Peterhead: Long Term Plans for Towns

We asked

The Peterhead Town Board, as part of the UK government's Long-Term Plan for Towns programme, aimed to carry out an initial phase of community engagement to achieve the following objectives:

  • Gather community input on the prioritisation of planned interventions.
  • Raise awareness about the Town Board and its decision-making role.
  • Inform the community about the programme’s key themes and timelines.
  • Ensure the Board is informed about ongoing projects and local organisations.


Aberdeenshire Council were tasked with supporting the Town Board by developing and distributing a survey, planning and attending events, coordinating the engagement phase, and reporting all collected data back to them.

You Said

The survey ran from early October 2024 to late December 2024, with 673 participants sharing their preferences, opinions, and feedback. Aberdeenshire Council analysed the data, and the key findings are outlined below.

High Streets

  • Improve cleanliness by tidying streets, removing weeds, and cleaning buildings.
  • Restore and maintain derelict buildings and shopfronts.
  • Introduce greenery, street art, and cultural designs to enhance the town’s appearance.
  • Support businesses with reduced rates, incentives, and prioritisation of vacant units.
  • Develop more leisure, retail, and cultural attractions to increase footfall.


The top 4 priorities chosen were

  1. Improving town centre retail and service centre infrastructure (435 – 64.6%) 
  2. Improving and supporting sports facilities, tournaments, teams and leagues (358 – 53.2%) 
  3. Creating or improving local green spaces (272 – 40.4%) 
  4. Supporting social action projects (232 – 34.5%) 


Transport

  • Reintroduce free or reduced parking to encourage visitors.
  • Improve public transport connections and overall accessibility.
  • Develop cycling and pedestrian-friendly routes.
  • Enhance town signage and wayfinding for easier navigation.


The top 2 priorities chosen were -

  1. Supporting active travel (387 – 57.5%) 
  2. Improving bus infrastructure and connection (372 – 55.3%) 


Security

  • Increase safety with more security patrols and CCTV in public spaces.
  • Address antisocial behaviour to create a safer environment.
  • Provide safe community spaces, particularly for teenagers and families.


The top 2 priorities chosen were –

  1. Using design and management of streets and landscapes to discourage crime (481 – 71.5%) 
  2. Measures to prevent anti-social behaviour, crime and reduce re-offending (371 – 55.1%) 


We Will

Comprehensive reports were prepared by Aberdeenshire Council for each theme and presented to the Peterhead Town Board during the Board meeting on 7th February 2025.

Three dedicated sub-groups, made up of Board members, have been formed to focus on each theme. Their role is to review the engagement findings, analyse the collected data, and consult with subject experts. The insights from these sub-groups will then be presented to all Town Board members, enabling the development of a detailed plan for submission to the UK Government. This plan will outline the key challenges Peterhead faces and identify priority areas for investment.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views. Your input is invaluable in guiding the next stages of shaping our investment plan for Peterhead.

Aberdeenshire Council publishes information about the Peterhead Long-Term Plan and Town Board here: Peterhead Long Term Town Plan - Aberdeenshire Council

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