Minutes of Meeting - 26 August 2025

The minutes of the Community Council meeting held on Tuesday 26 August 2025 can be viewed or download by clicking here.

The next meeting of the Community Council will be at the Airyhall Community Centre at 7pm on Tuesday 25 September 2025

ALL WELCOME

Police Report - July 2025

The following has been received from Police Scotland -

"Crime Overview
In the Braeside and Mannofield community, there were a total of 123 calls in July 2025. This is an increase of 3 calls compared to June 2025. Calls to Police predominantly related to non-criminal matters including, concern for persons, missing persons, assisting the public and false calls with good intent.

As a result of these incidents, and proactive Police activity, 51 crimes were recorded in the Braeside and Mannofield community during July 2025. This is an increase of 16 crimes recorded in May 2025.

Crime Type	Oct 24	Nov 24	Dec 24	Jan 25	Feb 25	Mar 25	Apr 25	May 25	Jul 25
Drugs	0	0	0	0	2	2	1	2	1
Vandalism	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	2	4
Assault	0	2	6	2	2	2	5	2	1
Theft	5	3	4	6	18	10	6	8	0
RTO	11	9	8	9	13	9	6	5	5

Antisocial behaviour, Violence and Disorder
On 31 July 2025, in the area of Springfield Road, Aberdeen, a female was stopped by Police and found to be in possession of a small quantity of controlled drugs. The female was charged and issued with a Recorded Police Warning.

On 13 July 2025, at a premises in the area of Countesswells Road, Aberdeen, there was a theft by shoplifting. A male entered the store, selected items and placed them in a basket before leaving the store making no attempt to pay. the incident was captured on CCTV and the male identified. a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. The total value of items stolen is £40.90

On 22 July 2025, in the area of Airyhall Place, Aberdeen, Police received a report of a theft and fraud. The complainer lost her bankcard within the area of Airyhall Place and later saw numerous transactions of the card being used at various different stores within Aberdeen. The investigation is currently ongoing and following positive lines of enquiry.

The community should remain vigilant and consider the following advice.

• Ensure all vehicles and property are secured when not in use.
• Consider the installation of CCTV cameras covering private property.
• Ensure that you are comfortable with the identity of persons before providing personal information over the telephone. If in doubt, hang up contact Police via 101 for further advice.

Road Safety & Road Crime
During July 2025, in the Braeside and Mannofield community area, three drivers were identified as driving whilst using a mobile phone. Two drivers were issued with a conditional offer resulting in a £200 fine and 6 penalty points. The third driver was reported to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration.

Two drivers were within the Braeside and Mannofield community area were identified as driving in excess of the speed limit. One driver was issued with a conditional offer resulting in 3 penalty points and a £100 fine. The second driver was reported to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration.

Road safety remains a priority for the North East Police Division, and local resources will continue to undertake high visibility proactive patrols to ensure your roads are safe. 

Community Safety Advice

With the rise of online marketplaces, we have seen a significant rise in the sale of counterfeit goods – and none more prevalent right now than the seemingly "new" Apple iPhone.

The allure is obvious, a brand-new iPhone, still in its box, for a price that seems too good to be true, is your first and most crucial red flag. 

"Cheap" iPhones are popping up on Facebook Marketplace and similar sites. They often look the part, but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a hollow imitation.

How to Spot a Fake iPhone:

• The Price is a dead giveaway (Always): If a brand new, sealed iPhone 15 Pro Max is being offered for £300, walk away. Immediately. Apple products hold their value, even second-hand, a genuine iPhone, especially a recent model, will command a respectable price.
• Be Wary of "Sealed Box" Sales: While a sealed box might seem reassuring, it's easily faked. Insist on opening the box and inspecting the phone before parting with any money. A legitimate seller will understand this.
• The Packaging: Look for Flaws:
    o Shrink Wrap: Is it tight and professionally applied, or loose, bubbly, or even absent? Apple's packaging is immaculate.
    o Text and Logos: Examine the font, spelling, and clarity of the Apple logo and product descriptions. Fakes often have slightly off fonts, blurred images, or even typos.
    o Stickers and Labels: Are the serial number stickers crisp and securely attached? Do they match the phone’s claimed specifications?
• The "New" Phone Itself: Don't be afraid to inspect:
    o Weight and Feel: Genuine iPhones have a distinct weight and premium feel. Fakes often feel lighter, more plasticky, and cheaper.
    o Screen Quality: Is the display vibrant, crisp, and responsive? Fake screens often have poor resolution, dull colours, and are less sensitive to touch.
    o Buttons and Ports: Check the quality and feel of the power button, volume buttons, and charging port. Do they feel solid or wobbly?
    o The Apple Logo: On genuine iPhones, the Apple logo on the back is usually embedded and feels smooth. On fakes, it might be a sticker or poorly printed.
• Operating System (Red flag): This is where many fakes fall apart. When you turn on the phone, does it truly run iOS?
    o App Store vs. Google Play: A common fake will run a skinned version of Android, trying to mimic iOS. Try to open the "App Store" If it takes you to Google Play, it's a fake.
    o Siri: Try to activate Siri. If it doesn't respond or activates a generic voice assistant, you've got a problem.
• Check the IMEI/Serial Number (Do This BEFORE Meeting): Ask the seller for the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) or serial number before you even consider meeting them. You can then check this on Apple's official website or other reliable IMEI checker sites to verify if it's a genuine Apple product and its warranty status. If the seller refuses or makes excuses, walk away.
• The Charger and Accessories: Often overlooked, but crucial. Fake iPhones usually come with cheap, poorly made, unbranded, or generic chargers and cables. These can be dangerous too, posing fire risks.
• Insist on Powering On and Thorough Inspection: Do not, under any circumstances,
buy a phone that is not fully powered on and allowed for you to inspect thoroughly.

Check all the points mentioned above.

Check Seller Profiles: On platforms like Facebook Marketplace, look at the seller's profile. How long have they been a member? Do they have other items for sale? Are there any reviews? A newly created profile with no history is a red flag. 

If you believe you may have been a victim of a scam, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Report to Police Scotland directly by calling 101 or online via Contact Police Scotland. Every report assists police investigations, provides intelligence, informs national alerts that protect all communities, disrupts criminals and reduces harm.

In the UK you can forward scam text message to OFCOM on 7726 (free of charge), and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk #northeastcrimereduction

Further advice can be obtained by contacting Police Scotland Crime Reduction Officers at:
NorthEastCrimeReduction@scotland.pnn.police.uk
#northeastcrimereduction

Community Concerns
Please take the opportunity to let us know of any community concerns or issues so that we can explore these issues and take action to address your concerns.

Any updates will be fed back to the Community Council in future reports.

Contact Us
Please also remember you can contact us using any of the following:
🕾 101 – Non emergency;
🖱 Email - AberdeenSouthCPT@scotland.police.uk
🖱 X previously known as Twitter - @NorthEPolice
🖱 Facebook – www.facebook.com/NorthEastPoliceDivision
🖱 Web – www.scotland.police.uk
🕾 999 – Emergency;
🕾 0800 555 111 - Crimestoppers;"

Meeting 26 August 2025 - Agenda

The next meeting of the Community Council will be at 7pm prompt on Tuesday 26 August 2025 at the Airyhall Community Centre in Countesswells Road.

The Agenda can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here

If there are any queries, please email the secretary on bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com

ALL WELCOME

Countesswells Road Shops - Parking exemption

Aberdeen City Council have agreed that the cobbled area outside the shops in Countesswells Road should be exempt from the pavement parking ban introduced in the city in July last year.

Since July drivers who parked on the cobbled area risked a £100 fine, as the cobbles were classed as pavement.

The exemption does not have immediate effect and drivers have been warned not to park on the cobbles until the necessary changes to regulations have been made.  This may not be for a couple of months.

ScotRail Abolish Peak Fares

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced that ScotRail’s peak fares would be abolished, this change will be introduced on Monday, 1 September 2025. 

The change is intended to make rail fares simpler, more flexible and provide better value for money in the hope this will encourage more people to leave the car at home and travel by rail instead.

Removing peak fares will bring significant savings for ScotRail customers across the country, with some journeys set to reduced by almost 50 per cent. From 1 September, customers will pay the same fare no matter what time of day, or day of the week they travel.


Examples of some of the massive savings to be made include:

Journey                                 Return fare from        Saving        %Saving

                                               1 September   

Edinburgh – Glasgow               £16.80                        £15.80        48%  

Inverkeithing – Edinburgh        £7.40                          £5.20          41%  

Perth – Dundee                         £11.20                        £5.10          31%  

Glasgow – Stirling                    £10.80                        £7.40          40%  

Inverurie – Aberdeen                £10.10                        £2.50          20%  

Inverness – Elgin                      £16.30                        £8.50          34%  

 

ScotRail say, "There are some routes where no off-peak fare exists because the same fare is already available at any time of the day, and as such, customers will not see any change in those areas.  

Customers can check the ScotRail website, or the app, to see Off-Peak fares for their route, and get set for savings when peak fares are removed. The website and app will be updated by Friday, 22 August, when the peak fare prices will be removed for any tickets for travel from 1 September onwards.   

As part of the move to simpler and more flexible fares, a number of other tickets will also be updated:  

Season Tickets will remain at their current pricing until 27 September, offering exceptional value. For regular travellers, this represents a saving of at least 40 per cent compared to purchasing five Anytime Day Return tickets at pre-1 September prices. This discount was part of a 12-month offer launched in September 2024.  

Flexipass tickets will have adjusted pricing from 1 September to ensure they continue to offer a saving compared to buying multiple Anytime Single or Return tickets, while still providing flexibility for part-time or hybrid commuters.  

Super Off-Peak Day Return tickets will be withdrawn, as the removal of peak fares means customers now benefit from great value fares all day, every day.  

Railcards, concessions, and enhanced discounts will continue to be available, with most remaining valid for travel after 9.15am, in line with existing conditions.  

More details on individual products or schemes can be found on the ScotRail website or app from Friday, 22 August.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions please get in touch with ScotRail’s External Relations Manager, Olivia Carson, on olivia.carson@scotrail.co.uk."

Braeside Place - Partial Closure

Aberdeen City Council has made the above-named order in terms of its powers under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

The effect of the order, which will operate from 07:00 on 11 August 2025, until 18:00 on 6 September 2025, is to close Braeside Place, Aberdeen, from its junction with Braeside Terrace to the boundary between numbers 18 and 20 Braeside Place.  There will also be a prohibition of waiting on either side of the same stretch of road.  Access to properties will be maintained, but no through traffic will be possible.  An alternative route is available via Braeside Terrace, Springfield Road, and Craigton Road. The existing one-way restriction on Braeside Place will be suspended to allow egress from properties.  The measures are necessary to protect public safety during sewer connection works.  Any queries regarding this restriction can be directed to WM Donald on 01569 730590, or info@wmdonald.co.uk