What you told us - What we're doing

What you told us

The Council proposed to discontinue education at Clatt School, which had been mothballed since August 2022. The catchment area of the school was proposed to be re-assigned to either Kennethmont School or Rhynie School. To gather opinions on this proposal, a statutory consultation was conducted from 4th September to 8th November 2024, including a public meeting on 1st October 2024 at Clatt Village Hall and an online survey. The consultation process also included discussions with pupils and staff from the affected schools.

Survey Results: Out of 23 survey participants, 56% supported the closure of Clatt School and 34% preferred Option 2: realigning the Clatt catchment area to Rhynie School.

Public Engagement: Members of the public attended the public meeting and a minute was taken and is published on the Aberdeenshire Council website.

Pupil Feedback: Pupils from both Kennethmont and Rhynie Schools were consulted on the proposal and identified potential benefits and challenges of integrating Clatt pupils into either school.

Staff Feedback: Staff were also consulted on the proposal.

What we're doing

The consultation findings, including feedback from surveys, discussions, and the Education Scotland report, were reviewed by Council officers.

The consultation report was presented at Marr Area Committee on 18th February 2025, followed by Education and Children’s Services Committee on 20th March 2025 and the final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 24th April 2025. On 19th June 2025, Scottish Ministers upheld the Council’s decision to close Clatt School and realign its catchment area to Rhynie School.

As of 23rd June 2025, Clatt School is permanently closed, with its catchment area officially realigned to Rhynie School to ensure the sustainability of rural education.

What you told us

Aberdeenshire Council asked people in the local community to help choose a new play structure for Green Road play park in Huntly. The existing equipment is no longer in good condition and needs to be replaced. We also asked the community if they would like to see a new cone climber installed at Cooper Park, as the previous unit was removed due to being irreparable.

Green Road: Submissions for two suppliers were put forward with the item below receiving 64% of the votes.

Cooper Park: 83% percent of participants voted that they would like to see a new cone climber installed in the park

What we're doing

Aberdeenshire Council’s Landscape Services have ordered the new play equipment, which will be put in place over the next few months.

You can view the original project here: Cooper Park and Green Road, Huntly | Engage Aberdeenshire

What you told us

Meiklemill Primary School asked families about how they travel to school and what they think about the journey, to better understand any problems and help make decisions. Surveys were sent out to all families, with 62 responses received.

All pupils also took part in the survey. Primary 1 to 3 pupils were asked questions about how they travelled to school, while the Primary 4 to 7 pupils were asked to expand on some of these points. The aim of the survey was to gather opinions on routes to Meiklemill primary school, how people travelled from home to school, why they did this and any barriers they faced to travel activity. Main points from the survey were:

• 50% of children either walk or cycle to school. Driving levels are around 26% and ‘Park and stride’ is sitting at 16%.
• The main barriers that were identified to active travel was distance (30% for walking, 26% for cycling), time (26% for walking, 17% for cycling), followed by the weather (11% for walking and 15% for cycling). Roads being too dangerous and having too much to carry as well as ‘other’ were also reasons.
• Pupils felt the main barriers to walking and cycling was distance for walking, and roads being too dangerous for cycling.
• Parent/ carers and pupils were then asked if there were concerns around safety at the school gate. More people agreed than disagreed that children were safe around the school gate. However more people agreed than disagreed that cars and buses caused concerns around the school gate.
• The main concerns that were raised in relation to the school gate were: illegal parking, congestion (from vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the pavement), speeding and poor parking.

What we're doing

Meiklemill School will go over the feedback and talk with pupils about what can be done to improve things. The school are keen to continue working on their Living Street WOW scheme which looks to provide incentives to pupils who actively travel to school.

The school will also look into the development of a school travel plan which provides helpful information to families on how to travel to school and how they can play an important role in keeping everyone safe around the school gate. This work will be ongoing.

You can view the original project here: Meiklemill Primary School: Travel to School Survey | Engage Aberdeenshire

What you told us

Aberdeenshire Council published the Draft Development Plan Scheme (DPS) 2025–2026 to gather feedback from the public, community councils, and development professionals. The aim was to check if the proposed processes and timeline for preparing the next Local Development Plan (LDP) were clear and appropriate, and to understand how people wanted and could be involved. The consultation ran from 10 February to 24 March 2025 and was promoted through various channels including newsletters, social media, and direct invitations.

Only eight people responded to the consultation, despite a good number of visits to the online hub. Here’s what they said:

• Clarity of the document: Most people found the document clear and easy to understand. One person thought the font and illustrations were hard to read, and another found the timetable confusing.
• Timetable and terminology: Some feedback suggested that using “quarters” to describe time was unclear and that acronyms like “SEA” and “DPMTAG” should be explained better. There was also a suggestion to use months or seasons instead.
• Engagement methods: Most respondents were happy with the proposed ways to engage at each stage. However, one person raised concerns about relying too much on digital engagement, which might exclude some groups, especially young people and those less digitally connected.
• Call for Ideas: Some people wanted more clarity on what 'community ideas' meant and who could submit them. There were also suggestions to extend the time allowed for submitting ideas, especially from developers.
• Local Place Plans: One person found this part unclear but didn’t explain why.
• General comments: One person felt the process was too long and hard to follow. Homes for Scotland supported the inclusion of the Call for Ideas and asked for more in-person engagement and a clear method for assessing development sites.

What we're doing

• The Council reviewed all feedback and decided that no major changes were needed to the Draft DPS.
• Accessibility features like 'Read Out Loud' and the ability to enlarge PDFs are already in place. Large print versions can be provided on request.
• The Council clarified that the use of 'quarters' follows national planning regulations and that acronyms are explained when first used.
• The Call for Ideas will be open for at least 16 weeks starting in summer 2025, and more details will be shared in due course.
• The Council is committed to using both digital and non-digital engagement methods and will continue to involve young people.
• A draft site selection methodology was already consulted on earlier in 2025 and is being refined based on feedback.
• The Council will continue to engage with developers and other stakeholders, including through meetings and information sharing.

You can view the original project here: Development Plan Scheme 2025 | Engage Aberdeenshire

What you told us

We asked for feedback on playparks across Aberdeenshire. The purpose of this exercise was to understand how you feel about your local playground and what changes, if any, you would like to see. We received 837 responses in total (equivalent survey 3 years ago received 479 responses).

Responses by area were:

• Banff and Buchan: 44
• Buchan: 76
• Formartine: 127
• Garioch: 208
• Kincardine & Mearns: 285
• Marr: 97

Key findings from the survey include:

49% of respondents preferred that play park management remains unchanged, with parks being improved as budget permits. The next most popular option, chosen by 41%, was for local communities to become more involved.

61% felt existing playparks didn’t cater enough for children of all abilities and the same percentage wanted more use of natural play equipment.

A small majority (53%) wanted more seating in play parks but most (63%) felt that they were secure with adequate fencing provided where appropriate.

A small majority (52%) of respondents indicated that there was not enough provision for adult outdoor exercise, including trim trails.

What we're doing

We undertake regular safety inspections on all our play equipment, which allows us to prioritise how we allocate our resources. When we have available resources to replace or improve play park infrastructure, we will engage with communities using Engage Aberdeenshire, our online engagement platform and listen to requests from the community. We encourage and value community feedback.

As we review and improve our play equipment, we have increased the number of inclusive play equipment across Aberdeenshire in recent years. We will continue to review our infrastructure where resources allow.

Unfortunately, in some locations seating has been removed due to antisocial behaviour. The seating attracted groups of non-playpark users as an area to gather. Relocation to another area within the park means that the play area is safer for children to use. We will continue to review the situation in affected areas.

We are keen to support outdoor exercise and, where resources permit, we may consider the installation of trim trails. As with any community request for additional play equipment, we are available to assist communities in seeking funding not available to the council for the creation of these areas. For further discussion, please contact us by emailing: operations@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Your email will be forwarded to the Landscape Services Officer for your area.

You can view the original project here: Playground Survey 2025 | Engage Aberdeenshire

What you told us

We received a significant number of thoughtful comments, reflecting a wide range of views on the initiative.

The overall response showed a fairly balanced split between those who support and those who do not support each of the sites. Many comments recognised the importance of supporting wildlife and biodiversity - particularly pollinators - and acknowledged the potential benefits of this approach when applied carefully and in the right locations.

At the same time, residents clearly expressed that these areas must be managed responsibly and sited appropriately. Concerns were raised around tidiness, increased dog fouling, safety for children, and the general appearance of long grass.

What we're doing

Following a full review of all comments received, we have made the following decisions:

• Most proposed sites will go ahead, as they are lower-impact areas with minimal disruption to public use.
• Sites where clear issues were raised have been excluded or adjusted.
• Paths and edges will be kept tidy to ensure good visibility, safe access, and a well-kept appearance.
• All sites will be monitored closely throughout the season.
• New site suggestions will be reviewed for inclusion in 2026.

Our goal is to strike the right balance between supporting nature and keeping public spaces safe and welcoming.

View updated maps here:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1hrK3vVA-d3hT-Hs5rjESzduVNxrC1Bg&ll=57.26670238090054%2C-2.5954762999999943&z=8

Thank you for helping us shape this initiative! You can view the original project here: No Mow Meadows | Engage Aberdeenshire

What you told us

Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards requested feedback from consumers on what they consider to be important when buying a new or second hand car, and their knowledge of the ‘Expensive Car Supplement’ (ECS). The survey was shared with Aberdeenshire Council employees and the general public, receiving a total of 290 responses.

Unsurprisingly, price emerged as the most significant factor when purchasing a car. Although running costs, such as road tax and ULEZ compliance, are lower on the list of priorities, they remain important considerations. Service history was also listed as important information.

Only 33% were aware of the ECS tax, and 60% said it would influence their decision to proceed with the transaction. Twelve people reported they had been caught by this tax before.

Most people in the survey suggested that there is a joint responsibility for the car dealer to provide information on Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ) compliance and the ECS, however consumers should also do their own research.

What we’re doing

Trading Standards have engaged with Aberdeenshire car dealers to ensure online adverts contain all necessary information, including ULEZ and ECS details, and to provide compliance advice regarding Trading Standard legislation, especially regarding advert content accuracy and completeness.

Car dealers will continue to be routinely monitored.

You can view the original project here: Trading Standards Car Project 2025 | Engage Aberdeenshire

What you told us

We asked for feedback on potential food growing sites in Banff, Fraserburgh, and Sandhaven. You shared interest in options like community gardens, individual plots, orchards, beekeeping, workshops, and biodiversity improvements.

In Banff, 28 responses were received and all were largely positive, with interest in a community growing project for all three sites, especially spaces for families and community use.

In Fraserburgh, 30 responses were received, and while many supported the idea of community growing spaces, there was some opposition to the two proposed sites. Privacy, parking, and accessibility were common concerns, particularly at Kennedy Place. Two responses were received for Caird Place, Sandhaven, showing both support and opposition for community growing there. No local groups were identified to lead projects in any location.

What we're doing

We shared survey findings with Elected Members.

We will contact interested individuals to share more information and connect them with existing food growing projects in all three areas. In Banff, we plan to choose one site for further community engagement to explore potential for a new community growing project. In Fraserburgh and Sandhaven, the efforts will focus on growing existing projects.

To view the original project page, click here: Banff and Buchan Food Growing Sites | Engage Aberdeenshire

We asked

Aberdeenshire Council needs to develop its next set of Equality Outcomes, along with the Bi-annual Equality Mainstreaming report. We examined changes over the past four years and asked what the current equalities challenges are in Aberdeenshire to help develop our next set of Equality Outcomes for 2025 to 2029. We engaged with many stakeholders in order to capture the widest and most representative sample of the main equality issues in Aberdeenshire.

You said

The survey was open to all residents and staff of Aberdeenshire Council, with in-person focus groups held with children and young people, and lived experience. This allowed us to capture what were the main issues were across Aberdeenshire. The feedback we received had similar themes which were:

• Accessibility
• Building capability
• Community Safety
• Children and Young People reaching full potential

We will

The feedback has been shared with the six Area Committees, Education and Children Services Committee as well as the Licensing Board. The feedback from the committees has been included in the main report which is going to Full Council for approval.

Once approved by Full Council, Officers will begin implementing the actions to achieve the identified Equality Outcomes.

We Asked

Aberdeenshire Council sought input from the local community to select new play equipment for three play parks within Kincardine & Mearns: The Queen Elizabeth and Hamish Park in Stonehaven and Memorial Park in Laurencekirk. As some of the popular pieces are nearing the end of their serviceable life, we aim to replace them with items that cater to a similar age range and offer equal or greater play value. The funds for this project, £145,000, will come solely from the Scottish Government Play Park Renewal Fund.

You Said

Submissions from four different suppliers were put forward: Hags, Kompan, Jupiter Play, and Sutcliffe Play. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed and voted. Thanks to your support, Hags obtained just under 49% of the total vote, receiving more than twice as many votes as the second-placed competitor.

Example of winning design:

We Will

Aberdeenshire Council's Landscape Services have formally issued a purchase order to Hags, signifying a major advancement in the enhancement of three local recreational areas. Installation dates for 2025 are currently being scheduled, and we are confident that the local communities are looking forward to enjoying the upgraded play facilities.