Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2000
AWARD FOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE GROUND
23. ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS WITHIN ABERDEEN CITY nominated in 2000 by Aberdeen Countryside Project.
The Aberdeen Countryside Project (ACP) began operation in April 1998. The project has been created as a partnership involving local key players. However much of the impetus for creating and developing the project came from within the City Council Planning & Strategic Development Department who realised the potential of the scheme to divert landfill tax credits and other funds towards positive environmental improvements. The project is established as a registered Scottish charity and has a Board of Directors drawn from local agencies including Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Natural Heritage & The Forestry Commission. In addition the private sector are represented by Shanks Waste Services and the UK Offshore Operators Association. The aim of the project was to work within a strategic overview whilst responding to local needs. One of the initial tasks of the project was to produce an outline strategy identifying key needs within the City. These included: 1) Decline of wildlife habitats through neglect or development pressures. 2) Lack of integrated path networks or opportunities for countryside access. 3) Poor levels of awareness about the local countryside and urban greenspace.
Within the Countryside Strategy it was considered of paramount importance that the project should have the flexibility to respond directly to the needs of the local community where this was compatible with the overall aims of ACP. The project has a number of priority areas for action which include Landscape Enhancement, Habitat management and Nature Conservation, Access and Recreation, Education, information and interpretation, Preservation of Historic Landscapes. Aberdeen Countryside Project must work with a range of partner organisations to ensure the delivery of these objectives in the longer term. Actions are implemented through community involvement -local people are encouraged to contribute at all stages from project inception to delivery on the ground; consensus building -with stakeholders involved in all projects; incentives -provision of grants and help in kind; partnership working; and direct action.
Some recent examples of projects undertaken by Aberdeen Countryside Project include: Formartine and Buchan Way: creation of a section of a 65 mile recreational route linking Dyce Railway Station with destinations in Aberdeenshire. The route is intended for walkers, cyclists and horseriders. Parkhill Woods Visitor Facilities: provision of parking and a network of waymarked trails within woodland managed by Forest Enterprise. Easter Anguston Farm improvements: Easter Anguston is a centre run by Voluntary Service Aberdeen to provide employment training for people with learning disabilities. The project has worked with the farm to provide a farm trail, information boards and habitat improvements including new hedges, ponds and tree planting. Kingswells Community Conservation Group: The project has supported a local community group in the Kingswells area to undertake tree planting, clean ups and improvements to local biodiversity. These and other schemes have all generated a considerable amount of leverage from external partners including financial contributions and help in kind. The project also offers small grants to local landowners to encourage tree planting and habitat conservation. The long-term impact of all these schemes will be improvements in the quality of the environment generally for local people, for business and for biodiversity.
Wider Context Aberdeen only has a relatively small landward area, but much of it is Green Belt and much is Countryside Around Towns. It is land under significant pressure, but also land which is much cherished by the many people who live there or close by. The aims of the project are very much in keeping with the objectives of sustainable development and the agenda 21 process as a whole. Central to this is the emphasis on an enabling approach which focuses very clearly on community involvement from project inception to fruition. The project has significant input by planning service but is innovative in that ACP has been created as an independent organisation to allow close working with external partners and the community. In addition to direct environmental improvements, the project brings wider benefits to the local economy through the creation of a green location for business through tackling the difficult issues facing the urban fringe.
The judges visited Aberdeen to study this project. They were enormously impressed by what they found. This initiative has been created with innovative funding arrangements and a strong local agenda. Flexibility of response is a key characteristic which has encouraged local initiative. The whole project has now developed synergies which are carrying it forward. The benefits are closely connected to community involvement, can be experienced on the ground, and will assist the city as a whole as well as enhancing the urban fringe. The project has harnessed imaginative funding to co-ordinated action by a range of groups from local residents to city children with learning difficulties. The judges found the Aberdeen Countryside Project inspiring. They are delighted to recommend it for an Award in this category.