Last Tuesday, my colleagues agreed to the discharge of a heap of conditions, the Masterplan and the golf course at Menie. Many of my colleagues seemed, at least before the meeting, to be under the misguided impression that the Masterplan did not impact the homes of the Menie families. I check at the meeting and it does.
I moved refusal of the Masterplan on the basis that it was not deliverable unless these parcels of land were in the control of the applicant. The Masterplan itself acknowledged this in that it said it would need to be redesigned.
And then we have the golf course. Contrary to Trump spin, work can not yet start - the rest of the Masterplan conditions need to be met. So an opening in 18th months is not likely.
But the developer may believe they have an excuse to close off the constrcution area. That I believe will cause problems. People walking along the beach north from Balmedie may decide they have had enough and want to get back to the A90. If the whole golf course area is closed, that will be a problem. I have no interest in increasing conflicts on the Menie estate - local people are suffering enough without this. But I think it would be sensible if the Menie estate retained route across their land - perhaps limiting themselves to closing one of the masterplanned routes at a time. Else the police will get bored with dealing with casual walkers coming into conflict witht he developer. And be less able to distinguish anyone out to cause trouble.
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Public Access at Menie - again
I have had reported to me three more incidents where people were stopped on the Menie Estate. References to previous incidents can be found here.
One incident I regard as very serious. I quote from part of an email from a young woman horse-rider
A complaint has, I understand been made to the police.
There have been two further incidents in the past few days, one a pedestrian and one another horse rider.
This intimidation is not acceptable.
I shall be discussing the situation with the local police. Detaining me last March was one thing. Endangering people peaceably riding horses is serious.
Please do not be put off using the dunes. pedestraians, cyclists and horse riders are perfectly entitled to exercise their "responsible right to roam". I believe construction work has stopped - we are out of the marram grass planting season. Please be careful not to disturb the areas of planting and fencing.
I carry a mobile phone when I am on the dunes. I shouldn't have to but ... If I were stopped I would ask who was stopping me and why. If there was any effort to detain me, I would dial 999 immediately.
Hopefully this will be properly dealt with and we have no more in the long running series of incidents. I will be meeting the police on Friday.
One incident I regard as very serious. I quote from part of an email from a young woman horse-rider
... so went for a ride down through the dunes beside the Trump area. Was outside the fences and on the path when they're (sic) security jeep drove down. Carried on back onto the beach and further down the the jeep with flashing orange lights comes powering out of the dunes and storming up the beach towards me - really motoring along, splashing through puddles, lights flashing - you can imagine how this went down with Lenny! .... Eventually 2 big fancy blacked out range rovers turn up and 4 Americans in suits jump out of each one and start accusing me of the vandalism that was in the papers a couple of weeks ago. There were really quite aggressive and if Lenny hadn't been freaking out and running round me in circles, it would have really been intimidating - they had to keep their distance because of him though.
A complaint has, I understand been made to the police.
There have been two further incidents in the past few days, one a pedestrian and one another horse rider.
This intimidation is not acceptable.
I shall be discussing the situation with the local police. Detaining me last March was one thing. Endangering people peaceably riding horses is serious.
Please do not be put off using the dunes. pedestraians, cyclists and horse riders are perfectly entitled to exercise their "responsible right to roam". I believe construction work has stopped - we are out of the marram grass planting season. Please be careful not to disturb the areas of planting and fencing.
I carry a mobile phone when I am on the dunes. I shouldn't have to but ... If I were stopped I would ask who was stopping me and why. If there was any effort to detain me, I would dial 999 immediately.
Hopefully this will be properly dealt with and we have no more in the long running series of incidents. I will be meeting the police on Friday.
Mobile Police Office
I am happy to advertise Grampian Police Open Surgeries on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th March.
THE CAR PARK, METHLICK- TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2010 1000 – 1130 HRS
THE SQUARE, TARVES = TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2010 1330 – 1500 HRS
MAIN STREET, NEWBURGH - WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2010 1000 – 1130 HRS
LEISURE CENTRE CAR PARK, BALMEDIE - WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2010 1330 – 1500 HRS
Come along to the Mobile Police Office to discuss any local matters of concern, obtain advice, or just have a chat with your local Community Officer PC Iain Clark
THE CAR PARK, METHLICK- TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2010 1000 – 1130 HRS
THE SQUARE, TARVES = TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2010 1330 – 1500 HRS
MAIN STREET, NEWBURGH - WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2010 1000 – 1130 HRS
LEISURE CENTRE CAR PARK, BALMEDIE - WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 2010 1330 – 1500 HRS
Come along to the Mobile Police Office to discuss any local matters of concern, obtain advice, or just have a chat with your local Community Officer PC Iain Clark
Police website consultation
The police are interested in hearing your views on the force website and have asked for the following to be distributed as widely as possible.
Their text from here on ....
Their text from here on ....
Grampian Police wishes to develop a new Force website that meets the needs of the people of north-east Scotland. You can help by answering a few questions about how you currently or might use the Force website.Please look at the Grampian Police website www.grampian.police.uk and then complete the survey to let us know what you like or what you would like to change.We would like to hear the views of as wide a cross section of our communities as possible so if you have any further contacts who may wish to contribute please forward this email on.The survey can be completed by clicking the link below
Standards of Trump
I was told by a reporter that the Trump Organisation has reported me to the Standards Commission for over-stepping my duties as councillor regarding public access at Menie (see earlier article). As I was simply responding to constituent complaints and inspecting a situation myself, I am totally confident that the Standards Commission will dismiss the compliant.
The more interesting question is what the police will do regarding my complaint to the police about being unlawfully detained by the Menie Estate security guards.
It is worth recording here that the gates around the estate are now unlocked. I have been advised of this by residents and by Aberdeenshire Council's Access Officer. I hope the Menie Estate now understand the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and we will have no more nonsense of locked gates.
The more interesting question is what the police will do regarding my complaint to the police about being unlawfully detained by the Menie Estate security guards.
It is worth recording here that the gates around the estate are now unlocked. I have been advised of this by residents and by Aberdeenshire Council's Access Officer. I hope the Menie Estate now understand the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and we will have no more nonsense of locked gates.
Local police performance
We are fortunate in living in a relatively low crime area and with a police force that are committed to working in and with our communities. So I am pleased to relay some Highlights from the Aberdeenshire Public Performance Report for Q3 2008/09.
Community Well-Being – Vandalism detection Rate at a Three Year High
The number of detected crimes of Vandalism in Aberdeenshire has improved significantly and has reached its highest level (36.2%) for the last 3 years.
Community Well-Being – Underage Drinking Lowest Levels Since 2007
Aberdeenshire has recorded significant reductions of underage drinking reports, representing the lowest recorded figures since the first quarter of 2007.
Reducing Road Casualties – Continued Proactive Policing
Aberdeenshire experienced 6 persons killed in Road Traffic Collisions this quarter. This is despite the continuance of high visibility patrols, within areas identified as having a history of collisions and pro-active policing and education of drivers, within identified high risk groups.
Community Wellbeing – Group 4 Crimes Detection Rate at Three Year High
A three year high detection rate at 39.5% was recorded in Aberdeenshire for Group 4 crimes which includes vandalism. This has been replicated throughout the Force.
Controlled Drugs – Drug Supply Figures Lowest Recorded in Three Years
The number of Drug Supply Charges recorded in Aberdeenshire fell by 50% this quarter and is the lowest recorded figures in relation to Drug Supply for 3 years.
The full report is available at
http://www.grampian.police.uk/Publications.aspx?id=133&pid=30;31;5;133
Community Well-Being – Vandalism detection Rate at a Three Year High
The number of detected crimes of Vandalism in Aberdeenshire has improved significantly and has reached its highest level (36.2%) for the last 3 years.
Community Well-Being – Underage Drinking Lowest Levels Since 2007
Aberdeenshire has recorded significant reductions of underage drinking reports, representing the lowest recorded figures since the first quarter of 2007.
Reducing Road Casualties – Continued Proactive Policing
Aberdeenshire experienced 6 persons killed in Road Traffic Collisions this quarter. This is despite the continuance of high visibility patrols, within areas identified as having a history of collisions and pro-active policing and education of drivers, within identified high risk groups.
Community Wellbeing – Group 4 Crimes Detection Rate at Three Year High
A three year high detection rate at 39.5% was recorded in Aberdeenshire for Group 4 crimes which includes vandalism. This has been replicated throughout the Force.
Controlled Drugs – Drug Supply Figures Lowest Recorded in Three Years
The number of Drug Supply Charges recorded in Aberdeenshire fell by 50% this quarter and is the lowest recorded figures in relation to Drug Supply for 3 years.
The full report is available at
http://www.grampian.police.uk/Publications.aspx?id=133&pid=30;31;5;133
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