20 April 2016

Stonehaven property owners encouraged to carry out springtime 'health check'

With spring bringing the promise of brighter days and better weather, property owners in Stonehaven are being encouraged to carry out a quick ‘health check’ of homes and businesses and undertake any essential repairs.

The call is being made as the Stonehaven Town Centre Improvement Group marks a year of activity with the publication of a simple guide to help locals check if their properties require maintenance.

The group features representatives of Aberdeenshire Council, local councillors, Stonehaven and District Community Council, Stonehaven Town Partnership, voluntary group Horizon and Stonehaven Business Association.

Members have been active over the past year to identify and co-ordinate improvement works in the town and to encourage the community to regularly check for issues and address them before they become serious concerns.

Work has been ongoing over the past year to make some initial improvements to the town centre, including work along the harbour and the removal of graffiti.

The public toilet at the harbour has been refurbished, and benches in the area were repainted. Future plans include the installation of picnic benches along the harbour front.

A review of litter bins in the town was undertaken, and a number of bins are to be replaced, with a particular focus on key areas such as the beach front, harbour and Market Square.

This year, the improvement group has developed a simple checklist to encourage residents and business owners to check the condition of their properties, including roofs, stonework, guttering, windows and doors. The leaflet also provides advice on reducing the nuisance caused by sea gulls.

Kincardine and Mearns Area Manager Willie Munro speaking on behalf of the group said: “I’d like to thank property owners for working with us to tackle a number of issues identified by the group last year.

“It is a collective effort and responsibility to keep the town centre looking good for residents, businesses and visitors. Often carrying out repair work sooner can prevent increased costs and problems in the future.

“Keeping our town centre in good condition needn’t be a big undertaking. Where cost is an issue we can often co-ordinate works with neighbouring properties to share costs.

“We’re also providing advice on how to deter and discourage sea gulls, and we hope the community will join us as the group continues to identify improvements for the benefit of all who live in or visit Stonehaven.”

The guides are being distributed to properties throughout the town centre and are also available at the Aberdeenshire Council offices at Viewmount and Allardice Street.

More information on how to deal with sea gulls can be found at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/environment/environmental-protection/seagulls/