Whitehills & District Community Council

Once again I am happy to be in a position to provide brief bullet point details of some of the activities carried out during the past year for the benefit of our Community Council residents and highlighting the efforts of your nine Community Councillors whose names appear on the minutes of our monthly meetings, posted in the Post Office, in our Notice Board in Loch Street and on our website. My grateful thanks to them all. Their continued support throughout the year is greatly appreciated.

*More ‘Doggy Bag’ dispensers have been sited around the village ensuring that our streets are kept clear of dog-fouling.

*New planters sited around the village in the summer proved a great success in addition to the 'Cartie at the crossroads'. The beds at Redwell Court were also planted up to brighten the area.

*Gloves & bags were issued to the Whitehills Cubs who carried out a beach clean at Low Shore. Out thanks to them. A litter bin has now been sited on Low Shore at resident's request.

*Bunting was provided to Whitehills Harbour Commissioners to brighten up the Harbour area through the summer period.
*Major improvements to the Public Toilets include three new toilet systems, five new internal doors, fascias, fittings, units, sinks, taps & baby-changing facilities in both sides & finally we have hot water. Externally the doors & walls have been painted & a container for cigarette butts installed. We continue to achieve the 'Loo of the Year' awards.
*New War Memorial Stones to replace the irrepairably damaged plaques at the Old Boyndie Kirk were commissioned & erected at the entrance to Whitehills Cemetery. A well-attended service was held on Armistice Day by the Interim Moderator, Billy McMillan, & attended by the British Legion with wreaths laid.
*Our new Christmas lights & the Christmas Tree featured through December.
*Further flood attenuation works were requested & carried out by Aberdeenshire Council at the rear of Reidhaven Street following further water damage to properties there & below.
*'Whitehills Youth Group' going from strength to strength with regular meetings & outings & in excess of 40 interested youngsters.
*A new 7 metre heavy duty glassfibre flagpole with a hinged base plate & internal halyard system was erected for the village above the harbour.
*A large, new Community Council shed has been erected behind the Public Loos to house the Christmas Lights & various other bits of equipment.
*The Community Council attended a successful Official Hearing to support local householders wishing the formal pathway through Ladysbridge grounds to be reinstated rather than the temporary footpath created by the housing Developers. On a similar vein, we made it clear to Aberdeenshire Council that in our view a permanent footpath between Ladysbridge & Whitehills on the B9121 will be essential in due course. This fact was partially acknowledged by Darren Ross of the Planning Department.
*The Community Council Website continues to thrive with regular updates & an increasing number of hits from far & wide.
*Proceedings are ongoing to provide Broadband for Boyndie through a company called 'Scotnet'. Following a well-attended meeting in April 2011 & confirmation of a successful application for 'Leader' funding of £76,212. The Community Council are required to fund 10% (£7621) of this sum.
*An anchor has been obtained which is to be galvanised & placed in the Redwell Court grounds at the entrance to the village.

The above highlights are some of the activities carried out throughout the year on behalf of the residents of Whitehills & District, & below are noted some of the local projects we were able to support over the year to the extent of £17,688 through the Boyndie Windfarm Community Fund, administered by the Community Council.

New equipment for the Playing Fields Association.
Upgrade of the Red Well.
Replacing vandalised Boyndie War Memorials.
Replacing village flagpole.
New Community Council shed/store.
Whitehills Primary School Play equipment.
Whitehills Primary School Musical Instuments.



J Ross Balharry

Chairman, Whitehills & District Community Council.