make a £200,000 profit by increasing parking charges.

Motorists would face up to a 50% increase in parking penalties if a report by the director of infrastructure services is approved.

It would mean three hours of parking would cost £5 in car parks across the North-East.

While some council members voiced negative opinions such as the deterring people from shopping in Aberdeen city, many believe that the increases are justified by encouraging the use of public transport such as park and ride.

Paula Gibson, a public consultation stakeholder, says that the increases will deprive local business and town centre of trade, and will have a major impact on employees within these businesses.

She believes that many traders are finding it hard enough in the current climate, and that these changes offer no assistance to them.

Mark Hagger of the Grampian Cycling Tourist Club backs the plan, believing the new resources will be applied to improving the cycling facilities in the area, which at the moment are below par.

Ron Clark seat up for election

A by-election is to be held on May 19th to fill a vacancy in Aberdeen City Council’s Dyce, Bucksburn and Danestone ward.

The announcement was made by Returning Officer Valerie Watts after the death of Councillor Ron Clark last month.

The poll could have been held on the same day as the Scottish Parliamentary elections and the Alternative Vote referendum but that would mean voters would have to complete four different ballot papers.

The group also had to take into consideration the Gould Report which recommends that parliamentary and local government polls should not be held on the same day.

Mrs Watts said: “In addition, electoral legislation means that we cannot legally combine the polls on the same day and we would therefore have to set up separate polling stations in each of the polling places, each with separate staff. In at least two of our polling places in the ward, there is no room for this to be accommodated.”

Dyce Church Hall, Dyce Church Hall (Dr Cox Room), Beacon Community Centre, Newhills Primary, Bucksburn Primary, Stoneywood Primary and Danestone Primary will act as polling stations on the day.