Month: June 2020
Kincardine and Mearns COVID-19 E-Bulletin Edition #12
This bulletin continues to focus on what is currently happening or in place locally as a result of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
Hot Topics this week are
Moving into Phase 2 of Transition out of Lockdown
Please see the “Guidance” section below for information on the detail of a further lifting of lockdown restrictions through a phased approach.
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Spaces for Funding Bid Successful!
Aberdeenshire Council’s bid for £310,000 to ensure people are able to safely access services in town centres while maintaining physical distancing has been successful. The temporary infrastructure projects will provide safe walking, wheeling and cycling as the lockdown is eased and immediate priority is to be given to the town centres including Stonehaven.
Want to know more about Mearns & Coastal Healthy Living Network Telephone Befriending Service, click on the link below to access the full bulletin.
https://mailchi.mp/66df5537c1d9/e-bulletin-4206918
Applications sought from Kincardine and Mearns for Coastal Communities Fund
Applications are being sought from coastal communities in the Kincardine and Mearns area for a share of monies from the Scottish Government’s Coastal Communities Fund.
As part of the devolution settlement following the Scottish Independence Referendum, revenue generated from the Crown Estate’s marine assets within inshore waters now accrues to the Scottish Government, which in turn, devolved a proportion of it to the 32 local authorities.
Revenue is generated from activity such as licensing for offshore wind farms, oil and gas pipelines and aquaculture leases.
Aberdeenshire Council’s allocation totals £328,314, with each of the authority’s four area committees with coastlines having £12,500 to directly support local projects and initiatives.
One of the key criteria for funding is that the site of the project or the community must lie within one mile of Aberdeenshire’s coastline.
Examples of settlements which could be eligible include Findon, Portlethen, Newtonhill, Muchalls, Stonehaven, Catterline, Kinneff, Inverbervie, Gourdon, Johnshaven and St Cyrus.
As sites are specifically included, however, applications will be considered for projects taking place at coastal locations outwith any particular settlement.
Applications are being invited from groups or organisations representing communities of interest as well as more general areas such as wildlife or the environment, arts or wellbeing.
The funds must be able to be spent and claimed by March 31, 2021 and there will be no opportunity to extend this deadline.
Kincardine and Mearns Area Manager Bruce Stewart explained: “In light of the new challenges we are all facing as a result of the coronavirus, this funding may enable the creation of new projects to help with such themes as community health and wellbeing, enhancement of our local environment or celebration of our historical links and ties with the sea.
“We anticipate that there will be future funds available, so if your project is not sufficiently advanced to be able to submit a claim for this financial year, then you may be able to apply in future years.”
Applications must be submitted by noon on Monday, August 10 to the council’s Area Project Officer, Diane Henderson, at diane.henderson@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
After the closing date, a report will be prepared for Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee when councillors will review the applications and allocate the funding to those projects most closely matching the criteria.
Key criteria:
Project must contribute to at least one of Aberdeenshire Council’s 11 priorities.
Projects must have a tangible link to the coast and/or the sea, for example:
• Projects that help people develop skills related to coastal or seafaring pursuits, activities or enterprises, for example sailing, fishing or boatbuilding
• Projects that celebrate the heritage of coastal and seagoing communities of place and interest, for example, a coastal or fishing village or township, historic boatbuilding or relevant clubs or organisations
• Projects that improve access to coastal areas, for example paths and viewpoints
• Projects that improve the coastal environment, for example applications to establish and support community groups looking after their coastline
• Projects that improve community-controlled infrastructure such as harbours, boathouses and buildings
• Town centre public realm improvements will not be eligible unless they can be demonstrated to improve access to the foreshore, beach or harbour
Kincardine and Mearns COVID-19 E-Bulletin Edition #11
This bulletin continues to focus on what is currently happening or in place locally as a result of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
Hot Topics!
Local Development Plan Consultation
Aberdeenshire Council launched an eight week online consultation on it’s Proposed Local Development Plan 2020 (LDP) on Monday, May 25. The LDP Team have created a virtual ‘drop-in’ portal that has links to settlement posters, short films, live chat and the Proposed Plan. Please see the link to get involved.
Public Health Scotland Survey on Shielding
The Scottish Government has asked Public Health Scotland to evaluate the shielding programme. This survey is part of that evaluation. It will help inform about people’s experiences of shielding in Scotland and next steps. The survey takes 15 minutes to complete and will be open until Sunday June 14th 2020.
Enjoy watching K and M Community Response to the COVID19 Crisis Film June 2020.
Kincardine & Mearns Mental Health & Wellbeing E Bulletin #2 June 2020
A chance to share what we know about mental health & wellbeing
in K & M.
Welcome to the second K & M Mental Health & Wellbeing E Bulletin. This month a closer look at the support for families and young people.
COVID-19 presents a rapidly changing situation where different pressures, including changes to children and young people’s social lives, daily routines, and access to education as well as challenges associated with families spending extended periods at home, will arise for children, young people and their families over time. In this bulletin we would like to share with you some of the advice and support out there for young people and families. To access the full bulletin, please click here.
Kincardine and Mearns COVID-19 E-Bulletin Edition #10
This bulletin continues to focus on what is currently happening or in place locally as a result of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
This week we feature an article from Quarriers in K & M highlighting the vital support they are providing to young carers. Also some information on Carers Week and updated advice and resources.
To access the full bulletin, click here: https://mailchi.mp/0f782e68c00c/e-bulletin-4199806
Residents praised for following guidance as Household Recycling Centres reopen
Aberdeenshire Council has praised all those residents who began visiting its reopened Household Recycling Centres on Monday.
More than 10,000 bookings have been made for the first 7 days of opening, which represents almost half of the 21,000 slots available in the first week across the region.
Westhill has proven to be the busiest in this initial phase with 1,322 slots booked (99%) with Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Laurencekirk seeing 60% booking of their available spaces.
Visitors have been heeding all traffic management advice on how to access the centres and have been disposing of their waste carefully in the new physically-distanced layouts.
Thanks to the introduction of the booking system, there were no queues reported at any of the centres which are initially operating from 9am to 6.30pm.
Council waste manager Ros Baxter said: “The partial re-opening of our HRCs has gone very smoothly and I would like to thank all of our staff who have made this possible.
“I would also like to thank all those residents who have booked online and clearly followed the instructions we have provided.
“The very positive feedback we have received on both our booking system and the way in which we have approached the disposal of general waste and garden waste has been very favourable and we appreciate everyone’s help and patience.
“We are aiming to remove the restrictions on materials and vehicle types as soon as the initial rush is over, however we expect the booking system to remain in place as long as physical distancing is required to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
You can make your booking at http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentrebookings
For those who do not have access to a computer, telephone booking can be made by calling Aberdeenshire Council’s Wasteline on 03456 081207.
Peterhead Household Recycling Centre is now available for slots to be booked for next Monday and Tuesday initially, however other slots will be released on a daily basis.
Vehicles permitted entry to the centre initially include cars, pick-ups and car-derived vans. There will be no access for trailers or vans at this stage, however these will hopefully be accommodated in the second phase in due course.
In this initial phase, only bagged general waste, garden waste and electrical items will be accepted. No other materials – i.e. cardboard, glass, wood, metals, textiles, rubble and bulky items – will be accepted at this stage.
For more information on the Household Recycling Centres which are open and their operating times, visit https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsID=579
Grampian Coronavirus (Covid-19) Assistance Hub
From Monday (1 June) the hours of the Grampian Assistance Hub phone line will change. It will move to 8am-6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-2pm at the weekends.
Please use the number if you need to reach out for help, or if you have support which you can safely offer in your community. You can also use the website at any time https://gcah.org.uk/
K&M Communities 