Aldi Store, Countesswells Road

Published Jul 02, 2022, by Craig Melville and Robert Frost takes approximately 3 minute(s) to read.

Background

Aldi Store Limited submitted a proposal for an 1,846 sq m gross, commercial store with 112 car parking spaces including ten accessible, ten family, seven staff, and two Electric Vehicle (EV) charging spaces. They will also include eight cycle spaces along with soft and hard landscaping boundary treatments. To be built in Airyhall opposite the Robert Gordon’s College playing fields with access via Countesswells Road footway. It is to incorporate multiple pedestrian routes into the site.

Latest

The store is scheduled to open Thursday July 14, 2022.

Opening Hours

1. Monday to Saturday: 0800 to 2200
2. Sunday: 0900 to 2000

"We can confirm Aldi is set to open a brand new store on Countesswells Road, Aberdeen on Thursday 14th July at 8am."

"However, we would like to advise that this date may be subject to change. Thanks."

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Police Scotland Community Survey

Published Jul 01, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 11 minute(s) to read.

Your Police 2022/23

Police Scotland has continued to meet the needs of our communities during a demanding and difficult period for the people of Scotland. Understanding the views and priorities of Scotland's diverse communities is fundamental to how Police Scotland responds to the needs of the public. Our public engagement activities help us improve how we deliver our policing services in local communities, ensuring they are accessible to everyone.

INFLUENCE POLICING IN THE AREA

The closing date is March 31, 2023

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Bus Service Changes, July 03, 2022 (First/Stagecoach)

Published Jun 29, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 3 minute(s) to read.

Communication

First Bus Aberdeen has issued this via a change of service notice on their website and shared on their social media channels. Yet at the time of writing this article, they have still to update their "Journey planner" feature or "Route maps" on their website. Aberdeen City Council will also communicate the change via the following channels (Newspapers, City Council Website, and on Social Media).

We, the Community Council, feel that this whole change management process has been extremely poorly executed. Between, no involvement around the consultation process with ourselves. The public communication itself of the changes has been unclear with no maps or route plans supplied by First Bus Aberdeen. Not to mention the whole narrative being lost in the communication around changes that are happening with Central, Union Street between Bridge Street and Market Street. After that section being reopened for busses and taxis since its closure to all traffic from May 29, 2020, to June 23, 2022. As part of the Nestrans funding, "Spaces for People" measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The City Council has still to deploy bus stops for some of the new routes and we are only a few days away from these services going live.

Summary

Change is scary, but overall, these improvements in public transport in our community look to be a giant step in the right direction. We believe thank you, is well deserved to all those concerned Councillors, Aberdeen City Council, First Bus Aberdeen, and Stagecoach East Scotland. There were real concerns within the community around the service ending spread by rumour from drivers, residents and on social media. Now with access for busses to Central, Union Street this will also speed up journey times and links throughout the city.

Positive:

1. Two services the 11A and 15 during the day and two in the evening 15A and 15B.
2. Craigiebuckler service now going via Queens Road, Berryden, and ending in Northfield.
3. Countesswells are now being serviced directly via Countesswells Road service 15.
4. Airyhall, Craigton Road and the Dandara development are all covered by the service 15.
5. New Aldi store on Countesswells Road will be integrated into the service 15 route.
6. Access to the facilities at Countesswells (businesses, school, and the lovely forest walks)

Negative:

1. Direct beach service lost, switch to 13 service on Union Street in-front of Town House.

See the following articles for a breakdown of the new services:

• Change: Service 11A Craigiebuckler to Northfield (New)
• Change: Service 15 Countesswells to Balnagask via Airyhall (New)
• Change: Service 15A Evening Only (Revised)
• Change: Service 15B Evening Only (New)

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Change: Service 11A Craigiebuckler to Northfield (New)

Published Jun 30, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 1.5 minute(s) to read.

Operator

First Bus Aberdeen

Frequency

Approximately every 30 minutes. See the bus timetable.

Route | MAP

Starting at Craigiebuckler Terminus on Craigiebuckler Avenue and follow the previous route right onto Springfield Road, left at the traffic lights and down Countesswells Road along Seafield Road until it reaches the Anderson Drive roundabout, at this point the route diverges from the previous service where it will take the first exit and travel up Anderson Drive until Queens Road roundabout where it will take the third exit and travel along Queens Road. The 11A Service will now replicate the 11 Service, which terminates at Northfield Terminus on Howes Road.

The service 11A will operate every 30 minutes from Craigiebuckler to Northfield, replacing the service 15 in Craigiebuckler and the service route is as follows: Towards Craigiebuckler: Normal route to Queens Rd then; Anderson Drive, Seafield Road, Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigiebukler Ave to Craigiebuckler (Craigiebukler Ave). The service will operate the reverse route towards Northfield. In Northfield the route will be amended to serve Byron Avenue and Brebner Terrace in both directions and no longer service Springhill Road on the outbound journey to Northfield Terminus. ROUTE MAP

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Change: Service 15 Countesswells to Balnagask via Airyhall (New)

Published Jun 30, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 1.5 minute(s) to read.

Operator

First Bus Aberdeen

Frequency

Approximately every 30 minutes. See the bus timetable.

Route | MAP

The service 15 will no longer serve Craigiebuckler or the Beach, with the two areas being served by the services 11A and 13 respectively as aforementioned. The service will operate between Countesswells Development and Balnagask via Airyhall, on a 30-minute frequency, also replacing the service 20 in Balnagask. The service from Seafield Road will operate the following in both directions: Countesswells Road, Springfield Road, Craigton Road, Airyhall Avenue, Countesswells Road, Countesswells Avenue, Coutesswells Road, then will operate a 1-way route around Countesswells Development. As a result of this route change the entire length of Countesswells Avenue will be served providing a bus service to new housing in the area. ROUTE MAP

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Change: Service 15A Evening Only (Revised)

Published Jun 30, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 1.5 minute(s) to read.

Operator

Stagecoach East Scotland will continue to offer the limited evening Aberdeen City Council subsidised service.

Frequency

Approximately every 60 minutes. See the bus timetable.

Route | MAP

Starting at the Bus Station, Union Square turning left route will be that it will now travel along Central Union Street and has a new stop outside the St Nicholas Kirk before turning down Market Street and ending at Union Square, Bus Station. On route from the Union Street Bus Station, it will turn left onto Guild Street, then right onto Bridge Street, then continue out to Countesswells.

The 11A will not operate in Craigiebuckler in the evening but services are still available on the Council supported 15A (Monday to Friday). Evening services on the 11 to Woodend are unaffected. ROUTE MAP

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Change: Service 15B Evening Only (New)

Published Jun 30, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 1.5 minute(s) to read.

Operator

First Bus Aberdeen

Frequency

Approximately every 60 minutes. See the bus timetable.

Route | MAP

Starting at the Bus Station, Union Square turning left route will be that it will now travel along Central Union Street and has a new stop outside the St Nicholas Kirk before turning down Market Street and ending at Union Square, Bus Station. On route from the Union Street Bus Station, it will turn left onto Guild Street, then right onto Bridge Street, then continue out to Countesswells.

An evening service will operate as a service 15B between Guild Street and Countesswells Development only and will follow the same route until Seafield Shops (Countesswells Rd) but will then operate directly to Countesswells via Countesswells Road and will not serve the Airyhall area, but services will still be available on the Council supported 15A (Monday to Friday). ROUTE MAP

Springfield Service Station on Springfield Road

Published Jun 24, 2022, by Craig Melville and takes approximately 1.5 minutes to read.

Background

A brief history about this site, owned by Esson Properties Limited which comprises a petrol station forecourt and store with entrance and exit via footway on Springfield Road an adjoining property that is currently let on lease to Athletic Edge Gym and the overflow carpark located to the left of the entrance. It's been vacant since the previous commercial tenants chose not to renew the lease agreement on April 24, 2021. There were concerns that Esson Properties Limited would develop the land inline with other sites throughout the city, see an article by Philippa Gerrard of the Evening Express. Since being vacated, the location was cleaned, cleared and had maintenance carried out by the management agency, CBRE Limited (Scotland), Aberdeen, and they have listed the site on the likes of Rightmove.

Latest

Esson Properties has a new legal agreement signed with Ascona Group as of June 17, 2022. It is expected that British Petroleum (BP) will operate the Petrol Station, and Nisa Retail Limited will operate the store and Athletic Edge Gym will continue its lease at present of the adjoining unit. This update comes from Aberdeen City, Councillor Martin Greig.

I am sure, like me, it's good to know that some progress is finally happening and that those of us who have missed the facilities will be glad to see its return. Currently, no specific date for when it will reopen or exactly who the tenants will be, but when we have more information, we will update this post.

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Greenspace Springfield Meadows Survey

The survey is now closed and if you took part, thank you as this will help us create a case for the City Council to improve the space and shape it with your input at the heart of these proposals. We will update you soon with the results in a future post.

James Hutton Institute Development 

The Hutton Institute and "Macaulay Development Trust" have plans for developing the land around the Hutton Institute in Craigiebuckler. They have published a public consultation process.