Fraserburgh Beach masterplan is approved by councillors
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Councillors on Aberdeenshire Council’s Banff and Buchan area committee approved plans for the future development of the Fraserburgh Beach area.
Welcoming the report, Councillor Seamus Logan congratulated council officers for the masterplan which he described as an early Christmas present for the town and the surrounding area.
In the report that went before councillors during their meeting on Tuesday it said: "The work on the Masterplan sought to build on stakeholder engagement that started in 2019 but was curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"A 12-month programme of stakeholder engagement was agreed with the consultancy team.
"Over 25 separate events and activities have taken place with the community between October 2022 and September 2023 and it is estimated that over 1000 people have engaged with the process in one way or another.
"This has provided a very solid evidence base from which to base the Masterplan and to take forward the various projects identified.
"One of the main discussions with the community has been around the importance of co-ownership of the Masterplan.
"The Council cannot – and should not – deliver the plan entirely and will need to work in partnership with the community.
"Once the plan is endorsed, it is suggested that it forms a key part of any new Place Plan for Fraserburgh and is owned at officer level by the Banff and Buchan Area Management Team to ensure engagement from all service areas that will need to be involved in its delivery.
"It will also be vital to ensure that both the Council and local stakeholders are able to commit to managing and maintaining the area into the future and this commitment should be identified early on.
"The Masterplan will evolve and will need to be delivered in phases. It is likely to take at least ten years to complete fully, though many of the smaller identified interventions could be much sooner.
"More work will be required to develop the ideas more fully and to explore funding opportunities.
"The Masterplan is built upon six key themes which have emerged during the public engagement. These are: improving access and inclusivity; providing for current and new activities and recreation; providing better quality and more variety of dwell spaces; improving facilities; protecting and enhancing the environment; and making it ‘authentically Fraserburgh’."
Notable projects within the masterplan include a new multi-purpose building; expanded and inclusive play area; improved and extended promenade; beach wheelchairs and new beach accessibility ramps; safer crossing opportunities; and a variety of creative seating options.
Councillor Seamus Logan said: “The consultation on this report was an exemplar for all local community consultations and is reflected in the endorsement of the plan by so many local people.
"The plan represents a potentially massive boost to the local economy through growth in tourism at local, national and international level."
Fundraising to implement the plan has already begun and it is hoped that phase one of implementation will begin next year.
