Kintore Station to Reopen

SNP councillors have welcomed the announcement by Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown that the station at Kintore will reopen between 2014 and 2019.

In a statement they commented:

"This is fantastic news for the residents of Kintore and the surrounding communities.  We have made representations in the new Local Development Plan process for the station to be reopened at Kintore.  What is not clear at the moment is whether it will be a single track arrangement or if a double track will be laid between Kintore and Inverurie to allow trains to pass without disruption or delay.

“Kintore is a very popular place for people to live and the reopening of the station will bring huge transport advantages to the residents. We am very excited about this announcement and cannot wait to try out the new service

"The numbers certainly stack up, we am sure Network Rail will not be disappointed by the numbers of people who would use the service from Kintore.  When the station reopened in Laurencekirk passenger numbers greatly exceeded expectations and we see no reason not to have the same success at Kintore.”

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West Garioch Councillor Welcomes Inveramsay Progress

SNP councillor for West Garioch, Allison Grant, has welcomed Transport Minister Keith Brown’s confirmation of the preferred route for the Inveramsay Bridge improvements on the A96.

Commenting, Councillor Grant said:

“I’m delighted at this further announcement and it is clear that the pace of progress on this is picking up rapidly.  This represents real progress over a very short period of time since the SNP Government came to power.

“When one considers the length of time the Liberals were in office in the previous Scottish Executive with absolutely no action whatsoever taken to deal with this issue, it’s a bit rich for Liberal MPs and MSPs to jump on this particular bandwagon.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to improving traffic flow on the A96 at the Inveramsay Bridge.

“Locals and visitors can expect significant benefits through reduced congestion and improved journey time reliability on one of the north of Scotland's main routes. The works will also enable the removal of the existing traffic signals from the road.

“Following the public consultation last October, the ‘road over rail river route’ option has been identified as delivering the best value for money, whilst minimising disruption to existing road users. It is also offers additional safety benefits relating to the height restriction on the existing structure and separates local agricultural traffic from other vehicles.”

The works are expected to be completed during this Parliamentary term, subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory processes.

1. Images of the preferred option and documents can be found here.http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/projects/Option-C-Public-Exhibition-2011.pdf
2. The Transport Minister announced £5 million as part of budget consequentials in February 2012 to ensure that construction of the Inveramsay Bridge improvement works takes place this Parliamentary term, subject to satisfactory completion of statutory processes. The total estimated cost of the scheme is £12-15million.
3. An Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out and draft Road Orders will then be produced and published.
4. Further public consultation and an exhibition will also be held to seek comments on the Draft Road Orders. This is expected to take place in Spring 2013.
5. The preferred option, Option C in the public consultation last October, described as the “road over rail river route (with accommodation underpass)”, is an offline route which runs from 100m west of the existing Inveramsay Bridge eastwards towards the River Ury. It runs parallel with the river for approximately 600m before turning southwards and crossing over the railway line. The road then comes back onto the line of the existing road. This option includes a new junction at the existing Inveramsay Bridge to provide local access, two new field accesses and an accommodation underpass.

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SNP Candidates Welcome Progress On A90 Dualling

SNP council candidates Rob Merson and Richard Thomson have welcomed the announcement that the dualling of the Tipperty – Balmedie section of the A90 has been progressed by the Scottish Government with the publication of made orders.

Ellon & District SNP councillor Rob Merson, said:

“I am absolutely delighted that the SNP Government has delivered on yet another election promise.  As a resident of Ellon for over 35 years, I am well aware of the importance of the road link to Aberdeen.  Allied to the construction of the AWPR, journey times will be improved for travellers across North Aberdeenshire. The people of the North-east might at last look forward to having the roads infrastructure which they ought to have had thirty years ago.

“The fact that most of the route will be constructed alongside the existing route should also minimise disruption for commuters during the construction phase.

“After eight years of inaction by the former Scottish Executive, I am very pleased that our Transport Minister was so quickly able to complete the sterling work done by his predecessor, Stewart Stevenson MSP, in turning this long-standing aspiration into a reality.”

Fellow SNP candidate for Ellon & District Richard Thomson added:

"This represents an important milestone for the Balmedie-Tipperty project. It is good news for the North-east in general and Ellon in particular.

"Procuring Balmedie-Tipperty together with the AWPR makes a lot of sense as it will help to secure important savings for the public purse.

"I hope that following the devastating judgement against the anti-AWPR lobby last month in the Court of Session, work can soon get underway on a road which almost everyone agrees is long overdue."

Minister for Transport Keith Brown MSP said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to providing an efficient transport system throughout the country, including in the north east.

“On completion, the Balmedie - Tipperty dualling scheme will deliver improved safety, better connections and more reliable journey times for anyone using this section of the A90 north of Aberdeen.

“By combining the Balmedie -Tipperty dualling scheme in a combined Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model contract alongside the AWPR we are ensuring the opportunity to deliver better value for the public purse.”

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Getting Tough On Anti-Social Tenants

SNP Group Housing spokesperson Cllr Anne Allan (Peterhead North & Rattray) has welcomed radical changes being proposed to the way in which houses in the social rented sector are allocated and managed.

Councils and housing associations would be given greater flexibility over housing allocations, to consider any property applicants' own as well as their income so that social housing goes to those who need it most.

Proposals published today would also give councils and housing associations more tools to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Commenting, Councillor Anne Allan said:

"This consultation by the Scottish Government is to be welcomed, and shows that it is listening to the landlords in the social rented sector.

“Anti-social behaviour is a huge problem in some areas and is one of the most difficult issues for landlords to tackle, often taking well over a year to resolve issues.

“At the present time, a landlord cannot take previous behaviour of an applicant into consideration in the allocation procedures. These proposals which are out for consultation propose ways to tackle these and other issues and should lead to better outcomes for our communities."

Launching the consultation, Housing Minister Keith Brown MSP said:

"Landlords and tenants lobbied hard for changes to the way affordable rented housing is allocated and managed.

"We have listened and these proposed changes reflect, I believe, the views we have picked up from organisations and individuals the length and breadth of Scotland.

"Antisocial behaviour has a serious impact on individuals and communities. Feedback suggests that even low-level, persistent antisocial behaviour can harm communities.

"The measures we are introducing will also help good tenants who currently feel powerless to deal with bad neighbours, who make their lives a living hell."

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West Garioch Councillor Welcomes Inveramsay Announcement

SNP councillor for West Garioch, Allison Grant, has welcomed Transport Minister Keith Brown’s confirmation of funding to start construction at Inveramsay Bridge on the A96.

Commenting, Councillor Grant said:

“I’m delighted at this news.  This represents real progress over a very short period of time since the SNP Government came to power.

“When one considers the length of time the Liberals were in office in the previous Scottish Executive with absolutely no action whatsoever taken to deal with this issue, it’s a bit rich for Liberal MPs and MSPs to jump on this particular bandwagon.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“Today’s announcement of budget allocations will see investment of nearly £72 million in our transport infrastructure right across Scotland.

“We recognise the enormous role that Scotland’s strategic road network plays in to improving journey times, relieving congestion and making our roads even safer for our communities and businesses.

“That is why we are allocating £8 million to two key schemes in the North-east of Scotland.

“£5 million is being invested towards the £12-15m Inveramsay Bridge on the A96 to ensure that work on an improved structure can begin.  This funding will go a significant way towards funding the construction costs for the scheme.  While this is subject to completion of the statutory process, the works will remove the need for the existing traffic signals, remove congestion and reduce delays for road users on one of the north of Scotland’s main arterial routes. “

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Allan Welcomes Action On Empty Homes

Peterhead North & Rattray councillor and SNP Housing spokesperson on Aberdeenshire Council Anne Allan has welcomed plans outlined by the Scottish Government to give councils greater enforcement powers to clamp down on empty homes.

There are around 25,000 long-term empty homes across Scotland, located in urban, rural and island communities.  Housing Minister Keith Brown plans to unveil more details in a consultation later this year.

In the meantime, the Scottish Government will be working with Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to develop enforcement proposals which are suitable for Scotland.

One of the new measures being floated is an enforced sale power, where the local authority could apply for powers to sell a property which has been empty for a long time.

This type of power would only be used in cases where a Council's attempts at working with the owner to bring an empty home back into use have not worked and it is in the public interest to ensure the home is not left empty.

Commenting, Cllr Anne Allan said:

"Any initiative aimed at providing more homes is to be welcomed.  The council is faced with ever increasing waiting lists and has a limited number of houses available to let, so bringing empty homes back into use is a way of making a real difference to homeless families."

Currently, if an owner cannot be found or will not work with a Council, local authorities can only use a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to bring a home back into use.

Empty homes are considered a wasted resource at a time when there is high demand for extra homes in many parts of Scotland.

Mr Brown also confirmed that the Scottish Government is part-funding three new pilot shared empty homes officer posts, which will help Councils work with empty home owners to help them to rent or sell their home.

Housing Minister Keith Brown MSP said:

"Empty Homes are a scar on our landscape that can have a negative impact on the quality of Scotland's cities, towns and villages.

"Many Councils have indicated to us and to Shelter that more enforcement powers are needed to tackle certain empty homes which have in some cases been empty for many years.

"That is why we plan to consult on greater enforcement powers for Councils to give them more tools to deal effectively with the most problematic long-term empty homes.

"Owners faced with the prospect of an enforced sale of their property, would, I am sure, see sense and bring the house or flat back into use.

"We are also encouraging Councils to consider using their council tax revenue from empty and second homes to develop an empty homes loan fund, which would provide interest-free loans to help owners to bring their properties back into use as affordable housing."

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