Changes to the No 15 Bus route - Safety concerns.

First Aberdeen are introducing changes to the No15 bus service.  From 3rd July the route will run between the Countesswells Development at Blacktop and Balnagask.... no longer running to the Beach or including the section that previously visited the Craigiebuckler terminal.

The Community Council was asked for comment on the route back in April and voiced serious concerns about the safety and appropriateness of a service bus travelling between Countesswells Road, at Robert Gordons playing field, and the new Countesswells Development at Blacktop.

We wrote to First Aberdeen, the City Council, the Traffic Commissioners and Police Scotland pointing out that the road is narrow, without defined kerb edges, unlit, potholed and, in the past has been difficult to negotiate due to water draining from fields and snow drifting behind field walls. Over the past few years the road has been subjected to restrictions and closures due to road repairs and cable laying.

Most importantly we voiced concerns about the safety of other road users, particularly pedestrians, joggers and cyclists on this narrow stretch of road.   

We suggested that this part of the route was wholly unsuitable, and dangerous and asked First Aberdeen to rethink the changes.

We are now advised by First Aberdeen that they have "carried out route testing" and concluded that the extension of the service 15 route is suitable for "safe operation using single decker vehicles" and that the changes will come into effect from Sunday 3rd July.

The Community Council disagrees, maintaning that there is a road safety issue, and is in communication with First Aberdeen asking them to urgently re-consider this part of the route and inviting them to a site meeting to discuss the issues.

The proposed amended 15 route is as follows:

Service 15 / 15B Countesswells – Balnagask via Airyhall, Seafield Shops and City Centre

The service 15 will no longer serve Craigiebuckler or the Beach, with the two areas being served by the services 11A and 13 respectively as aforementioned.

The service will operate between Countesswells Development and Balnagask via Airyhall, on a 30-minute frequency, also replacing the service 20 in Balnagask. 

The service from Seafield Road will operate the following in both directions:

• Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigton Road, Airyhall Avenue, Countesswells Road, Countesswells Avenue, Coutesswells Road, then will operate a 1-way route around Countesswells Development.

As a result of this route change the entire length of Countesswells Avenue will be served providing a bus service to new housing in the area. 

An evening service will operate as a service 15B between Guild Street and Countesswells Development only and will follow the same route until Seafield Shops (Countesswells Rd) but will then operate directly to Countesswells via Countesswells Road and will not serve the Airyhall area, but services will still be available on the Council supported 15A (Monday to Friday).

The route map is provided below:

June Meeting - Agenda

The next meeting of the Community Council will be on Tuesday 28th June 2022. The meeting will be on ZOOM and will start at 7pm prompt.

The Agenda can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here

Anyone wishing to attend should contact the Secretary by email at bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com for details on how to access the zoom meeting.

ALL WELCOME

ScotRail - Strike implications

ScotRail have issued the following information that may be helpful to anyone planning a train journey in the next couple of weeks.

"Due to strike action across Great Britain planned by RMT members of Network Rail, ScotRail services will be significantly disrupted from 21 June. 

When are the strikes happening?
The RMT announced the strikes will take place on 21, 23, and 25 June. The days following the strike action will also see disruption in the mornings caused by the re-opening of signal boxes at different times across the country.

What does this mean for ScotRail services?
On strike days - 21, 23, and 25 June - we will only be able to operate the following services between 0730 and 1830:

Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
Edinburgh – Bathgate: two trains per hour
Glasgow – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
Glasgow – Lanark: two trains per hour
Edinburgh – Glasgow via Shotts: one train per hour

Final services on these routes will depart well before 18.30, so customers should check before travelling. Timetables for next week are available to download on our website. The ScotRail App and Journey Planner will also be updated by Sunday, 19 June to show updated train times for the week ahead.

In the meantime, please keep checking our website, and follow us on Twitter for updates.

Already got a trip booked?
If you have already purchased your rail ticket, you can seek a refund with no additional admin fee. If you are able to use an alternative service, your ticket will be valid either the day before or the day after your planned journey.

To find more about the dispute, and how to get a refund, please visit our website."

Clean Up Aberdeen Mighty Midsummer Mission 2022 – 21st to 27th June

An invitation from Lorna Graham, Performance & Development Officer, Aberdeen City Council, Operations & Protective Services

"The longest day is nearly here and to celebrate our enthusiastic volunteers we would love it if you could join the Clean Up Aberdeen Mighty Midsummer Mission 2022. An opportunity to be part of something city wide as you do a bit of litter picking.

As you may know, in recent years we celebrated this time of year with a 24hour Glitter Pick – 24 litter picks in 24 locations in 24 hours. Last year we celebrated the hundreds of volunteers throughout the city with the Mighty Midsummer Mission and we want to do the same this year.  Litter picking volunteers make a difference be it one piece or multiple bags. Let’s once again make that difference together. Just head out at any time between the 21st and 27th of June, pick some litter and let us know about it.

If you use Facebook, you can post your activity to the Clean Up Aberdeen page  www.facebook.com/Clean-Up-Aberdeen Or alternatively just e-mail cleanaberdeen@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Let us know where you have been and how much you picked and I will add it to the overall figures.  

You don’t have to be in the photos, we love photos of your unusual finds. Any photographs submitted may be used in promotional material and published online. Please only submit photographs showing yourself if you are happy for the photographs to be used by the Council for publicity purposes and in online publications. Please do not include photographs of anyone else, unless you have their permission to make the submission, or the permission of their parent or guardian in the case of a child aged under 12 years old.  

We will keep the data gathered from volunteers to show their litter picking activities for a period of up to 2 years. 

Where possible you should use your own litter picking equipment. However, I do have equipment (tongs, high vis vests and black bags) available to lend out for group litter picks. The equipment is available on the following dates; Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd, Saturday 25th and Monday 27th.  This equipment would be allocated on a first come first served basis.  Please e-mail cleanaberdeen@aberdeencity.gov.uk to book.

We want your litter picking to be as easy and enjoyable as possible, and for you not to worry too much about the collection of full bags. In addition, the collection of bags should be straight forward for our collection crews. With the potentially high number of participants it would be great, where possible, if you could dispose of any bags yourself. For example in your own domestic bin or any large black street bin near your litter pick or to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre. Where this is not possible or practical, place your bag(s) beside a litter or dog bin, take a photograph and send to cleanaberdeen@aberdeencity.gov.uk with the location details. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee same day uplift so please be considerate of where you leave bags. The team has been asked to uplift any bags they see obviously out for collection.

You’ve got legal rights about the way the Council handles and uses your data, which include the right to ask for a copy of it, and to ask us to stop doing something with your data. See more information about all of the rights you have and the contact details of our Data Protection Officer. You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office. They are the body responsible for making sure organisations like the Council handle your data lawfully. 

The forecast for the weekend is good and I’m looking forward to getting out and about. 

Kind regards - Lorna"

Volunteers Required - Community Chaplaincy Listening Service (CCL)

Are you a good Listener??

The Community Chaplaincy Listening Service (CCL) are currently looking to recruit volunteer listeners in all areas of Aberdeen City.

Listening to people’s concerns can help them feel less isolated and less anxious, whilst helping them  feel more hopeful, valued and heard.

The Listening service provides a safe, confidential space, free from judgement by trained Community Chaplaincy Listening Service (CCL) listeners, for the individuals they support to speak about whatever is troubling them.

There is no requirement for volunteers, or those using their services, to be a member of a faith group, just be able to provide a service that has people at heart, giving them space to feel safe, seen and heard, and allowing them to reflect on their own personal situations.

Experience required:

Ideal candidates will be able to display kindness, empathy and patience, as well as having a non-judgemental, open, curious, caring and compassionate mind-set.

Experience of working with others in a listening capacity, either formally or informally, would be ideal, combined with being able to fully commit to the initial training and ongoing support.

Volunteer listeners are placed within GP practices around Aberdeen City and at the Health Village (please note you will not be placed in the GP practice you are registered as a patient).

Training comprises of 4 Full days compulsory in-house experiential training, and is followed by a 20-hour active listening probation period. In addition there is a requirement to undertake a minimum of 4 supervision sessions and a minimum of 4 Value Based Reflective Practice sessions yearly.

Minimum age: 25 years +
Expenses are paid.

To find out more please email Jane at - Gram.listening@nhs.scot

Jubilee Celebrations - Airyhall Gardens

Congratulations and well done to the residents of Airyhall Gardens and Airyhall Place on their Queen's Jubilee Celebrations.

When the Community Council announced that funds were being earmarked to hep residents with Jubilee Celebrations, Brenda, Alison, Angela and Helen of Airyhall Gradens applied for some funding and were awarded £100 toward their street party.  

Invitations were created and delivered to every door in the Gardens and, it wasn't long before the residents in Airyhall Place asked if they could be involved as well.

The party was held on Saturday 4th June on a glorious sunny (and warm) day, and, as the photos show, there was a good turn out.  (It seems as if Her Majesty herself put in an appearance)  A great time was had by all and we congratulate the four ladies for their community spirit and organisation. WELL DONE

Letters of Thanks

Members of the Community Council were invited to Airyhall Primary School to see the P7 students post their aspirations on the school's aspiration tree, which the Community Council had funded.  Whilst there, they were presented with two letters of thanks from pupils.

The letters referred to the financial support given to the School in purchasing a shed for their allotment at Slopefield, and for the provision of bells for students riding bikes to and from school in "Bells for Bikes" initiative.

"Dear Braeside and Mannofield Community Council.  I am writing to you on behalf of Airyhall primary to thank you for your kind gesture of donating money to our school so we could buy a shed at Slopefield allotments so we can store equipment such as gloves and other useful things.  This benefits us by not having to carry all our equipment to and from Slopefield.

We are incredibly grateful for your donationas this has a big impact on our school.  So we are so appreciative of what you have done for us.

This is a big thank you from our school.

Yours sincerely from Airyhall Primary School"

"Dear members of the Community Council.

We are writing to thank you for donating bells for bikes to "Airyhall School".  The P7's, P6's and P5's were thankful to receive the bike bells.  We hope that pupils will be able to ring their bike bells to alert pedestrians who are sharing the path.

Our P6 and P7 pupils take part in Bikeabilty each year, and they their best to be safe when they are travelling by bike.  The bike bells will help a lot with this.

Thanks again for your generous gift.

Yours faithfully, JRSO Team, Airyhall"

The Community Council appreciate the time taken by the pupils in responding and their very kind words.

Local Police Report - May 2022

This report is from our Local Community Policing Team in dealing with policing priorities for the area during May 2022.

Community Policing Priorities

Antisocial behaviour, Violence and Disorder:

Police have not received any calls over the month of May in relation to anti-social behaviour in the area.  That said at the last meeting of the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council on Tuesday 24th May a few members raised concerns in relation to a group of young people causing issues in the small hours (0245-0345 hours) in the Braeside and Airyhall area, regards vandalism, ringing doorbells, removal of waste bins and running away,  Local officers have been tasked with carrying out patrols in the area, to identify those responsible and deal proportionately with any offences.

Acquisitive Crime:

There have been no recorded incidents of acquisitive crime in the area over the month of May. However, that said, criminals are active in and across the City of Aberdeen, so it is imperative that we each remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, passing as much detail as possible to Police Scotland. In addition please continue to take simple crime reduction steps such, keeping doors, windows and vehicles locked, utilise internal lighting on timers, consider motion sensing lighting externally and if you can afford it, consider CCTV.

Road Safety&Road Crime:

There have been no specific incidents of note in relation to Road Safety / Road Crime this month. However in response to ongoing concerns around anti-social driving across the Community Policing Team area, officers did carry out an operation over the weekend of Friday 27th Sunday 29th May. As a result 13 motorists were provided advice, 4 received ASBO warnings, a further 4 were charged and reported for Road Traffic Offences, including speeding and Dangerous Driving. 

We continue to work with partners in response to specific complaints in terms of road traffic offences. Residents in the areas affected by antisocial driving are encouraged to contact Police on 101 at the time, to report incidents and provide as much description as possible of the vehicle(s)/person(s) in order for us to take positive action.

Community Engagement & Reassurance

Police Scotland is inviting views from the public in 2022-23 Police Scotland has continued to meet the needs of communities during a demanding and difficult period for the people of Scotland.  Understanding the views and priorities of Scotland's diverse communities is fundamental to how Police Scotland responds to the needs of the public. Public engagement activities help the service improve how it delivers policing services in local communities, ensuring they are accessible and inclusive for everyone.

The Your Police 2022-23 survey has been designed to listen and to better understand the views and priorities of communities through giving them the opportunity to express their opinions on policing in their local area. 

We are asking if you can help ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to take part and have their say. The survey covers various themes, such as:

● Feeling of safety in local area

● Confidence in policing
● Respect for police
● Police performance and attitudes
● Concern about crime
● Feedback on contacting the police
● Suggestions for improvement of the police service

The survey can be accessed at the following link:

https://consult.scotland.police.uk/strategy-insight-and-innovation/your-police-2022-2023/.

Accessible formats of the survey are available: an easy-read and British Sign Language of the survey are available via the above link.

What does the survey involve?
 Participants can choose which questions to fill out or leave blank.
 It should only take around 10 minutes to complete.
 All individual responses to the survey are anonymous.
 Findings will be utilised in reports and publications and be held securely, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.
 At the end of the survey, we ask for personal details to ensure we receive a comprehensive range of responses. Please note that people do not have to answer these questions.

What will happen next?
Outcome 3 of our Joint Strategy for Policing (2020) creates the space within policingto inform our services using this rich insight. The feedback from Your Police survey helps in shaping our Annual Police Plan, which sets out what we will do to keep our communities safe. Annual Police Plan 2022/23 has been developed using your responses to last year's survey, along with focus groups, workshops and other ways we listen to communities.

We report the feedback from this survey in ways which are practical for policing and inform service delivery. A report is prepared each quarter for the Scottish Police Authority's "Policing Performance Committee".

Follow us 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

Contact Us
Please also remember you can communicate with us using any of the following:

• 101 – Non emergency;
• Twitter - @NorthEPolice;
• Facebook – www.facebook.com/NorthEastPoliceDivision;
• Web – www.scotland.police.uk;
• 999 – Emergency;
• 0800 555 111 - Crimestoppers.