Formartine Area Committee convened today for our latest meeting at the Kirk Centre in Ellon.

Our first discussion was on a Planning Application for an 800kW Wind Turbine near Blairfowl Farm, Fyvie.  After much discussion around the Planners’ report, we deferred the application determination for a site visit.

Our second item of business was an item to give views to the Buchan Area Committee on a Planning Application for a Mineral Extraction (Sand and Gravel) site at Muirtack, Ellon which was in front of us due to the proximity to the Formartine border north of Toll of Birness.  Like the wind turbine, we deferred our decision to allow for a site visit.

Next up was an item I’d heard discussed last week at the Garioch Area Committee meeting – an application for Full Planning Permission for Construction of an Electricity Substation and Switchgear Building without Compliance of Condition 1 (Landscaping) at Wood of Middleton, Rothienorman.
We were asked to give comments to Full Council – which we only supplied that we feel the process of such applications needed a review by the relevant Committee of the Council – to go through two area committees and Full Council seems a long drawn out process just to alter one planning condition.

Item five was discussion on the recent Planning Appeal to the Scottish Government for the Erection of Three Dwellinghouses at Fleeman Park, Udny Green – previously refused by Committee 11 votes to 1.
This appeal was allowed and planning permission granted.
“The Government Reporter’s report states that the completion of the (Fleeman Park) development as a whole is welcomed by local people in principle”.
“Given the change in levels between the two sides of the road (on The Green side) . . . . the appeal site is effectively screened from most views out of Udny Green, including views out of the conservation area, looking in a south-easterly direction from The Green”.
“None of the trees or other vegetation that I saw would be removed as part of the proposed development and any trees likely to be vulnerable to harm could be protected by condition during the course of development”.
“the appellant should make compensatory provision of a minimum of 650 square metres of open space . . . most of the P5 allocation is an open field”.
“I have found that the proposal would not conflict with the purposes for which the P5 allocation was made”.
“The proposal would represent an acceptable departure from local development plan Policy PR1”.
“Road safety and living conditions issues during development may be controlled by a construction traffic management plan and I have attached a condition requiring such a plan to be produced and implemented”.
Local members share the concerns of the Community around where the construction traffic may go through the summer, and hope that a robust Traffic Management Plan will be adhered to – preferably avoiding damage to the trees on The Green, and also – if at all possible – avoiding through the existing houses of Fleeman Park.

Next up was a planning appeal to the Local Review Body for Planning Permission in Principle for a dwellinghouse at Hospital Woods, Auchterless.  The Appeal was dismissed.

We then provided comments on the Council’s Literacy Strategy – particularly outcome management, how the strategy will be resourced and access for all (e.g special needs, looked after children).

Item eight was discussion around the Community Asset Transfer of the Turriff High Street Toilets to the Turriff & District Heritage Society – which we agreed, as part of the Common Good.

Finally before we moved into private session, we awarded two grants from the Formartine Area Fund:
Turriff & District Agricultural Association were awarded £1102.50 (75% of the project cost) for contribution towards the purchase of ‘no waiting’ cones for the Turriff Show.
Belhelvie Community Trust were awarded £2782 (70% of the Project Cost) for controbution towards the cost of installing an adequate and controllable heating system for the Sandy Bothy.

That leaves at the end of the year a residula balance of £199.87 which Committee agreed to reallocate to the Formartine Partnership for their on-going projects.