Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Braeside and Mannofield Community Council wish everyone, seasons greetings and a healthy, safe and prosperous 2018.

Minutes of Meeting - 28 November 2017

The minutes of the Community Council meeting of Tuesday 28 November 2017 can be viewed by clicking here or by accessing through the Document Archive on the right.

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Church at 7pm on Tuesday 16 January 2018.

All Welcome 

We can still be contacted with queries or comment by sending an email to the Secretary - bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com

Unsolicited Callers

Legitimate doorstep selling involves someone selling you goods or services in your home or on your doorstep. Many honest businesses use this technique - but so do fraudsters.

Buying on your doorstep can be convenient. But a salesman using clever tactics can pressurise you into buying something you don’t want or something that is poor value for money.

Door-to-door frauds can take many forms, such as:
Pressure selling
Unfair contracts
Overpriced or substandard home maintenance or improvements
Phoney consumer surveys
Bogus charity collections.

How do these types of fraud affect me?

Having purchased, or agreed to purchase, goods or services from a legitimate salesperson, your chances of receiving a refund may be limited if you fail to cancel the contract inside any cooling off period. Once the cooling off period has expired, you will have to pay for the goods or services you bought - whether you want them or not.

Having purchased goods or services, you may find the same salesperson or other salespeople call or visit you again and again. That’s because you will be marked as an easy target for future sales if your name ends up on a list of willing buyers.

Bogus salespeople will provide false identity or contact information, making it impossible for you to identify or contact them. If you have paid them in advance, you will not get any money back.

When filling in forms or speaking to the salesperson, you risk revealing confidential details that a fraudster could use to assume your identity or take control of your finances. This may allow a fraudster to steal money from your account or order goods and services in your name.

Even if your bank or insurance policy covers any loss, you will still have to contend with a damaged credit rating, continued correspondence over a prolonged period to repair the damage, and the emotional distress and anxiety identity theft can cause.

Apart from suffering direct financial losses, you might have opened your door to a housebreaker or someone who wants to get inside your property to enable other people to break in. Once they get through your door, fraudulent salespeople will take note of your valuables and any security measures you have in place.

What should I do?

When dealing with any door-to-door salesperson, always remember to:

Check the seller’s identity
Take control by asking the questions
Don’t sign on the spot, shop around
If in any doubt, ask the person to leave or call your local Trading Standards Authority.

If you’re suspicious, why not ask the salesman if you can take their photograph - on your mobile phone, for example? If the person is legitimate, they probably won’t mind.

If you decide to buy:

Don’t be rushed into a sale
Always get any agreement you make in writing
Usually, you have a seven-day cooling off period. So if you decide to cancel the contract, act fast
Think very carefully about having any work done or goods delivered during the cooling off period. You may have to pay even if you change your mind.

You can report the salesperson to your local Trading Standards Authority if you believe they have sold you faulty, inferior or overpriced products or services.

Similarly, you can seek advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau on terms and conditions of any agreement or contract you may have signed.

If you have made the payment by credit/debit card or by cheque, contact your credit card company and/or bank and advise them that you are a victim of improper door-to-door sales techniques and your identity or financial details may have been compromised. They will advise you on cancelling payments and ensuring your finances remain secure.

(advice courtesy of Cheshire Constabulary)

Festive Advice

 As we move into the festive season, when there is traditionally a higher level of socialising and office parties, North East Division of Police Scotland have already noted a rise in the number of reports of lost and stolen property in public places. 

They have circulated the following safety advice if you are out celebrating over the festive period

·         Plan your Christmas night out and stick with your friends. Look after each other. Make sure your mobile is fully charged when you go out and remember to take it with you

·         Think about how you'll get home. Pre-book a taxi from a licensed company or arrange for a friend or family member to pick you up. Don't take a lift from strangers

·         Drink responsibly and don't leave drinks unattended. If you do, leave them altogether. Don't do drugs as there's no safe way to do drugs, even 'legal highs'  - legal doesn't mean safe

·         Avoid confrontations; just walk away.Be aware that 'one punch can ruin two lives'. We want you to get home safely

·         Stick to busy well-lit streets. If using the bus, use busy bus stops and sit near to the driver if you feel concerned. Keep your wlaking distnce as short as possible

·         Shop safe - be alert at ATMs and only withdraw the amount of money you need. Hide your PIN number when you enter it into the ATM and put your money straight into your pocket or bag. Check it later when you're indoors

·         When in pubs, restaurants and bars, look after your bags, mobile phones, wallets, purses and jackets and don't leave them unattended, even for a few moments. Keep pockets and bags fastened.

Police Report - November 2017

Sergeant David Cowie says, "The drugs offence in the area was related to a potential driving offence. The incidences of Anti-social behaviour involved youths causing annoyance at 4 different locations on 4 separate nights and the vandalism reported having been damage to a car."

The local policing team are based at Whinhill and request that if any suspicious activity is seen they are contacted, either as an emergency on 999 or on the Police Scotland Service Centre at 101.

Follow the Local Policing Team on Twitter @NorthEPolice   #HazleheadCPT

Also available are the three following contact email addresses for the Hazlehead Policing team:

HazleheadAshleyQueensCrossCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

LowerDeesideCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

KingswellSheddocksleyCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

Sue Ryder - Befriending in the Community

The Sue Ryder organisation is appealing for volunteers to offer companionship in the Community. They have issued this appeal:-

"Can you offer companionship? Want to get involved in our local community? Have 2 or 3 hours to spare every week or fortnight?

Becoming a Sue Ryder volunteer is a great way to gain skills and meet new people. It can also be a very meaningful way of giving something back. We’re looking for volunteers to become Befrienders to people living near you.

Our Self Management Service supports people aged 18+ with conditions such as M.S., Parkinson’s and strokes. It may involve chatting over a cup of tea, walking to the park, going shopping, etc. This time is greatly appreciated by the people we support and their families.

As one of our Befrienders describes: “We always laugh and share joy. Her sensitivity, emotions and life experiences make it a pleasure to be by her side”.

For more information call Julie Scoullar on 01224 896339.

http://www.sueryder.org/care-centres/neurological-centres/dee-view-court/care-services/5r-programme "

Nearly New Sale - 2 December 2017

A nearly new sale including goods such as quality fashion, shoes, handbags and accessories is to be held at the St Francis Hall, 231 Deeside Gdns, AB15 7PR.

The sale will held between 11.30am to 4.00pm on Saturday 2nd December 2017.

Entry is free and all proceeds go to charity

Road Closure - Countesswells Road

Aberdeen City Council have made an order under its Road Traffic Powers to close Countesswells Road between its junctions with Countesswells Avenue and Craigton Road.  The road will be closed between 9am on the 20th November and 10pm on the 30th.

Temporary traffic signals will be in use to the west of the junction with Craigton Road between the 20th and 24th of November, 2017. The measure is necessary to protect public safety during carriageway resurfacing works. 
An alternative route is available via Craigton Road and Springfield Road and is signposted. 

Ice Gripper overshoes

During the summer, the Community Council identified a community need related to the colder months of the year. 

We recognised that the mobility of some of our residents is restricted or curtailed because of frost/snow and the fear of falling.  Accordingly, this year, we purchased a number of ice gripper shoe covers that can be placed over shoes in times of frost to reduce the risk of slipping and falling.

The ice grippers come in two sizes – Medium (shoe sizes 3-6) and Large (shoe sizes 7-11)

All of the grippers have been distributed to local community outlets such as Airyhall library, Airyhall Community Centre, St Francis and Mannofield Churches and to the local care homes, for issuing on a priority need, first come first served basis.  The Community Council do not hold a stock of grippers and, unfortunately numbers are limited so once the supply has been exhausted, there are no more.

Fingers crossed that winter will be kind to us and the need for the overshoe grippers will be minimal.

Quiz Night - 30 November

The Royal Voluntary Service is holding a quiz night.

The quiz night is a fundraiser in support of Older Adults across Aberdeen. 

The Quiz Night takes place on Thursday 30^th November at 7pm, in the Ashvale Restaurant on Great Western Road. Tickets are priced at £15 per person which includes your Ashvale Supper.

There will also be a raffle on the night, including prizes:

★  Table for 4 at Beach Ballroom’s ‘Thank you for the Music’ event

★  Beauty and the Beast Pantomime tickets

★  Voucher for Foodstory café

★  A months membership at Aberdeen Sports Village

And many more great prizes!

The Royal Voluntary Service work to reduce and prevent loneliness and social isolation in Older Adults. They achieve this with the support of dedicated volunteers, who provide practical, social and emotional support to people in hospital and living in the community.

Why not go a long have a great night and support a very worthy cause.

Community Council Meeting - 28 November

The next meeting of the Community Council will be on Tuesday 28 November 2017.

The meeting begins at 7pm prompt and will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Parish Church, Great Western Road. Access to the Church will be by the Countesswells Road entrance.

The Agenda for the meeting can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here

ALL WELCOME

Netflix Scam - Police Warning

Police Scotland have issued an alert about a "phishing scam" that is doing the rounds.  Details are as follows:

"There is currently a huge phishing scam ongoing targeting Netflix account holders.  Like a lot of phishing scams these emails are creating a sense of ‘account urgency’ and threatening to suspend accounts users.  The email header reads “Your Suspension Notification” 

The look and feel of the email has a Netflix feel and design to it and threatens to suspend the account in 48hrs, the tone and diction are similar to a legitimate credit card account errors.

If clicked on the link you are taken to legitimate looking landing page site replete with adverts for popular box sets and films where users are requested to input account and billing details.

The advice, as with all phishing emails, is to delete immediately, do not click on any part of the email.  If you wish to check an account mentioned in the email, go directly to the site and log in, do not follow links.  If the account allows, activate 2-factor authentication which won’t allow a criminal access even with the username and password."

Police Report - October 2017

Sergeant David Cowie says, 

"The four anti-social behaviour call related to youths throwing stones, eggs, and fireworks. Pleasingly, there were no drug issues recorded this month.  there were two reported incidents of vandalism this month with one of the enquiries leading to a man and woman being charged.  In the other incident the enquiry continues.Our team is committed to keeping the community safe, preventing and detecting crime. If any suspicious activity is seen, please report this to us, either as an emergency on 999 or to the Service Centre on 101. Quick and effective reporting allows our team to react accordingly and maximise the opportunity to apprehend offenders."

The local policing team are based at Whinhill and request that if any suspicious activity is seen they are contacted, either as an emergency on 999 or on the Police Scotland Service Centre at 101.
Follow the Local Policing Team on Twitter @NorthEPolice   #WestEndCPT
Also available are the three following contact email addresses for the West End:AiryhallBroomhillGarthdeeCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.ukHazleheadAshleyQueensCrossCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.ukTorryFerryhillCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Minutes of Meeting - 24 October 2017

The minutes of the Community Council meeting of Tuesday 24 October 2017 can be viewed by clicking here or by accessing through the Document Archive on the right.

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Church at 7pm on Tuesday 28 November 2017.  

All Welcome 

We can still be contacted with queries or comment by sending an email to the Secretary - bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com

Road Closure - Blacktop to Kingswells

Once again we have been notified of road closures on the Blacktop to Kingswells Road to allow work in connection with the new Countesswells development.

From 07:00 on 11 November, 2017, until 19:00 on 12 November, 2017, and 
From 07:00 on 18 November, 2017, until 19:00 on 19 November, 2017

there will be a prohibition of driving on the C128C Cults - Kingshill, road between its junctions with the C127C Blacktop Road, and the A944 Skene Road. 

The suggested alternative route is via Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Queen’s Road, and Skene Road.

Access to residences will be maintained with residents south of the closure required to access there dwellings via Blacktop Road.

The contractors have advised Cathodic Protection Works will take place at the two blue points on the map :

• The first set of works will at the point in the road next to Kingshill Cottage.
• Followed by the second set of works at the point in the road next to Newton of Countesswells and The Steading at Newton of Countesswells.

If, like us, you wondered what Cathodic Protection was - here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

"Cathodic protection (CP) is a technique used to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell. A simple method of protection connects the metal to be protected to a more easily corroded "sacrificial metal" to act as the anode. The sacrificial metal then corrodes instead of the protected metal. For structures such as long pipelines, where passive galvanic cathodic protection is not adequate, an external DC electrical power source is used to provide sufficient current."

So now we know!

Community Council Meeting - 24 October 2017

The Community Council next meets on Tuesday 24 October 2017.  

As usual, the meeting begins at 7pm prompt and will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Parish Church, Great Western Road.  Access to the Church will be by the Countesswells Road entrance.

The dates for meetings into the new year have now been set as 

16 January       27 February        
27 March         24 April

22 May            26 June

The Agenda for the October meeting can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here

ALL WELCOME

Road Works - Morningside Gardens

One side of Morningside Gradens between house numbers 29 and 31 will be closed from 8am till 5pm on Wednesday 18 October.  In addition there will be no parking on the same stretch of road between theses dates.  The closure is to allow British Telecom access for urgent work.  

The road is NOT closed but care should be taken.

Minutes of Meeting - 26 September 2017

The minute of the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council meeting that was held on on Tuesday 26 September 2017 can now be found by clicking here or by accessing through the Document Archive on the right.
The next meeting of the Community Council will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Church at 7pm on Tuesday 24 October.  

All Welcome 

We can still be contacted with queries or comment by sending an email to the Secretary - bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com

Police Report - September 2017

Sergeant David Cowie says, 
"Officers will continue to be encouraged to utilise the Muniquip device to monitor speeds of vehicles at identified locations.  Please be aware of the manner of your driving in the area and give consideration to whether you are near a school."

The local policing team are based at Whinhill and request that if any suspicious activity is seen they are contacted, either as an emergency on 999 or on the Police Scotland Service Centre at 101.

Follow the Local Policing Team on Twitter @NorthEPolice   #WestEndCPT

Also available are the three following contact email addresses for the West End:
AiryhallBroomhillGarthdeeCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

HazleheadAshleyQueensCrossCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

TorryFerryhillCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Road Closure - Springfield Road (inset road) outside Nos 1-15

Aberdeen City Council have advised that from 5.30am on the 23rd October until 10pm on the 10th November, The inset road outside numbers 1 - 15 Springfield Road will be closed to traffic.  Please note that this is the slip road only and Springfield Road itself will be open as normal.

In addition, there will also be a prohibition of waiting on the same stretch of road from 8am - 5pm Mon-Fri over that period.  

Illegally parked vehicles will be removed at the owner’s expense. 

Access to properties will be maintained, but no through traffic will be possible. 

The measures are necessary to protect public safety during carriageway resurfacing works. 

An alternative route is available via Springfield Road, Braeside Terrace, and Northcote Road. 

Police Scotland - Neighbourhood Alert

Police Scotland's North East Division is introducing an exciting new innovation called Neighbourhood Alert.

Neighbourhood Alert lets Police Scotland send e-mail messages relating to local crime trends and
containing crime prevention advice quickly and effectively to a wide audience, but which can be targeted to particular streets or communities if required.

Any individual can sign-up to receive these e-mail messages, either for themselves or their community group, and the sign-up process allows the recipient to specify the type of information that they are interested in and from what source.

Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, who coordinate this resource, work with a range of partners in the public sector to provide information not only on crime but also on matters of community safety and
resilience.

The messages are intended to inform the public and to keep them abreast of information which will assist them in keeping themselves, their families and their properties safe.

Police Scotland ask that you take the opportunity to sign-up for Neighbourhood Alert e-mail messages and that you encourage your family, friends and neighbours to do the same. Whilst the number of subscribers is constantly growing, the more people who sign-up to receive these alerts, the more effective these messages will become.

There is no requirement to join or set up a Neighbourhood Watch, simply follow the link below to the registration instructions. By signing up you control your personal information, contact details and also decide what information providers from whom want to receive Alerts.

Sign up by visiting the following website:

https://member-registration.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/91/Join

Road Closure - Deeside Gardens

Due to road resurfacing work in Deeside Gardens, there will be a temporary prohibition of driving along the whole street between 05:30 on 9 October, 2017 and 22:00 on 13 October, 2017.


In addition there will be a prohibition of waiting on the same stretch of road from 08:00-17:00 daily between these dates. 
Illegally parked vehicles will be removed at the owner’s expense. 
Access to properties will be maintained where possible.

Community Council Meeting - 26 September 2017

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Tuesday 26 September 2017.  

The meeting begins at 7pm prompt and will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Parish Church, Great Western Road.  Access to the Church will be by the Countesswells Road entrance.

The Agenda can be viewed by clicking here.

ALL WELCOME

Police Report - August 2017

Sergeant David Cowie says, 
"Although there were no Thefts by Housebreaking this month, people are again asked to make sure doors are locked and keys stored securely.  There were twelve calls to anti-social behaviour in the area. These refer to youth annoyance.

Over this reporting period Police have reported individuals for a number of crimes / offences
including Road Traffic offences, Assault, Vandalism, Theft, Drugs, Anti-Social Behaviour and
Domestic incidents."

The local policing team are based at Whinhill and request that if any suspicious activity is seen they are contacted, either as an emergency on 999 or on the Police Scotland Service Centre at 101.

Follow the Local Policing Team on Twitter @NorthEPolice   #WestEndCPT

Also available are the three following contact email addresses for the West End:
AiryhallBroomhillGarthdeeCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

HazleheadAshleyQueensCrossCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

TorryFerryhillCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Road Closure - Countesswells Road

Aberdeen City Council have advised of the closure of, and prohibition of parking on, Countesswells Road between its junctions with Airyhall Avenue and the access road to Airyhall Library. 

The road will close at 5.30am on 25 September and will re-open at 10pm on 30 September.  Access to properties within this section of Countesswells Road will be maintained but there will be no through traffic.

The parking prohibition will be in force between 8am and 5pm daily throughout his period.

An alternative route is available via Springfield Road, Craigton Road, and Airyhall Avenue. 

Minutes of Meeting - 22 August 2017

The minute of the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council meeting on Tuesday 22 August 2017 can now be found by clicking here or by accessing through the Document Archive on the right.


The next meeting of the Community Council will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Church at 7pm on Tuesday 26 September.  All Welcome 

We can still be contacted with queries or comment by sending and email to the Secretary - bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com

Road Closed

Aberdeen City Council has advised that, from 5.30am on 14 August, 2017, until 4.00pm on 21 August, Northcote Avenue, Aberdeen, between its junction with Craigton Road and the cul-de-sac entrance at number 57 Northcote Avenue will be closed to traffic.

Access to properties will be maintained, but no through traffic will be possible. 

There will also be a prohibition of waiting on Northcote Avenue, Aberdeen, between its junction with Craigton Road and the cul-de-sac entrance at number 57 Northcote Avenue, between 8am and 5pm daily. 

The measures are necessary to protect public safety during resurfacing works. 


An alternative route is available via Craigton Road, Springfield Road, North Deeside Road, and Northcote Road. 

Bike Security

FREE Bike Security Marking with VELOEYE

Between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 26th August 2017 Veloeye and Police Scotland will be offering a free bicycle security marking service at Halfords, Balnagask Road, Torry, Aberdeen between 10am-4pm

Why not go along with your bikes and get them security marked for free.

VELOEYE is a simple and inexpensive high visibility tracking system for bike owners.

1. Apply one of the Veloeye tamper-proof stickers
2. Download their free app
3. Scan the sticker on your bike by waving your smartphone camera over the code
4. The sticker and bike are registered with the Veloeye central system
5. That's it!

For more information on VELOEYE visit http://www.veloeye.com/

Community Council Meeting - 22 August 2017

The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Tuesday 22 August 2017.  

The meeting begins at 7pm prompt and will be held in the Gordon Room at Mannofield Parish Church, Great Western Road.  Access to the Church will be by the Countesswells Road entrance.

The Agenda can be viewed by clicking here.

ALL WELCOME

Great Aberdeen Run

The Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run will take place in Aberdeen on Sunday 27th August.

This brand new running event includes a half-marathon, 10k and a family mile ensuring there is something for all ages and abilities.

Starting and finishing on Union Street, thousands of runners are expected to walk, jog, or run past Aberdeen's famous landmarks while spectators line the streets to cheer them on.

The 10k run will take runners from Market Street,east, past Aberdeen Town House and towards the famous Castle Gate before turning right down Marischal Street towards Aberdeen Harbour. At the 3k point near the Beach Ballroom, runners will then head west and will join the half marathon route later as the course loops round Pittodrie Football Stadium. The second-half of the course, runners will follow Park Road and cross West North Street before finishing back on Union Street.

Also starting and finishing on Union Street the half marathon course follows the same 10k route for the first few miles before branching north at the Beach Ballroom along the Esplanade towards the River Don.

Having crossed the Bridge of Don, runners will follow a short out-and-back section on Ellon Road, before crossing the Brig o Balgownie and head towards Old Aberdeen.

After a loop of Pittodrie Stadium runners will then pass by Marischal College and the new Marischal Square development at the top of Littlejohn Street before the Kirk of St Nicholas, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Robert Gordons College and Rosemount Viaduct.

They turn back onto Albyn Place and Union Street to the finish line.

The event is expected to bring approximately 20,000 people into the city on the day. Current registration figures show 20% are attending from out-with Aberdeen (1,560 runners/3,600 people in total), and 6% are attending from out-with Scotland (500 runners / 1,150 people in total).

To keep up to date with all the information about the Great Aberdeen Run, please visit the Aberdeen City Council website: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/great-aberdeen-run/  or the Great Aberdeen Run website: http://www.greatrun.org/great-aberdeen-run

Highland Military Tattoo

The Highland Military Tattoo will be held at Fort George, Inverness, from 8 – 10 September, over 3 nights and with a Saturday matinee.

There are discounts for group bookings (10% off for parties of 10 – 19 persons and 15% discount for parties of 20 or more). 

Shuttle buses will be run, making getting there a little bit easier.  It is hoped that some local hotels will offer accommodation deals  for those who would like to stay over.

For more information visit the Tattoo facebook page or their website at www.highlandmilitarytattoo.com

Bus Disruption

The Community Council was disappointed that First Bus failed to make residents aware of the diversion of the 15 bus service  due to the closure of Airyhall Avenue between Monday 31 July and Friday 4 August.

On the 31st a number of residents were left standing at bus stops in Craigton and Springfield Roads unaware that the bus would not be calling there.  A call to one of our local councillors, Ian Yuill, saw first bus eventually place notices on the affected bus stops advising their customers that the stop was out of service and where the nearest bus stop was.

Once it has called at the Pinefield terminus, the bus continues back onto Seafield Road via Countesswells Road.  The affected bus stops are: both the stops in Airyhall Avenue, the stop in Craigton Road and the two stops in Springfield Road.

The Community Council would like to thank Councillor Ian Yuill for his assistance.