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Methlick Community Council

Annual Report 2020

Methlick Scouts celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2020. A great accolade and milestone achievement accomplished, to be commemorated by a small village and unlikely to be matched by many Scout groups across the country. They had aimed to hold a celebratory event each month throughout the year. Their first event, and for many, the first village event of the year was a well-supported family ceilidh, which was enjoyed by all who attended. However, their plans and those of the nation were soon to be changed.

Methlick Community Council (MCC) supported by groups and organisations from the village were to hold a weekend of VE Day75 Celebrations. This too was one of the many casualties of the global pandemic.

By way of remembrance and commemoration, on 8th May and across the VE75 weekend, the War Memorial was decorated resplendently with bunting and union flags.

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With the pandemic and lockdown impacting on every aspect of normality the village pulled together to help each other where possible.

The village shop offered a free delivery service and was awarded a Local Hero Award for their efforts throughout the first national lockdown and beyond. A clothes bank, housed in the church rooms, was set up and run by Ythan Valley Rotary and food bank donations were organised by the church.

When the lockdown ended MCC set about a summer of refresh, renew and repair. First a very successful, socially-distanced, working party was organised to open up and make useable the green areas at the centre of the village that had not been properly maintained during the lockdown period. As well as cut down and collect the long grass clippings the high turnout meant the wooden benches, picnic tables and park bins could all be treated.

Further to this work party a second, but less well attended morning, saw 5 volunteers weed and clear the weeds under the hedges along the play park. In the days that followed one individual then set about repainting all the flower planters in the village. Later in the summer MCC secured funding for 10 new recycled plastic picnic tables, to replace the wooden ones which are beyond repair and add additional ones in new locations around the village. These tables should prove to be a great long-term asset for the village, especially in this time of outdoor meeting and social distancing.

Due to the lockdown restrictions, no bedding plants were supplied by Aberdeenshire Council and so the amount of flower planting around the village was limited. The permanent planted areas have though been maintained and weeded. Over a number of weekends an area of waste ground, alongside Cottonhillock, on the road to Oldmeldrum, was first kindly ‘ploughed’ by Keith and his tractor, then rotovated (machine hire donated by Inverurie Garden Centre). With several dozen wheelbarrow loads of stones removed, and the ground prepared, the area was then planted with a variety of plants, shrubs and flowers. All plants were donated by a number of villagers, as well as a fabulous assortment from The Happy Plant Garden Centre, Mintlaw. Our thanks go to all who have helped with this on-going project.

The Methlick Bowling Club has had a new, smart gate installed at their entrance and has refurbished their kitchen and indoor seating. Both the bowling and the cricket club ventured out to play, following the government guidelines, and both clubs managed to make the most of the good summer and succeeded in having a few friendly games.

The good weather, social-distancing and the need to get out has meant the village and the play park has seen many a visitor. Unfortunately, the toilets have had to remain locked.

At the start of the summer a gentleman from the village volunteered to become a ‘village orderly’, picking up litter on all the routes into and out of the village. Later in the year a lady volunteered to take on the Braes of Gight area, as this is attracting more visitors and unfortunately more litter. This is a very worthwhile job, but one that should not be necessary as we should all play our part, abide by the law and not drop litter, however MCC and the village community is grateful for their time and effort.

With the start of the new school year Methlick School, as part of their Green Flag Award, also undertook a litter pick around the village. Cigarette ends, empty cans, crisp packets and plastic bottles seem to be the biggest litter problem.

Dog fouling is also a persistent problem in the village. During the year MCC sent out messages via the blog, Facebook and posters asking dog walkers to pick up after their pet and take their litter home or use one of the many waste bins around the village. Whatever your activity in the village, we would ask that you consider your neighbours and surroundings, to make Methlick a place of which to be proud and enjoyed by all.

MCC made a representation on the proposed Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2021. The proposed plan is Aberdeenshire Council’s settled view of what land should be brought forward for development during the period to 2031. The representation was made as the numbers of houses available in the plans had increased significantly from what MCC had thought was agreed with Aberdeenshire Council’s Planning Department. The plan is currently under review.

After a hiatus of several months the MCC began meeting once more, via a virtual committee meeting

Through MCC the school bid for and was awarded a Food Fund Grant, which has allowed the outdoor-learning, a joint venture between MCC and the school to progress. This had to be curtailed earlier in 2020, due to Covid restrictions and school party visits to the Community Garden stopped.

Methlick is a village that works cohesively across the different groups and clubs which, together, deliver and strive to improve the quality of life for residents and the community.

Once again Methlick Community Council would like to thank all the residents and organisations who have helped the village over the last year, be it by way of donations or support.

December 2020

Wishing all in Methlick a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

Stuart Kennedy Chairperson

Methlick Community Council

Bill Adie

Jay Allan

Brian Gray

Julie Low

Linda Henry

Kathy Kennedy

Mick McGrath

Colin Presly

Sarah Purdie

Peter Thorp

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