COASTAL EROSION WORK IS PRAISED AT AGM
Community Council IN presenting his first report to the Annual General Meeting of Benholm and Johnshaven Community Council in the Village Hall on Wednesday night, Chair Chris Greene said that, although 2009 had been a relatively quiet year, at least in the early stages, it had heralded some significant changes in relation to the Community Council.
For the first time the Community Council had to register under the Data Protection Act and major changes directly affecting community councils were implemented by the Scottish Government while Aberdeenshire Council's plans for the development of their area had generated a very well attended and vocal public meeting in the Village Hall.
In addition, excellent work was undertaken on coastal erosion along Beach Road led by Stephen McFarland, Principal Engineer, Flood Prevention and Coastal Protection who gave an object lesson on the art of effective communication, while the completed works are being monitored before a decision is taken regarding any further protection work along Fore Street.
With regard to Aberdeenshire Council's Main Issues Report and Structure Plan, Mr Greene commented that, although Benholm and Johnshaven lie within a Regeneration Area, the term seems to have little meaning and the intention is to hold a meeting with other community councils to discuss the matter.
Notwithstanding the apparent lack of clarity over this issue, Mr Greene was pleased that no further development beyond the 67 houses already approved at Golden Acre is proposed for Benholm and Johnshaven since by and large this means that the existing character of the community will not be altered in the foreseeable future.
Mr Greene then dealt in detail with the planning system in which community councils now have a statutory right to be consulted on major developments in their area.
However, he was more concerned with planning on a local level where he felt that one or two recent "new builds" had not really been compatible with village architecture and were approved without detailed scrutiny.
However, in the light of the perceived conflict between the status quo and new developments, Mr Greene said that the Community Council had commenced a programme of vigorous evaluation of all recent planning applications and, having already had discussions with Ms Claire Tierney of the Planning Department who has responsibility for conservation, intend to hold a public meeting to establish the community's wishes on the subject.
One area where Mr Greene felt that the Community Council had failed, though, was participating actively with external bodies such as Kincardine and Mearns Area Partnership but this will be addressed in 2010.
Before drawing his report to a conclusion, Mr Greene emphasised the low incidence of crime in Johnshaven which was a credit to the village and commended its youth who, by and large, conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner.
Mr Greene then thanked departing community councillors, Sue Calder and Gerry McGuiness for their contribution over the years and wished them well for the future, and expressed his appreciation to Aberdeenshire Councillors, Provost Bill Howatson, Jean Dick and George Carr for their admirable support over a broad range of issues.
Finally, looking forward to 2010, Mr Greene said that the Community Council needs to maintain vigilance over planning applications, ascertain and work to implement the views of the community on conservation, establish and improve relations with external agencies and ensure that the views of the community are understood and communicated.
It was an equally quiet year for the Treasurer who reported a credit balance of 1,087.
Returning Officer, George Carr then announced that because there had been four nominations for four vacancies on the Community Council there was no need for an election. Consequently, Walter Fillingham, Janie Kennett, Geoffrey Lawrence (retiring member) and Niall Young took their places at the table.
The Community Council does have to elect their office-bearers, though, and in doing so, Chris Greene, Alec Wallace and Geoff Lawrence retained their positions of Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively. Niall Young was elected Secretary.
The remaining members of the Community Council are Robert Dunsire, Don Marr, David Sutherland and Imogen Stewart who continues as youth member. Joyce Marr was appointed Auditor.
Mearns Coastal Parish
In conducting his last service as locum minister of Mearns Coastal Parish Church in Johnshaven Church on Sunday morning, Mr Gordon Anderson preached on the theme of "doubt." Since questioning was essential to belief, Mr Anderson said that it was perhaps time for the apostle Thomas to be rehabilitated.
He then went on to say that now that the period of doubt over the vacancy in Mearns Coastal Parish is over God would guide the congregation safely along its new path.The organist was Robin Beattie.
Afterwards, over a light lunch in the church hall, Session Clerk, Dr Marshall Halliday, presented Mr Anderson with a gift from the congregation in appreciation of his year-long service as locum minister.
In doing so Dr Halliday said that Gordon had been more a "minister" than a "locum" given the conscientious manner in which he had carried out his role. His services were well prepared while his sermons had been biblically based with a relevant introduction, sound conclusion and not too much in between!
However, it was the devotion to his pastoral duties for which Mr Anderson will best be remembered and Dr Halliday concluded his tribute by hoping that he would be able to return to Mearns Coastal in the not too distant future.
In thanking Dr Halliday and saying "au revoir", Mr Anderson remarked that the appreciation was not all one way because he too had benefited from the experiences of the journey which he and the congregation had been travelling on together and was sure that under the guidance of the new minister, the Rev Colin Dempster, Mearns Coastal would go from strength to strength.
This Sunday, the Rev Dempster will conduct his first service - in St Cyrus Church at 10 a.m. There will be no other service in the parish that day.
Carpet Bowls
Clark Simpson completed a carpet bowling double last Tuesday night when he defeated Fiona Dundas in the final of the Singles event by 21 shots to 17.
The match got off to a lively start and after five ends the scores were level 5-5. The finalists then shared the next nine ends equally but Clark scored more heavily to take a significant lead 16-9. Fiona then staged a steady comeback and by the 21st end had reduced the deficit to only four shots, 16-18.
Clark won a single at the next, 19-16, and Fiona replied likewise, 17-19. It was nail-biting stuff now as one end could finish it and the 24th did as Clark's fourth bowl clung to the edge of the carpet as it slowly drew its way towards the jack for a second and winning shot.
It was a very competitive final with some fine bowling, particularly towards the end when the pressure was on.
Old Railway Line Spruce Up
As part of the "Keep Scotland Tidy" campaign , an excellent job was made by the eleven people who turned up on Sunday afternoon of sprucing up sections of the old railway line.
While SHARK organiser, Rebecca Chambers, had hoped that more might have "reported for duty" she was very grateful to those who made a huge difference to the section from the Community Garden to the Baron's Pade and had a special word of thanks for David Sutherland who, by himself, filled three bags with recyclables on the stretch along Back Road.
Mearns Coastal Guild
The Guild wish to thank all those who supported the soup and sweet lunches in the function room at Wairds Park on Saturday which raised 146 for the Guild Project .
Wairds Park
In 1999 the Wairds Park committee officially opened their floodlit all- weather multi-sports courts which have proved to be a great success. At the same time they adopted a policy of "easy access" and reasonable fees for all ages and groups.
This approach is once again reflected in the range of packages which the committee has just announced :
Family membership (2 adults and up to 4 children U16) only 35. Adult membership 25/15 concession (Over 60). Junior membership 15. Those membership packages all include full use of Multicourts and Putting facilities for one year.
Weekly family membership 15. Use of Multicourts, Putting and Bowling for one full week.
Putting membership 15/10 junior/concession. Unlimited putting.
The fees exclude entry to competitions.
Bowling memberships this year are Adult 28. Junior 10 and Concession 16.
Payment should be made to the Warden at Wairds Park who will be pleased to answer all enquiries on 01561 362395
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Weather for Stonehaven
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
