Future development proposals for Kintore
The last web update on planning matters related to the Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan and contained the Community Council’s response, which was based upon comments received before, during and after the well attended Public Meeting at Kintore School on 1 July last year, when considerable discussion also took place relative the Local Development Plan and the Inverurie and Kintore Capacity Study. Mr Gray, Head of Aberdeenshire Council’s Planning, Policy and Environment Department also attended the meeting and to his credit, actively participated in the “Question and Answer” session at the end of the meeting.
KINTORE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL PROPOSAL APPRAISAL REPORT (1.4MB pdf)
The main and overwhelming messages from the public was that (a) there should be no more houses built in Kintore and certainly not until the town recovers from the debacle of the last housing boom, when the community facilities promised as part of the planning and development process simply failed to materialise and (b) there should be no intrusion of any form of development onto the slopes on Tuach Hill which face onto the town.
Subsequent to the July Meeting, when surveyor activity was seen on the slopes of Tuach Hill, the Community Council wrote to Mr Gray expressing concern and reminding him that any building there would be in direct conflict with community wishes. The letter date 21 November can also be viewed on this website.
The Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan is now in its final stages of consultation prior to being adopted and work is now underway to construct Local Development Plans for all areas in the North East of Scotland. Developers were invited to submit Proposals for new developments and over 600 were received by Aberdeenshire Council. 14 of those relate to Kintore and details of all are listed on the Council’s website. (go to www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/localplan/ldpproposals.asp)
The Community Council, whilst maintaining and supporting the community stance of NO MORE HOUSES for Kintore, took the view that failing to engage in the Planning process could, in the long term, disadvantage the community. It therefore set about compiling a response to these Developer Proposals. Vice Chairman Graham McDonald took on this task and has produced an excellent document. In addition to appraising each of the Developer Proposals, he also carefully considered and made recommendations relative to the possible provision and siting of various facilities within the town.
The Community Council agreed the content of the draft document and it was circulated to the Developers and Local Councillors, who were then invited to a meeting in Kintore School on the evening of 25 February. All the Developers accepted the invitation. Approximately 25 members of the public also attended, as did Mr Blaxter, from Aberdeenshire Council’s Planning Department. Considerable discussion took place and the views of the community were again made known to the Developers and Mr Blaxter.
As a result of the discussion at the meeting, minor amendments were made to Graham McDonald’s document and on 20 March, it was submitted to the Council’s Planning Department. It can now be viewed on this website.
As a general comment, I am of the view the community should be extremely grateful to Graham for his investment of time, knowledge and computer skills in the compilation of the document.
Kenny Thomson
Chairman KDCC”