22 March 2019

Infrastructure Services Committee round up March 14, 2019

The committee began with a presentation from Network Rail on the A2I project, which will see the railway line between Aberdeen and Inverness upgraded to improve connectivity.

Included is the redoubling of track between Aberdeen and Inverness and the creation of new stations at Kintore and Inverness Airport.

Communications Manager Stacey Macdonald spoke to councillors, outlining the scale of the project and some of the works which will be happening in future in terms of signalling and infrastructure.

Some of this work will see a complete closure of the line this summer, with replacement bus services operating while Network Rail teams work around the clock, she said.

Kintore Station is expected to open in May 2020, she told the committee, and a number of new services will be introduced along the line following the upgrades.

More information on the A2I project is available online at: www.networkrail.co.uk/A2I

Planning – formal objection submitted to Glen Dye windfarm proposal

The committee discussed a response to a Scottish Government consultation on a planning application from Coriolis Energy for a windfarm at Glendye.

Coriolis is seeking permission to install up to 26 wind turbines of up to 149.9m to tip height and associated Infrastructure on a site to the North of Inch of Arnhall, Edzell Woods.

Councillors discussed the proposal, which is judged by planners not to comply with local Development Plans.

Head of Planning Robert Gray told the committee the proposed location of the windfarm is on a site previously judged to be “the one place wind turbines should not be placed in”, affecting the Clachnaben and Forest of Birse Special Landscape Area – one of the highest designations of landscape protection in Aberdeenshire outside the Cairngorms National Park.

The committee heard the turbines would be visible from eight local Viewpoints.

ISC chair Peter Argyle described the application as “a massive breach of our planning policies” and said he hoped Scottish Ministers would take this into account when determining the application.

Highlighting the lack of capacity for such a development in the area, he added: “It would make it a landscape of turbines, rather than a landscape with turbines.”

The committee supported the planning service recommendation to object to the application “in the strongest possible terms” – representation will now be made to the Scottish Government, as the determining authority.

Kincardine and Mearns and Marr Area Committees were asked for views on the proposal prior to consideration by ISC, with members of both committees supporting objection to the development.

Aberdeenshire Design Award Scheme 2020

The Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards will continue to highlight the best of the area’s design and promote excellence and innovation in 2020.

ISC agreed to carry on with the biennial event, intended to stimulate greater awareness of good design and its benefits.

The 11th awards took place last year, presented by Deputy Provost of Aberdeenshire Ron McKail.

Categories included prizes for innovative solutions to housing need, future-proof living, building communities for the future and conservation and building adaption.

There were 57 submissions across six categories, including one for students. The categories will remain largely the same in 2020 – the inclusion of a regeneration element is being considered.

They have run since 1997 and are considered a cost-effective means of benchmarking the quality of recent development, the effectiveness of policies and the development management process.

Councillors have however asked that the possibility of sponsorship for the awards is investigated.

As well as the chair and vice chair of ISC, other judges on the panel have included representatives from the Aberdeen Society of Architects, Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture.

More information about how to take part in the awards will be released in due course, with a ceremony due to take place in October 2020 at Banchory’s The Barn arts centre.

See more about the Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards online at: http://bit.ly/AALDA1920

Water Scarcity and Private Water Supplies

ISC agreed to seek assurances from the Scottish Government on the issue of water scarcity, which seriously affected the area last year.

The region has the highest proportion of private water supplies in the country, a large number of which were adversely affected by a prolonged period of dry weather.

Now the council is appealing to the Scottish Government, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator and Scottish Water to work with it to reduce the impact of dry weather on water supplies in future years.

Aberdeenshire has around 7,500 private water supplies serving more than 11,000 properties, around 13% of the resident population – far more than any other local authority area.

While more than 6,000 of those are at single properties, others serve groups of properties and business premises, including holiday lets, hotels and food businesses.

Last year the council directly assisted around 350 properties whose supplies ran dry, delivering and topping up water bowsers and supplying bottled water to affected residents.

Farms and other agriculture businesses were also affected, with groundwater levels reaching record lows and remaining below those normally expected at this time of year.

The committee agreed to write to Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham.

Councillors want to emphasise that this is not expected to be a one-off problem – climate change forecasts suggests Aberdeenshire will continue to experience drier weather, more frequently.

Weather forecast predictions for the next three months for the UK are normal to below normal rainfall. If there is no significant rainfall in coming months Aberdeenshire will likely face similar issues again.

ISC chair, Peter Argyle, will write to the Minister seeking assurances, including that the matter be given due consideration and that steps will be taken to address the Council’s concerns.

These include the need to improve advice and guidance to the public about water usage, maintenance of their supplies and improving the infrastructure.

The committee also wants to raise the prospect of the mains network being extended into rural areas, as well as making it easier for property owners to access the public supply.

Historic Asset Management Project (HAMP) annual update

The committee was presented with an annual update on the Historic Asset Management Project (HAMP).

HAMP manages the repair and maintenance of over 500 historic assets in Aberdeenshire Council’s ownership, from Pictish stones and war memorials to historic kirks and graveyards.

Run by the Environment Team within the Planning and Building Standards Service, it undertakes a continuous cycle of work to protect, maintain and safeguard historic assets.

It has a budget of £200,000 a year, and in the current financial year the following projects will be delivered, as well as a number of smaller repair projects:

• Repairs to the George Meldrum Enclosure, Marnoch
• Repairs to Kennethmont Old Churchyard
• Emergency repairs to Strichen Parish Church
• Emergency repairs to the Vinery, Banff
• Ivy removal and stone repairs at Inverbervie Old Church
• Repairs to gable and bellcote at St Carol’s Church, Ruthven
• Survey work at Old Inverbervie Bridge
• Financial contribution to the Tullich Church Project for repairs

After commenting on the update, councillors agreed to continue to support the approach being taken.

An annual update will be given to ISC and Local Area Committees and councillors asked that more budget information for the project be highlighted in future reports.

You can see this year’s annual update on the Historic Asset Management Project in the report to committee.