Politics: Ellon councillor looks to 2023
Offering her personal reflections, Ellon and District councillor Gillian Owen speaks to Grampian Online and the local community in her message for the New Year :
"I do hope you all had a good Christmas and that you enjoyed spending time with your family and friends.
"My Christmas this year was spent at home with Steve, we did have our son Alexander and his girlfriend visiting Christmas Eve for dinner and part of Christmas day opening presents, it was very chilled.
"I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to all those who had to work on the big day and pay tribute to their families and friends too.
It is a hard one and for many people it’s a normal day.
"Thank you.
"This year we saw the Local Government Elections in May and I was honoured to have been re-elected.
"I first stood in 2007, the changes that have occurred during that time have been vast.
"I was really pleased to be re-appointed the Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children Services Committee, there are many changes evolving through Education with the review of the Curriculum for Excellence and the exam diet; also in Children’s Services, whether the Service should be included in a National Care Service, something I personally am against.
"This is a small service that needs great attention and should not be swallowed up in a huge body.
"We have seen how Police Scotland and the Fire and Rescue Service now operate having been subsumed into a national giant white elephant which doesn’t take cognizance of locality.
"Covid has had a great impact on our lives.
"Many practices have changed, working from home, or living at work became the new norm and countless have chosen to continue to work from home.
"Do remember we are not all programmed for working in this way, particularly if we have a limited space?
"We must be mindful of our wellbeing and remember to check in on our work colleagues every so often, even those we believe to be the strongest can suffer in silence.
"I urge you all if you have an issue get help as soon as you can.
"I have continued to hold surgeries, many of you will have seen me at the Ellon Farmers Market or above the Riverside Car Park toilets, during the winter months though I have used the community room at Rowlands Pharmacy, and I must say it is warmer for all!
"My thanks to Rowlands for allowing me to use their room.
"I must say I enjoy meeting and hearing from you all."
She continued: "Speeding traffic continues to blight our towns and villages alike, Newburgh, Ythanbank, and Foveran all experience issues and they are often discussed at Community council meetings.
"We all need to take more care when behind the wheel of any vehicle.
"Constituents have come to me at my surgeries to tell me about narrow misses at the zebra crossings in Market Street, The Square and both on Station Road, asking if they can be changed to Pelican Crossings so the traffic is made to stop, I’ll following this up.
"The other area of concern is outside Greens, not all drivers appear to understand the change of priority but the need to slow down is key.
"I am pressing Officers for a raised table opposite Greens so that we can both slow traffic down and help residents cross the road.
"So please do concentrate when you are behind the wheel and remember there is no need to speed!
"Pressure still needs to be put on Transport Scotland to recognise that the junction at the Toll of Birness is not fit for purpose and needs to be upgraded as soon as possible.
"My work on the Why Stop at Ellon? Campaign continues in this vein.
"Everyone knows the A90 stretch from Ellon onwards needs attention, with no railway the connectivity is road based.
"The north-east continues to the engine room, and it is time that the Scottish Government chose to reflect this and provide the very necessary resources to allow the upgrade to the A90 Ellon onwards to occur.
"Towns throughout Aberdeenshire are struggling, and Ellon is no exception empty shops, and a reduced footfall is a worry.
"We do need a vision for our town, and I know the Area Manager has sent out a survey to all businesses, and I hope all business took the opportunity to give their views.
"Diversification is needed and we must try and encourage new business into the area which will not only provide jobs but more choice for the residents and maybe they will then choose to shop locally rather than going further afield.
"The Full Council in January will hopefully see agreement to develop the Aberdeenshire Hub on the old Academy site.
"The other school site the house building is nearing its end, inevitably there have been some challenges but will be a valued addition to our town. "However, the whole projects seems to have taken forever!
"Have you got the “my Aberdeenshire” App yet? I included this in last year’s message but felt it was important to highlight again.
"Residents can install on their mobile devices, go to the Aberdeenshire Council Website where it can be downloaded, equally email me and I can send a QR code for either iPhone or Android.
"This enables them to report potholes, streetlights, request and fill a grit box, fly tipping, and missed bin collections and you can even book a recycling slot, it contains all sorts of other information and well worth a visit!
"Ellon and its surrounding villages are blessed with organisations who do so much for our communities, too many to mention them all but here are just a few; from the Community Councils, Ellon Civic Pride, Friends of Ellon Cemetery, Ellon at Heart, Ellon Legion, Ellon Menshed, Nicer Newburgh Gardeners, the Ellon Community Resilience Group, the Foodbanks, Ellon and Ythan Rotary Clubs, Ellon Castle Gardens, School Parent Councils, the many Church Groups, and the Boys & Girls Brigade, the Scouts and Guides, the Sports Clubs and many, many others who make a difference to our towns and villages, I would like to thank them all for the contribution they make and if I have forgotten anyone I’m truly sorry.
"Finally, can I wish everyone an uneventful, healthy, happy, and prosperous 2023 and should anyone wish to contact me about an issue my details are, Facebook - Cllr Gillian Owen, Twitter @gillianlowen, 07768 257392 or email cllr.g.owen@aberdeenshire.gov.uk ."
