September

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
REPORT OF THE MEETING  HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL

30TH OF SEPTEMBER 2004

 

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Jim Piggins, Bill Blackwood, David Evans, Pat Findlater, Susan Milton, Alan Davies, Iain Morgan & Cllr Gurudeo Saluja

PRESENT:
Sheila Taylor, Chris Hunneyball, Alistair Thomson, Hazel Al-Kowarri, Janet Newberry, Mavis Wainman, Roger Dunham, Billy Ridler & Jack Rigby.

ATTENDING:
Alan Lyon, Neil Milne, A & R McArthur, Steven & Michelle Clark, Isobel Kendrick & Cllr Alister Leitch

POLICE MATTERS:
Unfortunately, no police officers were able to attend this meeting.

GUEST SPEAKER - COLIN GRAY FROM SEPA
Cdr Hunneyball welcomed Mr Gray to our meeting and thanked him for coming along to explain about the waste material taken from the former landfill site now the site of the new skate park.  Firstly, Mr Gray explained that he is the head of the team that looks after this area and is based at Grey Hope Road in Aberdeen and urged that if members of the public have any concerns or questions to please contact himself or his team at this office.  The site in question came to their notice in late July when concerns were raised by several members of the public as to the removal of soil and rubbish from a former village tip.  As the work was complete on the site by this time SEPA have undertaken tests to the best of their ability on identifiable material from the site.  They carried out a test to compare the soil with that of a composting substance, this is a standard test to give measurable results.  They also carried out a ‘leeching test' to ascertain the consequences of elements within the soil.  Their principle concern is for the environment and public safety.  From the small sample they were able to take they found an elevated level of metals in the soil sample and felt it prudent to advise members of the public not to consume any food grown on this soil.  He also asked stated that this small sample may not be representative of the whole site and if members of the public who have soil from this site wished to contact him or his team he was available for them to do so.  It may be that there is a pocket of some more hazardous material in the site but this was not the case in the sample they had taken.

QUESTION TIME:
a) Opportunity for members of the public present to address the Community Council should they wish.
Several Members of the public were present and wished to discuss the Skate Park.  Mr Milne advised KCC that he was not given any neighbour notification and whilst this is not done by KCC, we had not discussed it so he was unaware of its exact location before building commenced.  He felt that members of the public should have been notified of this plan, as it had already been such a contentious issue at its previously proposed site.  He also felt that had this been done that the problems encountered in building this site, especially the old refuse tip might have been brought to light and prevented.  Aberdeenshire Council do publish planning applications in the Inverurie Herald however if you do not get this publication you would be unaware of planning applications in your area, he asked that we consider notice boards and the newsletter in future for this.  It was discussed at great length when it was going to be in Alehousewells but not when the site was changed why?  Mr Milne stressed that he is not against the skate park facility and believes it should be in the park but that it should have been situated at the top end near the other facilities and amenities.  Isobel Kendrick advised KCC that they were not offered any other site than the position it is built on.

ABERDEENSHIRE NEWS by Cllr Alister Leitch
Nothing to report just returning after the summer holidays.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
Nothing contentious in these.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Aberdeenshire Local Plan Update - We must submit our documents by the 9^th of November and our precognitions by the 23^rd of November.

NEW BUSINESS:
Medical Centre Update -no plans to move location.

Telephone Kiosks - BT are to remove the pay phone on Kendal Road - we have been asked to comment on this.  Newsletter to carry an article and notice posted in the phone box.

Calor Gas Awards - Awards ceremony on 26^th of November. We have been short-listed and now await the result to see if we have been fortunate to win.

Scottish Rural Partnership- funding available again if we have a suitable project but the closing date in 21/10/2004 - nothing we were aware of.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
28^th OF OCTOBER