BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

February Column (2)

Hoping for ambitious promotion of 'iconic' mill site

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It is encouraging that a feasibility study for biomass fuelled development of the site of the Inverurie paper mill has indicated its potential viability but this is still some way short of the comprehensive redevelopment of this iconic site.

Most people in Inverurie were understandably saddened at the closure of the mill and the inability to find a future in papermaking which has been part of the local economy for 150 years.

Yet Inverurie has proved resilient in the face of economic change. More than 40 years after the closure of the loco works the Inverurie economy is more diversified than ever - although we still haven't got the former site fully integrated into the present and future.

I hope we will not be speculating about the site of the paper mill for decades. The site has great potential to attract modern development to the town and be a beacon of modern development.

I very much hope that the consortium and present owners of the site will be in a position to start marketing its potential in the fairly near future to coincide, let's hope, with an economic upturn and the eventual construction of the Aberdeen Western peripheral route that will put the site in a strategically strong position, minutes from the airport, on the railway and well connected to the fast road routes to the south.

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Union Terrace gardens - let's get the right answer

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As the Gordon constituency includes the northern part of the city I have been following the debate about the development of Union Terrace Gardens with a close interest. In any case those who live in the shire have a keen interest in the development of Aberdeen even if they do not take a direct part in it.

Until recently it seemed that alternative proposals were divisive and that may still prove to be the case. The problem is the Peacock proposal for an arts centre built into the Union Street end of the Gardens and tiered down into them seems to contrast sharply with the alternative proposals to raise the whole site to the Union Street, Union Terrace level.

Funding does exist for the more modest Peacock proposal whereas the more ambitious proposal requires tens of millions of pounds to be found in spite of the offer of £50 million from Sir Ian Wood. What would be the worst outcome would be for the Peacock proposals to founder and the raising of the gardens to fail to get the necessary funds in the present climate.

The Peacock proposal would provide street level access down to the gardens which would otherwise disappear under concrete.

I hope a good compromise can be arrived at but it must be one that works and is affordable. It is ironic that SNP ministers say they might be able to make a contribution when they have refused to review the city's funding formula or even meet civic leaders to discuss it.

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Flood prevention challenge for Huntly

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I had a useful meeting with Aberdeenshire Council officials for an update on the aftermath of the major flooding in Huntly at the beginning of November. Having been flooded in my own home a few years ago I can relate to the misery of those residents affected last year and know that it takes many months to dry out and refurbish properties.

Nevertheless, it seems to me that the council have done a good job in finding accommodation for 27 displaced households and offering other forms of support and keeping them informed of progress towards their eventual return home.

At the same time the council has not been idle in evaluating what could be done to prevent the same thing happening again. There is no doubt that the Deveron reached record levels last November and it may not reach that level again for a long time.

Nevertheless, the prediction of more extreme weather patterns clearly requires an assessment of what steps would be required to stop the same thing happening again.

This could include building up the river bank where it burst, provided that doesn't risk displacement flooding somewhere else. Work has already been carried out dredging and clearing the path of the Meadow burn and it may be that new culverts and bunds may help.

SEPA have also put on place a flood warning system to alert people at risk if there is any flood threat. Clearly all of these options need to be evaluated and costed and that is what is going on now.

As everyone knows Aberdeenshire suffered flood damage across the whole area from the Bervie Braes above Stonehaven to the Pennan cliffs and bridges and roads across the area, including most recently the listed bridge at Keig.

Nevertheless council officials are working to assess the best way forward and in due course the council will have to assess proposals and work out priorities. I hope when that is complete there will be a clear plan for Huntly.

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Iraq knocked Afghan mission off course

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The current heavy NATO offensive in Afghanistan with its growing list of British casualties and civilian deaths is clearly bringing into question our continuing engagement.

It is right to remember that the original engagement in Afghanistan was supported by the United Nations and entrusted to NATO.

It was knocked badly off course by the decision by George Bush, backed by Tony Blair (and almost all the Conservative party) to invade Iraq without international support or authorisation. Had that not happened it is likely that NATO's original mission in Afghanistan would have been accomplished by now.

At the time of the original action in Afghanistan NATO had the overwhelming support of the majority of the population weary of the civil war, the Soviet occupation, the Mujahadeen and the Taliban. That goodwill has diminished, although it was still quite strong when I visited the country two and a half years ago.

We cannot stay indefinitely or even for very much longer but immediate withdrawal, although it might be popular, would be damaging and would nullify the sacrifices made by Afghans and NATO allies.

The Afghan army is two thirds of the way to taking over the military tasks of NATO. The police have much further to go to win trust. Development is happening in terms of education, health care and the development of livelihoods but it needs to go further and faster.

I believe that is the best way to enable the majority of the people of Afghanistan to take control of their own destiny and reduce the risk of terrorism and instability across the region. But time is short.

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Bullying - real issue or election froth?

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I am not sure what to make of the accusation of bullying in the Prime Minister's office other than note that it is the kind of personal stuff that seems to come into play when we get close to a general election.

The National Bullying Helpline's founder Christine Pratt did not cover herself in glory by saying there were calls to the service from Downing Street but that they did not apply to the Prime Minister and appeared vague and non-specific.

Also given that the whole point of the helpline is to protect those being bullied and preserve the confidentiality of the parties what did she think she was doing blabbing to the national media? No wonder one of her patrons promptly resigned and another, Anne Widdecombe, followed suit.

Few can doubt that Gordon Brown is a brooding and obsessive personality. That he might lose his temper comes as no surprise either. I think we should move on and concentrate on the substance of politics rather than just the personalities.

22 February 2010

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