Stonehaven Beach Front Improvements

We asked

In October 2024, we asked for public opinion via an online consultation on two proposals within Stonehaven and whether the designs would meet its aims

1. Beach Front Improvements aims to:

• Make permanent the increased space given to pedestrians along the beach front
• Improve road safety by reducing road space and slowing traffic
• Create more formal parking spaces and reduce the informal parking that is causing issues for motorhomes trying to reach the caravan park

1. Belmont Brae One Way System aims to:

• Improve road safety by disallowing vehicles to enter the B979 from Belmont Brae to reduce conflict with vehicles entering and exiting Mineralwell park
• Improve road space by only allowing vehicles to travel one way
• Improve space for pedestrians by giving some of the road space to creating a footpath that leads all the way round Belmont Brae.

The consultation also asked respondents to leave comments on the scheme.

You said

We received 244 online responses to the survey as well as one email and one written response.

In relation to the Beach Front improvement scheme, from the online responses 65% felt the designs would meet the aims stated, 25% felt it would partly meet the aims and 10% felt it would not.

The main comments received in support of the designs welcomed the scheme and believe that it will provide better conditions for pedestrians along the beach area. The main concerns were that the scheme doesn’t cover a wider enough area as well road safety concerns regarding traffic and parking particularly for motor homes.

In relation to the Belmont Brae One Way System scheme, from the online responses, 62% of respondents agreed the design for this scheme would meet the aims stated, while 14% partly agreed and 24% felt it would not meet the aims.

The main comments in support of the scheme felt that it would improve safety and provide space to improve pedestrian access. The main concern was that a one way scheme would push traffic into the town centre. Several comments proposed that the one way system should operate in the other direction or required further development. Some respondents felt the scheme wasn’t required.

We will

The next step is for detailed designs to be drawn up and any statutory consultation to take place that may be necessary leading from this work. Once the designs are completed, the Council will actively seek appropriate external funding options to deliver these schemes, but delivery of the works will be completely dependent on the ability to raise the necessary capital funding required.