JUNE 2012 REPORT

As we approach the Summer and hopefully a spell of good weather, your Community Council are feeling a bit lonely.

Our meetings are public meetings, but are sadly lack- ing in the public being there, so we would like to take this opportunity to ask you to please come along and give your input on local issues and concerns. We are your voice on key issues that affect the local community, and a link with Perth & Kinross Council. Our meetings are attended by our local Perth & Kinross Councillors, so again a great opportunity for you to speak to them on a one to one basis, and put the issues that you feel are important on the table. Members of the Community Council also attend the Community Engagement Forum where we meet once a quarter with representatives from the operators at Binn Farm, SEPA, Perth & Kinross Council, and other Community Councils who have an interest in what goes on at Binn Farm. This and other actions have been effective in reducing the odour problems that have affected the village in the past. If you cannot make it to our meetings, which currently are held in The Pavilion at Powrie Park, please contact us on abernethycommunitycouncil@pkc.gov.uk, or contact one of your Community Councillors.

Which brings us to another point, at the moment we display the CC minutes on the village notice boards outside the surgery in Abernethy, and on the village green in Aberargie – is this enough? – How would you like us to communicate with you? Please use the above email address to let us know what you think – even if you think we shouldn’t bother to communicate.

 There are a number of events in the offing that will affect the village:-

• The Olympic Torch will be coming through the village on Tuesday 12th June at about 3:45 in the afternoon – one of the bearers is a teacher at our local Primary School. A number of local organisations are making plans to support this once in a lifetime event – what are you doing? – let us know.  
• The Local Area Development Plan calls for the possibility of over 100 new houses being built in Abernethy over the next 7 years in four locations, off Perth Road, Station Road, and Newburgh Road – our March meeting was turned over to a public meeting showing details of this plan.
• Tayside Landscape Project is an action plan to develop the whole of the Region in terms of its countryside amenity, and one of our Community Councillors is the local representative for Abernethy. Those responsible for the project had a stand at the “Live Better Fair” held in the Williamson Hall during March, and received some good input from those attending. Our meeting of June 21st will be devoted to this topic, with displays and a presentation from the development team. We are looking for a large public participation at this meeting, and to that end we will be holding it in the Mason’s Hall at 7:00pm – please come along and show your support and interest.  
• Village Parks Development has seen many local families engaged in rejuvenating the woods in Powrie Park, with the laying down of a BMX trail for the younger members of the community (although we don’t think there is an age limit!), with more development to come both in Powrie Park and at the Williiamson Hall play area. Incidentally there was a plan to store 2000 cubic metres of topsoil in Powrie Park, but input from the Community Council stopped this retrograde step from happening.

And Finally:-

• Abernethy is a village of amazing contrasts:-
• A village that can trace its roots back to Pictish times and before, but with new and developing housing.  
• Two ladies who selflessly pick up litter throughout the village, and people who eject half eaten meals from their car windows – (Maroon Peugeot – didn’t get the number)
•  Wardens who look after the paths in the village and up the Glen, and those who leave broken beer bottles by the bench up Castle Law.
• Responsible dog owners and the others who don’t/won’t clear up behind their pets.
•  The Horticultural Society who look after Nurse Peattie’s Garden, and the mindless vandals who destroyed one of the benches and broke the sundial.

I guess by now you get the message, we live in a beautiful part of God’s Country; let’s not allow the mindless minority to spoil it for us.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meetings.

• 21st June, 7:00pm – Mason’s Hall – Tayside Landscape Project presentation.
• 24th August, 7:30pm – Powrie Park Pavilion –general meeting

Please note there is no meeting in July.

ABERNETHY COMMUNITY COUNCIL