- More uni courses cut in England
- Haulier fare subsidy 'must remain'
- Tax-dodging landlords 'targeted'
- Housing market recovery 'not there'
- 'Little prospect' for oil fund plan
- Disability cuts 'are devastating'
- Heart care 'more likely for rich'
- Lockerbie probe request to Libya
- Lennon bomb plot accused for trial
- 'MP' held after Commons disturbance
- 'Serious failings' at health board
- Cottage death OAP 'was murdered'
- Murder jury retraces woman's steps
- Pine marten control called for
- Direct flights 'key for economy'
- Navy diver joins Concordia probe
- Independence plan 'may block bank'
- Moore suggests earlier referendum
- Anorexia no fad, says MSP father
- Bronze sculpture stolen from museum
Local Headlines
NHS Grampian urged to ‘think again’ on birth unit
Mid Deeside Community Council has submitted formal objections to proposals by NHS Grampian to close the birth unit at Aboyne Hospital as part of a review of Maternity Services across the region.
Huge total raised at “Sam’s ceilidh”
The parents of a woman who died from bone cancer aged just 22, held a charity ceilidh in memory of their daughter last weekend.
Community backing to buy Lumphanan church
Around seventy members of the local community heard that despite previous denials by the Church of Scotland (COS) that there was ever any plans to sell Stothert Memorial Church and / or the manse in Lumphanan, both were now officially for sale.
Mum on the run for charity
A Banchory mother is set to run two marathons in the space of a month to raise money for a dyslexia charity.
Working hard for Victoria and Albert Halls
The final February draw of the Victoria and Albert Halls 300 + Club has been held at the Coilacriech Inn.
Cuts to community transport groups
Councillors will next week be asked to award over £330,000 to community transport initiatives - a 10% cut on previous funding.
Princess Royal to the Spring Show
The Princess Royal will be attending the Royal Northern Spring Show at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie later this month.
£11 million underspend
Councillors will receive the latest monitoring report on the council’s budget up to the end of December 2011, when the Policy & Resources Committee meets next Thursday (February 23).
Chance for kids to design front cover
Youngsters from Deeside and Donside primary schools are being challenged to come up with an award winning design for the front cover of this year’s Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF) brochure.
MSP quizzed on issues by Westhill group
Local MSP Dennis Robertson was quizzed by the Westhill Social Studies Group after accepting an invitation from Mrs Grace Marshall.
Police want cadets
Grampian Police has launched its latest recruitment drive for a new intake of police cadets and briefing sessions will be held in Banchory next month.
“I thought I was going mad!” says lottery winner
After winning eight times at a bingo night at a friend’s house, Sheila Davidson was inspired to buy a National Lottery ticket – and won £4,520,120 as a result.
Wind turbines for Torphins given approval
Two 45.5m high wind turbines are to be built on agricultural land at Torphins, despite objections from residents.
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Restoring the River Dee
It’s the Queens Diamond Jubilee year and a lot of work is planned to help restore the River Dee to its former glories, writes Ken Reid.
Village plan consultation
A second public consultation for what is described as “Scotland’s first sustainable village” is being held at the Robert Gordon University’s Schoolhill campus next week.
Alford has another winner!
It appears that the Donside village of Alford has scooped another lottery win.
Pupils press for path
Pupils from Finzean Primary made the case for safer access to and from school to local councillors and the roads department last week.
Interest free loan scheme to SMEs
MSP Dennis Robertson has welcomed £2.5million funding that will finance interest free loans to small businesses to help them install renewables technologies.
Pupils take part in world record attempt
CHILDREN at a Deeside school have been taking part in a world record breaking attempt for the most people signing and singing simultaneously.
Residents unhappy with service changes
Westhill and Elrick Community Council hosted a packed meeting on local bus services last Thursday at Westhill Academy.
Catherine funded for Tarland garden project
An Aboyne woman is being paid to work for the charity of her choice on the Vodafone World of Difference programme
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Council sets out its £548 million budget
Aberdeenshire Council has set its budget for 2012/13 and agreed revenue budgets through to 2016/17 on a provisional basis.
Plea for new homes for rescued ponies
Owners are being sought for two ponies who have been waiting to find new homes at the Scottish SPCA’s Aberdeenshire centre, since it opened at Drumoak last year.
Luxury pads sold
Almost all the homes on a luxury Stewart Milne development in Bieldside have been snapped up by buyers.
Distillery produces Queen’s Jubilee whisky
A special £100,000 bottle of whisky which has been maturing for 60 years has been created for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by a Royal Deeside distillery.
Hundreds see proposals for Drumoak ‘tourist hub’
More than 250 people turned out to view plans for a proposed multi-million pound retail development and tourist hub by Brodie Countryfare, outside Drumoak.
Tourism - a plan for 2012
Tourism Businesses in the Deeside and Strathdon area are invited to an open evening on Tuesday, February 21 at 6.00 pm at the Raemoir House Hotel, Banchory.
A Norwegian honour for Vice Consul Fiona
A Donside woman has been awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for her outstanding service as Vice Consul in the North-east of Scotland.
First class music!
It was a “full house” at Hill of Banchory School last Thursday evening when 140 parents, friends and Rotarians gathered to enjoy the performances of the best of Banchory Academy at the local round of the Rotary Young Musician of the Year annual competition.
A testing 24 hour outdoor challenge
A Deeside engineer is part of a team which will attempt to climb thirteen Munros (hills over 3,00ft) in a 24-hour period.
Council to set rents
Councillors are setting the council’s housing revenue budget, including rents and charges for next year.
Hardy team tackles Dee!
Douneside House in Tarland is preparing to host a charity swimathon in order to raise more than £2,000 for different charities.
Marathon effort will help animal centre
The Drumoak Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre is urging running enthusiasts to contact the Scottish SPCA to secure only two remaining places available for this year’s London Marathon.
River Dee salmon season officially opened by Fast Show comedian Paul
The start of the 2012 salmon fishing season on the River Dee was celebrated yesterday (Wednesday), with an official opening ceremony on the riverbank by Potarch Bridge.
Fantastic fundraiser!
A Deeside woman whose son has a rare urological condition has helped raise funds for equipment which will save North-east children travelling to Glasgow for treatment.
Durris feedback
THE Forestry Commission is currently consulting on their ten year management plan for their woodlands in the Durris area and would like to hear what local groups and individuals think of the draft plan.
Alford Railway history to be told
Preparations for a new exhibition on the history of the Alford Valley Railway (AVR) are well underway at the Grampian Transport Museum (GTM) in Alford.
Pubs call for Jubilee hours
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), members of which operate 1,200 of Scotland’s 5,000 pubs and which represents most of the country’s major brewers and drinks companies, has called for Licensing Boards to allow pubs additional trading hours to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on June 5 this year.
Warning to poachers as season gets underway
With the salmon fishing season open on the Dee followed by all of Grampian’s rivers over the next few weeks, a new initiative has been launched to raise awareness of the potential impact of wildlife crime on the regions waterways.
Requests to examine safety at junction
Banchory & Mid Deeside Councillor Karen Clark is calling on Aberdeenshire Council to review road safety at the busy Upper Lochton junction off Raemoir Road.
Golfers’ guide for region published
The importance of golf tourism to Aberdeen City and Shire is highlighted by the publication of the latest golf guide for the region.
Former world champion cyclist to attend Cyclefest
A former British world championship cyclist is to be the guest at this year’s Cyclefest at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford.
Fears for woman after fire tears through home
Investigations were continuing into the cause of a house fire which was understood to have claimed the life of the occupant.
Firefighter Colin Bulawayo-bound
A Skene firefighter is among four from Grampian set to travel to Aberdeen’s twin city of Bulawayo to train and improve firefighting and rescue capabilities in the African country.
Hill of Banchory School gets positive report
A Banchory school has has been praised by education inspectors for its “well behaved, highly-motivated and confident children.”
Tarland service cut
Tarland Post Office is to close following the resignation of the Subpostmaster and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use.
School bus operator issued with warning
The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken, has warned a Lumsden school bus operator against a complacent approach to its vehicle maintenance.
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Marking Holocaust Memorial Day
Sir Robert Smith MP signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died.
Celebrating the Jubilee
Two community groups have joined forces to gather ideas on how Aboyne should mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.
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Weather for Banchory
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: West
