What you told us - What we're doing

View detail about the consultations - Local Development Plan 2027 | Engage Aberdeenshire

We Asked

In preparation for the Development Plan Scheme, to be published in December 2022, the Planning and Economy Development Plan team has conducted a number of surveys with the general public, Community Councils, the Youth Forum, infrastructure providers and development interests to inform and engage on the options available for preparation of the next Local Development Plan. These surveys have been supported by audio-visual presentations and focused meetings.

You Said (as at Aug 2022)

While responses have been limited, there is a consensus emerging on key issues regarding how that plan is to be produced.

We Will

The Development Plan Scheme will reflect the above consensus on key issues when it is published, initially for consideration by Area Committees and latterly by Aberdeenshire Council.

View detail about the consultation - Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service | Engage Aberdeenshire

We Asked

How residents and visitors view, value and experience the historic environment and heritage of the region? The survey aimed to:

• discover more about which sites in Aberdeenshire people feel connected to or consider to be the most important to them
• understand how people engage with heritage and the historic environment
• find out if people know about the Council’s Archaeology Service and how we currently promote the historic environment
• help guide future directions for promotion of the historic environment by the Archaeology Service

You Said

- The majority of respondents knew that Aberdeenshire Council has an Archaeology Service, and over half were aware of at least one aspect of the promotional activities of the Archaeology Service.
- Most people agreed or strongly agreed that Heritage & the Historic Environment make a positive difference to their lives.
- Almost half of all those responding regularly participate in historic environment / heritage activities.

We Will

- Do more to promote Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service and its existing resources.
- Take the responses into consideration when prioritising the team’s future promotional activities (social media posts, leaflet themes, interpretation boards).
- Continue to support and promote engagement with historic environment and heritage activities throughout Aberdeenshire.

Please view the one-page summary. Full report available at the consultation link above.

View detail about the consultation - Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Services in Aberdeenshire | Engage Aberdeenshire

We Asked

About whether the timing was right to try operating a different type of bus service; how you would like a Digital DRT service to work; your current and proposed levels of bus travel; and your views on testing Digital DRT in the Inverurie and/or Deeside areas.

You Said

• It was a good time to try a new type of bus service (75%)

• You liked the concept of DDRT (82%)

• 32.2% indicated they would wish to book using an App, 50.2% wanted the option of booking by App and phone and 11.2% would prefer to phone;

• 19.1% would want to book trips in advance, 11.6% just before travel and 66.6% would wish to have both booking options;

• 44.7% would want to use a bus stop, 18.8% to be picked-up at their ‘door’ and 34.3% either at a bus stop or their door depending upon the circumstances;

• 84.4% thought it was important to be able to track the vehicle through the App, with only 5.2% not considering this important;

• 89.9% felt it was important to receive service disruption information, e.g., late running, through the App, with only 1.8% stating this was not important; and,

• 83.1% believed it was important that the App also included details of other bus information/times, with only 8.9% considering this to be unimportant.

We Did

• We decided to introduce a pilot project up to August 2022, initially operating in the Inverurie area.

• We commissioned a software supplier, Moovit, to provide a system for booking and managing a DDRT service.

• We commissioned a bus operator, Watermill Coaches, to operate a pilot DDRT service in the Inverurie area.

• We launched the Ready2Go DRT app, incorporating a public transport journey planner and Ready2Go booking facility, in early August 2021.

• We launched the Ready2Go Around Inverurie bus service on 16 August 2021.

• We commissioned a consultancy firm, Stantec, to evaluate the project.

• We decided to extend the pilot Ready2Go Around Inverurie initiative for another year until August 2023.

View detail about the consultation - https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/aberdeenshire-council-website-survey

We Asked

If you are a regular user of the council website, www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk, or have used it in the past, we would like to know what your experience was. Your feedback will help us improve the website so please help us get it right.

You Said (as at March 2022)

Improve site search, make navigation easier, improving presentation, improving quality of information, make sure contact details are available and easier to find.

We Will

Aim to use feedback from this survey to benchmark your satisfaction when the new website is live. This will help us identify if we need to make further changes.

View detail about the consultation - How We Prioritise Bridges | Engage Aberdeenshire

We Asked

For your comments on proposals set out in a draft Bridges Policy and Procedure.

You Said

A variety of comments were provided.

We Will

Implement the Proposed Bridges Work Bank Prioritisation Policy and Procedure following amendments made to the policy and procedure based on consultation feedback.

The Policy and Procedure were agreed at the council's Infrastructure Services Committee in May 2021.