Anger as residents fear they are being "Kintored" in town park plan
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A controversial planning application is set to be heard by Garioch area councillors next week. prompting concerns that the town could once again lose out on facilities as a result.
Scotia Homes are seeking a change its obligations to create a town park as part of a decades old plan to create housing at Midmill in Kintore which was first submitted back in 2004.
The terms of the original agreement had been agreed and reflected decisions reported to and taken at Garioch Area Committees in April 2007, May 2012, August 2012 and March 2013.
Principal concerns revolve around changes to the definitions of green-space, alterations of the provision a football pitch and cricket pitch to a multi-use games area and multi use green space along with a change to the community building originally envisaged as a pavillion.
A spokesman for local residents said: "There used to be an unofficial term for what is happening in Kintore.
"When a town was the target for housing development without adequate community facilities being in place it was said to be "kintored".
"Well, it looks like we're being "kintored" again.
"When the proposed Town Park at Midmill was first mooted there was a feeling that, at last, Kintore might be getting the sort of facilities that one of Aberdeenshire's ten largest towns might expect.
"The original plan plan for the Town Park development was for sports facilities and open space to be located as close as possible to the town centre.
"The latest plans from Scotia Homes have the sport facilities at the furthest point from Kintore Town Centre, alongside the B944 Kemnay Road.
"The original brief was for the development to enable 4.5 hectares of sports facilities and open space, this has now shrunk in the latest plans to a sports square with associated car park and pavilion, plus a small play area.
"The plans state a total open space of 3.738 hectares, but this includes two SUDS drainage areas shown on the plan.
"This application seems to be redefining "park" to mean a small sports square, car park and pavilion attached to a huge housing development.
"Where are the grass areas for the community to gather and enjoy a bit of open space, where are the swings, roundabouts and chutes?
"Where are plants and flower beds to make it look attractive and why are the meagre facilities now proposed at the far distant end of the park and not within easy walking distance at the town end of the development?
Kintore and District Community Council has continued to urged residents to contact councillors before the meeting to make sure their views are taken into account as their views raised were noted by planning officers in the council paper as "not from a statutory consultee" for this matter.
