Minutes of TONCC on 7th October 2024 at No 14 The square Rhynie.
Present. Robin Baird, Andrew Beckley, Peter Johnston, Tryphaena Jordan, Paul Manning, Tony Smith. Sharon Stoneman.
Attending. Cllr J Goodhall.
Apologies and declaration of Interests. D Grant, J Grant, J Smith.
Welcome and introductions from Sharon Stoneman the Chair.
Approval of previous Minutes for :- 19th August Prop’ TS, Seconded PJ
30th September Prop’ PM, seconded RB
Updated contact details.
The e-mail addresses and website details have been updated. Please check and let SS know if they are correct.
Craig Farm Quarry representative.
Ginny Irvine -Fortescue a representative fighting against the proposed quarry spoke to the meeting and distributed a leaflet with salient points so that everyone could read it at their leisure. She wished it to be clear that this was against the Quarry.
The cut off date to make objections is 16th October 2024. The most effective way to present objection was to list them in a bullet point format. Clear and easy to do and read.
Traffic. The quantity and size of the vehicles 20t plus. 6 days a week Mon to Fri 7am to 7pm and Sat 7am to 2pm on a narrow and unsuitable road system. Poor access on to the main Huntly to Alford rd. As Leith Quarries also have quarries in Moray they will be linking up and going from the Cabrach Dufftown area on B9002 to reach there Aberdeenshire depot via Lumsden. For 20 years.
Noise. The noise of industrial beeping at the quarry and the rumbling of vehicles will impinge on the local residents.
Dust. There would be considerable dust and pollution from the quarry.
Water. The water supply to the many local private supply properties could be harmed and local drainage systems affected. The Deveron Trust and Isla Burn groups have voiced concerns.
Cultural Heritage. The area has many cultural and scientific sites of interest which would be harmed by the constant creep of industrialisation of the area . e.g the turbines and pylons of recent and proposed developments. Leading to a fall in local house values.
Toby Davies added that there was now a Facebook group.
P.M, questioned the water saying that Rhynie were on mains water, it was pointed out the d
Matters arising.
Kennethmont Foot path. Cllr Goodhall reported that this would be coming to the planning stage in near future.
Moss Wood and old playing field at Rhynie. Nothing.
Clatt. Meeting of the Learning Estates. A survey is out. Where will the children of Clatt school go to Rhynie or Kennethmont? Link on the Rhynie website. Children who have been currently relocated will not be up-rooted from where they are and their siblings will attend the same school. The School will close after 170 years which is a sad blow for Clatt. Hope that use of the building to provide for rural needs of the area could be looked into and if found suitable it might be possible for an “Asset Transfer” in which case the sale on the open market would be frozen whilst this was explored.
Pop Up Bob . No one has seen him. JD not available for update.
Armistice Day J G had requested that members of TONCC could attend their local services. Wreaths for this are at Woodhall House and Cllr Goodhall will produce them at the next meeting.
Coreen and Suie Hills Windfarm proposal. Open meetings at Clatt 3 to 8pm on Wednesday 9th October at the village hall. Alford 10th October 3 to 8pm
The matter of the questionnaire was discussed at a previous meeting and agreed that just being on line was not good enough as too many people unable to access it. One proposal to have That paper copies should be produced and put through letter boxes. TJ stated that this is not difficult or particularly time consuming and had been successfully done recently in another context. The idea of a surgery to help people go on line was suggested by RB but concern that as this would be on a single e-mail address it would not be an accurate measure of opinions. Option to make a printed version and delivered by hand. There were offers of help to do this. The questionnaire to be reduced in size to fit on double sided sheet in order to reduce costs. Returned copies could be placed in local Village hall letter boxes or in box at Rhynie village shop. Chris Hamlet sked if there could be a liaison person to co-ordinate with Bennachie and Donside CCs from TONCC AB agreed to do so.
Frequency of meetings. It was agreed by a vote of 6/8 that they become monthly on the first Monday of each month. The next meeting to be 4th November at Gartly Tin Hut.
Correspondence. This is being forwarded.
Bedding plants. Can Kennethmont let Phyllis Beverly know what is required.
Letter from Cllr Petrie of Huntly regarding how people are able to access meetings, particularly if they can not attend face to face meetings. Requesting that this should be considered as it is a legal requirement on grounds of inclusion and disability. TS said that this was not acceptable to be discussed. However, Cllr Goodhall advised that it was as it was under correspondence. The majority of those in attendance agreed that hybrid should be used. The opinion was that this would fulfil a legal obligation for more people to be included. It would also allow people to tune in as and when they wanted to the meeting from home. It might encourage greater community participation in future. It is already included as an acceptable option in the Constitution so will not require an amendment. D Denoon stated how much better it was when there had been an online meeting before and several others argued for hybrid meetings as this gave people choice. PM said that Cllr Petrie and others should be able to organise childcare etc. He did kindly offer to collect and transport disabled people to meetings. It was explained that the meetings would still be face to face but with the added advantage of being online. AB to organise and arrange for the laptop. First trial to be at Gartly 4th November.
Planning applications None.
Area reports.
Gartly. Traffic speed limit road signs not removed after use. A tailer has been left on verge at Tillyminate turn Cllr Goodhall to investigate – It has no number plate.
Clatt, nothing. Rhynie nothing. Kennethmont no funding available.
Marr area Log Bank. TS reported that there were approximately 100 10kg bags of logs ready for distribution to deserving, trusted in need causes. No questions asked. He asked that if anyone knew of a person or household that might benefit from a donation of some bags to please let him know.
A.O.B
Kennethmont. School speed lights. Cllr Goodhall to chase. Distillery foot path.
Gartly. Grass cutting still not undertaken by the council. Unlikely to happen now.
Clatt Premnay road unlikely to be upgraded due to lack of funds. Bridge parapet has been damaged but nothing done. Cllr G to look into these. Flooding at village hall still the same a drainage system needed, but unlikely to happen.
Rhynie. Football Pitch allotments . Meldrum CC happy to give us some advice as they have undertaken this type of scheme. Follow this up again in the spring.
Next meeting Gartly Tin Hut 4th November 7.30pm
Microgrant
£300 awarded to Clatt Village Hall for a new hall sign.
