Stonehaven
Online booking system for Aberdeenshire Council Household Recycling Centres goes live
An online booking system enabling Aberdeenshire residents to start making trips to Household Recycling Centres is now live.
Residents of Aberdeenshire will be asked to book a slot online to control the volume of vehicles accessing the centres when they reopen from Monday, June 1.
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.
The slots will initially be released for the first week 1st to 7th June, and slots for the following days will be released daily seven days in advance, so customers should keep on checking back if they don’t manage to get a slot initially.
Having listened carefully to comments from the public, residents who own car-derived vans will also now be able to visit an HRC along with cars and pick-ups.
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.
General waste – i.e. waste that would normally go in your black bin – will only be accepted if it is bagged, with no loose items being accepted.
All garden waste must arrive bagged or in a suitable container before these are emptied in the appropriate skip, again no loose items are being accepted.
No other materials – i.e. cardboard, glass, wood, metals, textiles, rubble and bulky items – will be accepted at this stage.
There will be clearly-marked areas to deposit white goods and electrical items.
Only one adult should unload a vehicle – unless two adults are needed for heavy items – and staff will be unable to assist with any unloading.
There will be no pedestrian access and no children will be permitted outside vehicles.
The decision to re-open some of the facilities has been taken in accordance with Government guidelines and is based on measures being put in place to protect both visitors and staff and the agreement of traffic management plans.
The Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) opening from Monday, June 1 are those at Macduff, Fraserburgh, Ellon, Inverurie, Huntly, Turriff, Westhill, Banchory, Laurencekirk, Portlethen and Redcloak at Stonehaven.
Peterhead will reopen on June 8 following the completion of essential repairs.
These facilities will operate seven days a week as usual and have extended opening hours from 9am to 6.30pm.
Portlethen will retain its usual 5-day operation with the same extended hours as elsewhere and while opening from Monday, June 1 will close for two days before re-opening on Thursday, June 4 so as not to delay the reopening.
They will have clearly-defined unloading bays to ensure strict physical distancing is maintained at all times.
Council Waste Services manager Ros Baxter added: “The reason for introducing this system is to control the number of visitors to a manageable number each day to ensure social distancing on the sites is observed and the volume of traffic off-site does not cause traffic problems on the local access roads.
“It is important to stress that this is about a phased return to full services, with this initial phase focusing on allowing as many people as possible to get rid of their excess waste under a managed approach. All of our current restrictions will be kept under constant daily review and consideration will be given as to how quickly we can move to phase 2 and lift some of the conditions.”
Jewel In The Crown
In 1930s Britain, lidos and open air pools were incredibly popular. Following a poll of Stonehaven householders in 1933, the Pool was built the following year at a cost of £9,529 and opened on 4th June 1934. Stonehaven Pool was built to competition standards, which at that time were for races of 110 yards and multiples of that, so Stonehaven Pool was, and is, 55 yards long – just a touch over 50m and 20 yards – just over 18m – wide. It was emptied and refilled every few days – at that time, filling took only 2¾ hours. Even considering operating costs and loan charges, the first season brought a large profit. Customer feedback was not all positive and so, for season 1935, not only was the sea water circulated, filtered and disinfected, it was also heated!
During the Second World War, the Pool provided recreation – and showers – for locally-based troops. Following the war, it quickly retained its former glory, and became a major attraction for visitors from a wide area including Aberdeen. Despite changing holiday habits in the 1960s and 70s, and the Pool requiring considerable work, attendances were still healthy, with 65,000 passing through the turnstiles in 1975, although that was a season of many lost days due to technical problems.
For a few seasons, the Pool was actually filled with fresh water because of problems with the sea inlet; however seawater – one of the Pool’s main attractions – was in use again for 1982, and has been used ever since. The 1980s and 90s saw a decline in numbers, seasons were cut to 8 weeks, and by the mid-1990s the Pool was threatened with closure. This prompted the founding of a community group, The Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool, initially to lobby for its retention. The Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool is now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and works in close partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. While the Council operates the Pool to the highest standards, the Friends maintain, enhance and promote the Pool.
Today the Pool is the focal point of Stonehaven’s summer and is an asset not only for the town and Aberdeenshire but also for Scotland. Only one other open air pool of the era still operates in Scotland, largely serving a local population, while the Stonehaven Pool is acknowledged as a 4-star Visitor Attraction and brings visitors from far and wide.
http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/history.html
SAMH HearMe World Cafe
SAMH HearMe World Café .Would you like to be involved in shaping the future of mental health services? We would like to bring together people with lived experience to express their views on how mental health services should evolve throughout South Aberdeenshire. We also want to hear from those who currently work in mental health services. Join us at our next HearMe World Café Conversation and help to influence positive change. The event is on Tuesday 22nd August 2017 from 11am-2pm in the Blue Room, Stonehaven Community Centre. Please note the change from the earlier date of 26 July. Attendance is free and a light lunch will be provided. Email enquiries@mylifedynamic.org.uk to book your place.
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Community Collection Point Volunteers
About Opportunity 
We are looking for volunteers (age 18+) to help run local collection points for a couple of hours a week to promote and market NESCU, provide information about the services and benefits of Credit Unions/NESCU. A great opportunity to help in the local community, make a positive difference and any help you give will be greatly appreciated. Application form and references will be required. For more details please contact:
Andy Farquhar, Volunteer Coordinator. e-mail: Andy@nescu.co.uk / tel: 01224 899688
About NESCU: North East Scotland Credit Union
NESCU is a financial co-operative. We’re owned and controlled by our local members, as a ‘not-for-profit’ social enterprise. NESCU offer their members an easy and convenient place to save and access to low cost loans. We offer valuable services to everyone, from business people, families, employed and unemployed to young people and those who have retired. Read the rest of this entry »
North East Scotland Credit Union (NESCU) in Stonehaven.
NESCU will be opening a collection point in The Housing office on Allardice Street, Stonehaven on a Tuesday from 3pm – 4pm. NESCU urgently need volunteers with financial and cash handling skills, providing a great opportunity to help in the local community and make a positive difference. For more details please contact Andy Farquhar, Volunteer Coordinator by e-mail Andy@nescu.co.uk, or telephone 01224 899688.
K&M Communities 