CULTER COURIER • CULTER • COMMUNITY • NEWS • FROM THE OUTGOING CHAIR & EDITOR
By the time you read this, many of you will have perhaps been away on holiday and are back to normal life.
I hope you have returned in a positive frame of mind and ready for new challenges! The Gala events seem a long time ago even now, but despite the weather, they were a great success as always. The team that organise everything worked extremely hard to make sure that we all had a great time. I would like to thank Allan McKenzie particularly for his commitment whilst maintaining a busy career.
I would also like to thank all the
various local groups and venues that arc part of our community, who put tre mendous effort into making us proud to live here. The rain was a shame, but it helped the Community Council mar quee become a very popular venue! The AWPR Construction Consortium had
representatives there to answer ques tions and the latest Local Development Plan was available to discuss. Wc also
ISSUE No:l40
AUGUST 2015
many people realise how lucky we are
had a Wild West photo studio, courte sy of the Postcards from Culler project.
in Culter and has fostered new links and
More of thai later ...
ideas between groups, to reinforce that.
This will be my last Courier as both Editor and Chair of the Commu
nity Council. It was never my intention to do both at the same time, but it just happened that way. Our new Editor Val Muir will be a worthy successor, and I wish her well (and a lot of patience!) The rest of the Courier team remain in
place, and I would like to thank them for all their support and friendship. The Community Council AGM is on 16 November 2015, where new
roles and responsibilities will be con firmed. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the future of the village should contact Secretary Ann Wakefield (details on the back page) to find out
I would like to thank the many peo ple in the village who volunteer their time to make sure we have a thriving community. It's not just about raising money, it's about being involved for the common good and hopefully for your own personal fulfilment. The Postcards from Culter project was a final thank you from the Manchester team, which will leave us ultimately with a website for the Community Council and post cards to sell to raise money for the vil lage. There are loads of postcards taken by Culter folk up on display in the hall way at the Village Hall. Go and have a look!
PLANNING
more.
The AWPR will inevitably change some things in Culler and wc hope to continue to develop robust ideas about how to maintain our sense of place.
Talking of "sense of place", we have had some great input over the last eighteen months as a result of the Uni versity of Manchester's research carried out here. Their study for "Understand ing Everyday Participation" has helped
Developments with AWPR and
Oldfold
Farm
Housing complex continue to influence
along
traffic
North
movement
Deeside
Road
between Culter and Bieldside.
Such influences are expected to be in force for several months
until
major
junction
and
Culter and District Horticultural Society's
Annual Flower and Handicraft Show!
Culter Jlower Snow
Saturday 15th ® August 2015 Culter Village Hall
From 1.45 - 4.00 pm
Doors open at 1.30 pm
For more details go to www.culterflowershow.com or visit our Facebook page, Search: Culter Flower Show
Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd The only privately ran family-owned Funeral Director in I'elerenlter, Banchory and Aboyne Pre-Paid Funeral Plans
317 North Deeside Road PETERCULTER Tel: 01224 732530
utilities works (drainage, water and the like) are completed for these developments. CCC are in receipt of regular progress reports from the AWPR team and are able to access liaison officers and man
agement at site offices to answer ques tions from our community. Regular up dates will be provided through Culter Courier over the course of tire project.
85a High Street
Outline Planning Proposal to split the feu and develop 2 houses on the site
BANCHORY Tel: 01330 825400
of 31 Hillside Place has been reviewed
Aboyne Business Centre Huntly Road, ABOYNE Tel: 013398 86625
by CCC. This is the second such pro posal for this site reviewed by CCC this year and formal objections have again been recorded with ACC Plan ning Department on behalf of our local community.
Contact
Brian or Angela Smith (24 hours)
1^
Trudi C Deans DipCFHP MPSPract
The proposal to site an Equestrian Centre at Nether Anguston has been the subject of debate on local radio and in local newspapers during early July in dicating that ACC Planning Department have recognized that roads and public sendees infrastructure in the area are in
Foot Health
fl Care Practitioner Home Visiting Practice
adequate to support such a development. The members of CCC, having formally expressed very similar comments and concerns to the Planning Department, now await formal feedback from ACC
Routine & Preventative Foot Care
Corns/Hard Skin Verucae
Toenail Cutting T : 07598 382 597
on the outcomes of investigations into these issues.
David Wakefield
NEWS FROM COUNCILLORS
design of the proposal was worked up by Muse and several consultation/en gagement events were held. Changes were made following comments from the public, a public enquiry was held prior to the planning application being heard by Councillors, which was subse quently approved. A campaign against the Marischal Square Development was embarked upon several months after the applica
tion had already been approved. In March, we held a special Council Meeting which was not to re-examine the planning application but to discuss and get legal advice on the implica tions should we breach our contract with Muse. The advice received was
very clear, that to breach the contract would leave Aberdeen City Council open to being sued for many millions of pounds. Additionally, there would be damage to the Council's reputation and also the serious potential of frightening off future investors in Aberdeen.
As an Administration responsible for delivering services to the people of Aberdeen, we had to consider the real impact of finding the money to
of the St Nicholas House site and of
by the time you are reading this
course finding money to do something else on this site. There are very clear rules in determining planning applica tions and making decisions on financial matters and Councillor Malone is very
MUSE DEVELOPMENT
We believe it is necessary to reply to the Councillor Malone's accusations
that the current Administration pushed through the Muse development. A very full process was followed to arrive at the selection of the devel
Culter Courier!
therefore, all be prepared to accept the democratic decision of the Council. The
for summer to arrive; hopefully we will have had a lovely warm July!
saw their advert in the
Muse was successful, and whilst
it may not have been any single indi vidual's personal choice, all parties signed up to the process and we should
the year and still waiting
W e are half way through
to tell advertisers you
details.
pay any law suit, finding the money to replace that already "spent" on refur bishing Marischal College, which had been identified from the redevelopment
BOULTON AND MALIK
DON'T FORGET
by Councillors from the working group and from officers on these expanded
well aware of these. If she believes
these rules have been contravened by any elected members there are avenues open to her to have these investigated. Wc have no intention of turning our regular article into a political argument
opment partner. Muse. Council Officers drew up a short list of companies who
but felt that the accusations could not
had gone through a tender process. A member from each political party formed a working group and following further analysis of the tenders submit ted together with presentations from each company, scores were awarded
CITY CENTRE MASTER PLAN
and should not, go unchallenged. June saw the approval ofAberdeen City Council's City Centre Master Plan. Clearly the success of the Master Plan will be judged on what is delivered and the long term difference it will make.
The objective of the Master Plan is to provide a visionary, integrated, coherent and compelling template for sustainable
TRANSPORT TO HEALTHCARE INFORMATION CENTRE (THINC)
development of the City Centre.
A joint pilot service is also being oper ated to provide transport to healthcare
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
We are aware that public transport is extremely important for many of the residents on Lower Deeside and felt it
may be helpful to provide information of what is currently available.
Local bus services primarily travel
along North Deeside Road with First Aberdeen operating the Platinum ser vice 19, which operates every 12 min utes to/from Peterculter and the City Centre and onto Tillydrone.
Stagecoach Bluebird operates ser vices 201, 202, 203 which operate up
to every 30 minutes between Bancho ry and the City Centre and the service 119 operating around Peterculter to the City Centre via Garthdee once per day
utilising a disabled accessible car be tween 8.30 am -5 pm, Monday to Fri day. For further information call 01224
Still on the transport theme, with the gradual increase in electric cars, we have had requests for information on
Tues
Playgroup
Danscentre
Dancing
7.00 - 9.30 pm
Toddlers
Rising 5's
T'ai chi
9.30-11.30 am
1.00 - 3.30 pm
6.00 - 7.30 pm
Playgroup
Badminton
Theatre
9.00 -12.10pm
1.00 - 3.00 pm
Club 7.30- 10.00 pm
Wed
Playgroup
Kindergym
Taylor School
9.00- 12.10 am
1.15-2.00 pm 2.00 - 2.45 pm
of Dance
Kindergym
There arc 21 sites available for mem
bers of the public to use across the City
Thurs
6.15 - 8.30 pm
9.30- 10.00 am
Dog Training
10.30 - 11.15am
6.30 -7.15pm 7.30 - 8.30pm
Playgroup
Pilates
9,00-12.10 am
6.30 - 7.30 pm
with three different types of electric ve hicle charger available.
Theatre
Club 7.30-10.00 pm
The different types arc:
3 hours
Deeside Road and so we have provid ed the following information which we hope is helpful.
Knit & Natter Line 1.00 - 3.00 pm Dancing
3.30 - 7.00 pm
electric vehicle charging points across the City and in particular in our area.
tion can be found at
access the local bus services on North
Bo Peeps
9.00-12.10 pm
Evening
ELECTRIC CARS
Fast Chargers (22kW AC) - capa ble of recharging a car fully in around
Lower Deeside who find it difficult to
Afternoon
9.30- 11.30 am
665568.
passengers to buy one ticket to travel on any bus in Aberdeen, further informa
We also recognise that there are many elderly and disabled residents in
Morning
unable to use conventional bus services,
The Grasshopper Travel card was launched in early June which allows bus
www.grasshopperpass.com
Mon
appointments across Aberdeen for those
Rapid Chargers (50kW DC/43kW AC) - capable of delivering an 80% charge in around 30 minutes
in each direction.
CULTER VILLAGE HALL SCHEDULE
Standard Chargers (7kW AC) - capable of recharging a car fully in around 6 hours
Charging times vary from vehicle to vehicle and may be longer than those quoted, as not all vehicles are able to ac cept charge at the maximum rate. Please
Fri
Toddlers
Bridge Club
9.30-11.30 am
1.00-4.00 pm
Playgroup 9.00- 12.10 pm
Contacts
Culter Playgroup
01224 733289
Tai Chi Neil
01330 850675
Line dancing Stephen
01224 317166
Danscentre
01224 647314
Taylor School of Dance Culter Village Hall
01224 734371
Aberdeen Dog Training
07841 525784
01224 591827
2sBlu<z
Uoor
consult your vehicle handbook for de tails. The charging point available on Lower Deeside is a Fast Charger and is
Aberdeen City Council operates the Community Transport Service on Mon days and Thursdays between 10.15 am - 2.15pm. This is a door to door dial-a-
located at Dunmail Avenue car park in
57-59 North Deeside Road, Bieldside | Tel:01224 861830
Cults and is available 24hours. Details
bluedoor@camphillwellbeing.org.uk
bus service for those who are unable to
of other locations can be found on the
use the conventional bus service, the el
Council's website
derly and disabled. Further information
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk
can be found at
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ communitytransport
or by calling 01224-523762. Aber deen City Council is hoping to expand the operation of the Community Trans
port service on Lower Deeside in the very near future.
The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) offer transport services utilising volun teer car drivers, in order to assist older
people to access services, such as health and shopping etc, further information can be found at
www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/ service/1484-aberdeen
or by calling 01224552923.
TRAFFIC
On a final transport item, Police Scot land carried out operation Whitebeam at different times over a 3 day period in April following several complaints about speeding on Lower Deeside.
The main areas targeted during the operation were Baillieswells Road. Friarsfield Road, Kirk Brae and the North Deeside Road. During the operation 192 people were dealt with by the Police in relation to speeding and inconsiderate driving, seven persons were dealt with for failing to wear a seatbelt, two per sons for using a mobile telephone whilst driving and one vehicle was seized.
Charity Shop
Books, brie a brae, music and clothing all under one roof The Blue Door Charity Shop raises money for Camphill Wellbeing Trust a medical charity providing an extended and integrative approach to help patients of all ages address illness, build resilience & maintain wellbeing.
Open Tuesday - Saturday I Oam -4pm Follow us on Facebook
Search The Blue Door Chanty Shop
admini3camphillwellbeing.org.uk | t: 01224 862008
^â&#x20AC;˘t
Camphill
* Wellbeing Trust 'Camphill WellbeingTrustis a business name of Camphill Medical Practice Ltd, a limited company registered in Scotland (SCI20539) Charity No. 5C016291
Registered office: St John's, MurtleEstate, Bieldside, Aberdeen AB15 9EP'
j
The overwhelming majority of tliose dealt with were people local to the areas they were stopped in. Police Scot land will be carrying out further road safety operations in the coming months in the Culter area due to concerns raised
by residents. STAR AWARDS
Aberdeen City Council had its Star Awards Event on the June 4 at which
Culler Primary School's Cleaning Team was shortlisted for an award in the cate
gory of Respect. This award recognises examples of respect towards colleagues, service users and to the public. This will be a person or team who embodies the
Council's values in their particular area
have been finished sooner but circum
of work and has exceeded tlieir nomial
stances beyond our control delayed getting them planted. Pictures will be
job requirements to deliver an outstand ing service. We are delighted to report that our Culter Cleaning Team won tlieir cate gory. Another star in our area is eight year old Ellie Ong who attends Culter Primary School who won the Tee-shirt design competition for the 2015 Aber deen International Youth Festival.
included in the next article and I'm sure
the results will have been worth waiting. ROADS
Over the last couple of months Aber deen City Council's roads team have
been undertaking much needed road repairs and resurfacing in the Lower Deeside area, oilier sections of road are
Well done to both sets of winners! GALA
We would like to take the opportunity of thanking and congratulating the Gala Committee who once again pulled out all the stops to deliver a very successful Gala in spite of the less favourable weather.
It is important to recog nise that this isn't just a one day event but that
still waiting to be repaired but will be attended to in order of priority. AND FINALLY...
On a final note, we would like to appeal to the young people in the area. We un derstand diat you will want to meet and have fun down by the River but please don't mix alcohol with messing around in the water, keep yourselves safe.
We hope everyone has a lovely summer and the weather is kind.
there are several oili
er activities arranged leading up to Gala Day and that behind each
eventyactivity is a huge amount
of work and
effort. CULTS ACADEMY
Ellie Ong with her winning t-shirt design
Hopefully, by the time
you are reading this article the project by the 6"' year pupils at Cults Academy (The
Councillor Boulton
Shrub Club) in asso
Councillor Tauqecr
ciation with Aberdeen
mmalik@aberdeencity.gov.uk
mboulton@aberdeencity.gov.uk
City Council will now be complete. We had hoped the re-designed shrub beds on the left
hand side, past the Cults Hotel heading Culter Primary School's Cleaning Team
into Aberdeen, would
CFINE Community Food I n i t i a t i v e s N o r t h E a s t Every Tuesday morning from 9.30 am -
12pm
Culter Village Hall
Affordable fruit, vegetables, free ra^vge eggs, souy teLts, â&#x20AC;˘pulses, dried fru.lt av^d healthy senates forsale Reduced p r i c e s on a
Wednesday
Health start Vouchers accepted
CULTER VILLAGE HALL
Writing this report as the children prepare to finish school for the summer
holiday, I wonder what sort of summer we will be having by the time this is read. Hopefully, lots of long, hot sunny days and not a "blink and you've missed it" summer! CULTER GALA DAY
Thank you to everyone who supported the Village Hall's stall on Gala day.We had fun devising the Western tliemed games and hoped "Dolly Pong" would be a crowd pleaser. We were proved right!
Thank you to the committee mem bers who created the games and helped on the day; and to the children who made the fun Western themed bunting. We were delighted that our efforts were recognised by the Gala Queen and her Princesses!
purchase then keep your fingers crossed that your number comes up. Good luck! Further details of the 200 Club,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
REQUIRED
and all events, can be found on our
The Village Hall receives no funding from Aberdeen City Council and is run by a small management committee who
Faccbook page, or contact the office on 01224 734371. Enquiries and bookings can also be made via email. We have
meet once a month to oversee the run
very competitive rales!
ning of the Hall.
thevillagehallculter@gmail.com
Due
to
a
number
of members
Thank you for your continued support.
leaving there are vacancies on the
Susan Robertson
committee.
Secretary
We would like to invite anyone who is interested in helping to run the Village Hall to our E.G.M. See advert
EVENTS AT THE VILLAGE HALL
for more details. THE BLOODY MARYS REGISTER OF VOLUNTEERS SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
We are compiling a list of people who would be willing to help occasionally at events alongside Committee members.
To register as a volunteer we just need a few details. We will then con
tact you when we require help. You can choose what you would like to help with.
7.30 PM-MIDNIGHT
The Bloody Marys will team up with Tribute in Town to bring you a night of fun and fantastic music!
Tickets priced at £22 include arrival fizz, buffet platter and wine on each table.
Contact IT'S YOUR HALL!
HALL REFURBISHMENT
We are delighted with the new kitch en that was installed during the East er break. It was a case of out with the
(very) old and in with the new, modem kitchen!
Thank you
of double glazed windows in the Play group, Supper Room and Main Hall.
to
the
following
We welcome suggestions for what you would like to see happening in the Hall. If you have an interest in providing an activity or event for the community then please contact us and we will do our best to help you. It's your Hall, so let us know what we can do for you!
tradesmen for their excellent work:
Ecka Stewart Joinery, Brian David
200 CLUB
son (Culter Electrical & Plumbing Services) and Derek Stratton (Ce ramic Tile Fixing).
The 200 Club is an inexpensive way to support the Hall. The first draw for
The refurbishment project contin ues, however it is rewarding to realise that our "To Do" list is now tiny com pared to a year ago! By the time you read this, another job will, hopefully,
too late to join!
have been ticked off with the installation
Graeme
on
01358
Tribute in Town page. CHILDREN'S NEARLY NEW SALE SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 10AM-12NOON.
This is a great chance to purchase clothes, nursery items and toys for ba bies/young children at low prices. Alter natively, clear out your cupboards and make some money for yourself and the Hall by selling your unwanted items.
2015-16 was made in June but it's not Contact Fiona Jones at
Just £9 allows you to be entered into the remaining 9 montlily draws (September to May) with a chance
fiona@seajays.org.uk for more information.
of winning up to £100. Simply tell us how many numbers you would like to
Aberdeen Massage Therapy /">
Are you suffering from.. •
Based at Peterculter Sports Centre, Karen Reid and Claire Low are fully trained Massage Therapists offering Remedial & Sports Massage and Swedish Massage. We also offer Onsite Massage to businesses,
providing treatment for staff within the workplace.
Sporting injuries?
® Back pain? •
Tension?
•
Headaches?
For further information or to make an appointment call or email:
Karen (DRSM DSM) - 07825 510443 karen@aberdeenmassagetherapy.co.uk Claire (DRSM DSM) - 07880 727743 claire@aberdeenmassagetherapy.co.uk Peterculter Sports Centre. Coronation Road, Peterculter. AB14 0RQ
725477/
07887 902449 or via Faccbook at the
® Everyday life stresses?
If so, come and visit
Aberdeen Massage Therapy!
HERITAGE TRUST
Welcome ^i/v* Newton 17<re Store Organic Fruit and Vegetables Healthy Food and Drinks
Gluten and Dairy-free Ranges Weigh-your-own herbs and spices Fresh baked Newton Dee Bread and Cakes
Dr Hauschka and Weleda Body & Face Care Products
Homeopathic Medicines
Mon 12noon - 5pm TUes10am-6pm
Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Sunday Closed
Newton Dee Store
Old Ferry Road Bieldside AB15 9DX 01224 868609
www.newtondee.org.uk
pulse TMj SPORTS THERAPY SERVICES
Fiona Webster msst Dipst Dip Fryog Sports Therapist with 20 years experience and Yoga Teacher
SPORTS THERAPY & YOGA Sports Injuries, Remedial and Sports Massage, back pain, sprains, strains, post-surgery and chronic pain
Now past mid summer and if you have not yet been to see what is in the Heritage Centre, try and come down. It is open each Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday from 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm. We are the only local Heritage Centre in Aberdeen and we do look for the sup port of the Culter community. There is much to see and perhaps you can share information about Culter, both past and present. Our collection of Culter School photos is of great interest and if you can add some names to the photos that would be a great help. At weekends , Afternoon Teas are
served in the Heritage Hall where one can enjoy some fine home baking. There is a most attractive garden area with tables and seats and you can enjoy looking at the garden and the restored wooden whisky train.
It is planned to have some social events over the coming months includ ing a concert by Albacappella, talk by local resident Colin Johnstone, readings of John Clark's poems with Calum Stu art. Details of dates will be circulated
throughout the village. The Embroidery Group are mak ing good progress in the creation of a new banner depicting the Heritage Trust logo which will be hung in the Heritage Centre on completion. The Hall itself is available for let
Yoga for increased fitness, flexibility, strength, tone, relaxation and focus
and there are a number of daytime spac
Yoga classes for all abilities
family parties.
es free.
The Hall is also suitable for
There are good car parking facili Tuesday 6.30 - 7.30 pm
ties at the Hall. For more information
St Peter's Heritage Hall, Culter
contact
Wednesday 9.30 -11.45 am Cults Kirk Centre, 404 North Deeside Rd,
John Troup Tel 01224 732701
CULTER IN BLOOM
Cults AB15 9TD
Individual Yoga sessions available phone 07977 790 648 or (01224) 739050 for all queries Email: fiona@pulsesportstherapy.com www.pulsesportstherapy.com
DONT FORGET
to tell advertisers you saw
through the September!
summer
until
A particularly important date is 29 July when the judges from Beautiful Scot land pay a call to see if Peterculter should maintain its
Silver Gilt status.
Of course they don't just look at our pretty flowers during their tour - they assess the whole appearance of the village, and both the City Council and teams of our members and volunteers
are working hard to weed and prune, clean and clear along their tour route. They also expect to find evidence of continuous improvement in their three key areas of assessment - horticultural achievement, environmental responsi bility and community participation.
hi the first category we will be pointing to more varied planting, sever al new barrels and a longer "wee train". We should increase our environmental credentials with
the new
memorial
orchard on Millside Street - the land
donated by Barratt's and planted by the Council
but to be tended and further
developed in future by local residents. As regards community participa tion, we already enjoy generous finan cial support both from householders and the business community, but as the scope of our work increases we are still really pushed for "hands on" volunteers. Also this year we've lost the valuable support of our committee member Ethel Cook who is moving away - so we have a vacancy on our committee too!
If you can spare a few hours a month helping to "plant pride in the community" a call to our secretary Car ol on 01224 734450
carolp301 @gmail.com or me on 01224 734149 would be most
welcome! ErikStien Chair
www.culterinbloom.org.uk
T h e "monsoon" weather in
CULTER GALA 2015
June and July has given our new summer bedding and container plants the best possible start, with ample moisture to get their roots established, and has provided the best floral display to date , but we are depending heavily on
THANK YOU AND APPEAL
their advert in the Culter
all the residents and businesses
Courier!
nearby to keep watering right
Culter
Gala
2015
another
had
successful
year this year despite some heavy rain showers. The gala
theme
this
year
was
"Wild West" and there were
plenty
of
appropriately
themed costumes, stalls and