RTPI in Scotland 80th Anniversary Celebrations

Photo: Chapter tour of the Bennachie Centre and grounds

Grampian Chapter Convener Allan Rae reports on the Chapter's recent event

Members of the RTPI Grampian Chapter celebrated the 80th Birthday of RTPI Scotland with a walk and talk event at the Bennachie Centre in Aberdeenshire. Hosted by Aberdeenshire Council Planning and Environmental Services, members heard from Jonathan Young who coordinated the recently completed 5 year and £1m programme of footpath and waymarking upgrades and refurbishment of the Bennachie Centre; this was done through a partnership between the Council, Forestry Commission, SNH, Local landowners, the Bennachie Centre Trust, The Bailies of Bennachie and the Lottery Fund. The Centre receives over 250,000 visitors per year.

Thereafter Douglas Gooday, Ranger at the Centre took the group on a guided walk around the Centre and then on a low level stroll along the 'Colony Trail', one of eleven themed waymarked routes on the hill. This included a review of the history of the last croft settlers and a walk through the abandoned crofts on the lower slopes close to the visitor centre. The evidence of successful partnership on the ground was encouraging, and the management of the range of facilities and access at Bennachie is a model which should continue and be sustained into the future.

Other Chapter news

Chapter members also held an EGM to adopt a new constitution for the Chapter which will now be circulated and implemented. To see a copy of this document email here or grampian.scotland@rtpi.org.uk

Forthcoming events include a review of Flooding and Flood Protection in Elgin, to be hosted by Bob Stewart at Moray Council - date to be confirmed - likely to be early July. A mixed five-a-side football tournament, historically known as the POTWoG 5s, will be held in mid August; a healthy number of entries are already in and more teams are expected from the public and private sector in the next couple of months.

The RTPI  in Scotland's Scottish Executive Committee visits Aberdeen on 7 September.  A Chapter event will be part of the programme of activities to hosted by the Macaulay Institute at their campus at Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen.

Members seeking further information should contact Allan Rae Convener at grampian.scotland@rtpi.org.uk

Events Programme 2010

(accurate at publication date given above)

21 Jan: Planning in Zambia: a Volunteer's Tale - Peter Cockhead

25 Feb: Education, Salvation or Damnation - to provide information on the proposals currently being hotly debated for Union Terrace Gardens.

10 Mar: From Pariah to Pyrolysis - How the Planning System Treats Waste ... an RTPI Grampian Chapter and CIWM Scotland Joint Event.

15 Mar: The Annual Allied Professions Lecture: The Past and Future of Marischal College

20 May: Walk and Talk at the Bennachie Centre ... to celebrate 80th Anniversary of RTPI in Scotland

9 July: Flood Alleviation - an all day event including site visits (Elgin)

7 Sept: The Scottish Executive Committee to visit Grampian Chapter and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. The SEC will meet in the morning and then enjoy lunch with Chapter Members and the Institute. In the afternoon, from 2-3.30pm, the Macaulay Institute will present on its work - a meeting that will be attended by SEC, Grampian Chapter and other RTPI members: if you'd like more information on the afternoon presentation or to book a place email grampian.scotland@rtpi.org.uk

For further information on this latest event and booking contact via here or grampian.scotland@rtpi.org.uk

Other events planned during 2010

Oct - Masterplanning

Nov - AGM

Chapter Committee 2010

A minute of the Chapter Committee meeting on 11 January 2010 and a Chapter Scottish Executive Committee(SEC) Representative report on the SEC meeting of 26 January 2010 can be made available to all Grampian Chapter Members by emailing here or via grampian.scotland@rtpi.org.uk

Allan Rae - Convener
Laura Robertson - Secretary
Catherine McCrum - Events Coordinator
Paul Williamson - Treasurer
Allan Garvie - SEC Rep
Alistair Stark
Richard Bush
Selina Osman - Student Rep
David McAllister - Student Rep

If you would like to know more about the chapter and future events please email here or via grampian.scotland@rtpi.org.uk

Archive - Events Programme 2009

March 5 - Business Improvement District - the future for Aberdeen?

April 16 - Trees and Planning

July 14 - PAN 84 to Zero Carbon

Aug 18 - Putting people in the planning picture

Oct 15 - Public Engagement: the Prince's Foundation isn't the Only Option

Dec 2 - AGM and Quiz night 

Archive - Event reports 2008

North Sea Trail visit (June) - Coastal Heritage Explored by Grampian Planners ... Allan Garvie

Return to Chapters page
Return to RTPI in Scotland page

Author:

James Henderson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

30-Jun-10

Categories:

Nations & Regions 

This article has been read 8125 times.