Latest news with #AberdeenCityRegionDeal
Press and Journal
19-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Future of Aberdeen's job-boosting Net Zero Technology Centre 'must be secured'
The UK Labour government is facing calls to secure the future of a key North Sea innovation hub based in Aberdeen. The Net Zero Technology Centre was created in 2017 to support the North Sea energy industry and accelerate the transition to net zero. It formed part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal and was backed with £180 million of UK and Scottish government funding – which ends in March 2027. North-east MPs Andrew Bowie and Stephen Flynn want the Treasury to commit beyond that date. In a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves they said it has a 'key role in ensuring not only a just transition but a transition with hope and opportunity for the current workforce'. Mr Bowie told the P&J the NZTC has added years on to the viability of tens of thousands of jobs in the north-east. 'Labour are consistently saying Aberdeen and the north-east are vital to the future of energy. 'To pull support in 2027 for NZTC will be a dereliction of duty for government. A betrayal.' The centre has contributed £10 billion of GVA and £220m of match funding. This has commercialised 59 new technologies and accelerated 117 new start-ups. The Labour government has faced a renewed backlash in recent weeks over its windfall tax on oil and gas firms. Harbour Energy recently announced 250 Aberdeen job cuts, blaming the Energy Profits Levy, which the UK Government last year increased and extended to 2030. It has led to calls for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to urgently visit the city to hear about the 'damaging impact' of his government's policies. A response by climate minister Kerry McCarthy said the UK and Scottish governments are 'actively reviewing' the centre's latest business case. Her letter says the government is considering how best to support net zero research and innovation in 'a way that maximises impact and delivers value for public investment'. 'A decision on the government's potential future involvement with NZTC will be made in due course', she added. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it 'hugely appreciates' the work the centre has undertaken since opening in 2017. She added: 'We continue to support this work as part of our ongoing £90m commitment to NZTC through the Aberdeen City Region Deal. 'We are reviewing the latest business case information that has recently been provided alongside the UK Government.' A UK Government spokeswoman said: 'Scotland is at the heart of our clean energy mission. 'Just this week, we announced we will establish an Energy Campus in Aberdeen, building local skills and developing government policy closer to the communities it affects. 'We are backing net zero research and innovation in Scotland and across the UK.'
Press and Journal
13-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
North-east councils in race against time to spend 'spare' £20m before government snatches it back
North-east council chiefs are scrambling to beat the clock by unlocking a £20 million cash boost pledged to the region almost a decade ago. The housing infrastructure fund was created for the north-east in 2016 alongside the 10-year Aberdeen City Region Deal. It was designed to be spent on works to kick-start affordable housing projects. But it has been gathering dust ever since it was announced. With just one year to go until the deal comes to an end, councillors in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire fear time is running out. Members of the Aberdeen City Region Deal joint committee met recently to discuss the pot of money and how they could use it to benefit residents… If only they could get their hands on it. Councillors have asked for clearer guidance on what the money could be used for as they hope it could assist with the ongoing Raac crisis in Torry. The committee were told that the £20m housing infrastructure fund is there to 'unlock difficult sites that are of strategic importance'. City council strategic place planning officer David Dunne told members that the local authority had 'limited success' when trying to crack open this particular piggy bank. He revealed that three applications had been made but all of them were unsuccessful. However, Mr Dunne admitted it was 'more challenging within the city' to unlock the cash due to the nature of infrastructure. 'The two local authorities haven't been successful but that hasn't been for want of trying,' he added. 'If we were allowed to use it for affordable housing we could deliver more housing, we've a proven track record in that regard.' The officer explained that the £20m fund could help to build around 200 new affordable homes. Meanwhile, a number of 'key' applications for funding by Aberdeenshire Council were knocked back. Requests for sites in Balmedie, Blackdog, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Mintlaw and Peterhead were all denied. The local authority's head of planning, Paul Macari, said: 'We have written to the government requesting feedback and guidance as to how to apply. 'When both councils have approached the government with regards to this funding, our endeavours have been unsuccessful and the feedback is always that we haven't met the eligibility criteria. 'It's a frustration of officers that we can't seem to unlock a lot of this funding.' Aberdeenshire Council leader Gillian Owen noted that the local authority had 'consistently' sought clarity on why its applications were being rebuffed. 'The £20m that is sitting there, it just looks as if we haven't bothered,' she stated. Aberdeen housing chief, councillor Miranda Radley, wanted to see action taken: 'I'm very conscious that we have a declared housing emergency within the city. 'We have difficulties providing affordable housing for our citizens across the region and this is a strategic fund that we are not able to access. 'I'm concerned that we are a year out of the deal finishing and we are no closer to accessing that £20m.' Their worries were echoed by Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard who said it was 'extremely frustrating' the £20m fund had not been used yet. Both councils will now join forces and write to the Scottish Government and request a meeting to discuss the criteria and seek to unlock the crucial cash. A Scottish Government spokesman explained that the funding allocated depends on proposals coming forward from local authorities. He said: 'Scottish Government housing officials have provided regular advice and guidance to both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. 'To date, no proposals which meet housing infrastructure fund criteria have been forthcoming from either local authority. 'We continue to urge the UK Government to make additional funding available but to date they have refused to do so.'
Press and Journal
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
New roundabout plotted for Toll of Birness as part of multi-million-pound upgrades project
A new roundabout could be constructed at the notorious Toll of Birness after a years-long campaign pleading for 'crucial' safety upgrades. This the latest ploy aimed at tackling traffic issues at the A90 junction known for being one of the worst accident blackspots in the region. It comes as a recent Nestrans survey shows there have been more fatal crashes on that stretch north of Ellon than on any other A-roads across the country. A speed camera was installed at the fork junction last year as traffic bosses looked at ways to improve safety and prevent more incidents. However, locals pleaded for a more long-term solution to the problem – with a recent petition calling for the upgrades amassing nearly 900 signatures. Nestrans has now compiled a list of options – including creating a roundabout at Toll of Birness and the Cortes junction – that could improve safety and cut journey times. The report was recently presented to the Aberdeen City Region Deal joint committee. The survey explained that there were three main problems that needed to be addressed – safety, journey time reliability and long journey times. Improvements are also needed to make traffic flow a bit easier during peak times, while also encouraging more people to use public transport. The Nestrans survey found that 85% of travellers would like to take the bus more often – but were only put off due to lengthy journey times. The long list of options was eventually narrowed down to four possible upgrades, focusing on the most problematic areas of the roads network around Ellon. Under this preferred option, lanes leading up to and exiting the roundabout would be improved. A bus lane would be created southbound leading to the A90 helping buses pass through the roundabout faster and ultimately reducing travel times. An acceleration lane on the A90 northbound exit would be added to allow motorists leaving the roundabout to overtake slower vehicles. This work is estimated to cost around £3.6m. Similar changes would be made to the Ellon North roundabout, with a bus lane added southbound on the A90 and a bus only slip road from Ellon to the A90 northbound. A cycleway will be added too, as well as an acceleration lane on both the A90 northbound and southbound to allow overtaking. This could cost around £3.8m. Meanwhile, the proposed roundabout at the Toll of Birness is expected to cost £1.9m. Paul Finch of Nestrans told the committee they also considered building a flyover at the junction, however, this option was not deemed 'beneficial'. A compact roundabout costing around £2.2m could also be added to the Cortes junction. Its design would be similar to the one proposed at the Toll of Birness, but smaller due to the homes at Lakeview Garden Centre and Cortes Loch nearby. Aberdeenshire Council leader Gillian Owen, who created and led the Why Stop at Ellon campaign, praised the 'significant' step forward. She said: 'This project is very dear to my heart. 'Connectivity is key and these interventions will be crucial.' The selected options will now move to a detailed technical design process and an outline business case will be drawn up for them.
Press and Journal
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Under-siege Gillian Owen: 'I've not resigned as Aberdeenshire Tory leader despite claims otherwise'
Council leader Gillian Owen has defiantly told The Press and Journal she hasn't quit as Aberdeenshire's Tory leader – within an hour of us being given a detailed account of her resignation by party insiders. It's been a week of whispers and rumour on the Ellon councillor's future at the top, ever since a shock outburst left her in the thick of it. More than a handful of sources – at least six from Aberdeenshire and beyond – have told The P&J Gillian Owen has resigned. But publicly, questions hang over her leadership. We understand unhappiness has been festering for months, bubbling away ahead of the Aberdeenshire branch's AGM last Saturday. Those simmering tensions exploded when she had called her own Conservative councillors 'f***ing b*****ds' in a WhatsApp group which they were part of. It had been thought her future would be decided then and there. But the annual meeting, where leadership positions are voted on, was abruptly adjourned last Saturday before there could be a vote. It will reconvene on Monday. Since, sources have briefed that she has resigned. On Friday morning, one insider told us: 'People turned on her and she was given an ultimatum. 'Following the press in The P&J, she resigned. 'The association chair wrote to the Conservative group saying her position wasn't tenable. 'The new leader is to be elected on Monday. It is an absolute mess. It's going to affect the administration.' But across Aberdeen, at council headquarters, Gillian Owen was telling us a categorically different story. The Aberdeenshire Council leader had sat in on a meeting on the multi-million-pound Aberdeen City Region Deal when we caught up with her on Friday. In a guarded interaction, she told The P&J: 'I haven't resigned. My role has not changed. 'There's a Scottish Conservative and Unionist group meeting on Monday. 'It would be speculating to say anything more. 'The AGM is on Monday. I haven't resigned as leader. 'We will see what happens on Monday.' She later declined to comment on the anonymous account of the AGM, describing her being forced out of the top job. 'I'm not going to add anything, my hands are tied,' she said. Conservative members will on Monday vote on her position – if a challenger comes forward. Speaking with the candidness of anonymity, sources within the Aberdeenshire Tories shrug: 'Who would want the job?' Gillian Owen would be replaced as Aberdeenshire Conservative leader – but would remain leader of the local authority's Tory, Liberal Democrat and independent administration until the end of June. On top of year after year of budget slashing, the free-flow of information hints at unhappiness within the rank. This latest spell of Gillian Owen's two years in charge echoes the final days of her predecessor Mark Findlater, who colleagues branded 'the village fool' not long before he was usurped. Asked about the information streaming from the Aberdeenshire Conservatives, Gillian Owen said: 'That's up to them. If they feel the need to leak I can't stop them. 'That's all I'm really prepared to say. I'm not wanting to say any more.' There were even claims an email detailing Gillian Owen's resignation was sent to her fellow Tory councillors. But the email, if it was ever sent, was then said to have been recalled. Earlier in the week, another source hinted that the council boss may even have deployed a tactic made famous by celebrity Coleen Rooney in finding out who the mole is… They said: 'There's some paranoia within the group. 'She's sent an email, I presume to all councillors in the Conservative group… but I'm a bit anxious Gillian's set a trap by sending out different versions of the message. 'I haven't seen the email yet. But the assumption is she's resigned, that she's not seeking re-election but it is definitely unclear.' The Press and Journal understands the current unease centres on the continued involvement of Banff and District councillor John Cox in the Tory-led administration. Mr Cox is an independent councillor. He's also a member of Reform UK. However, he's not joined the – now three – Reform councillors in the council chambers. Gillian Owen's fellow Ellon councillor John Crawley defected from the Tories to Reform this week, telling us the Conservative party had 'lost him'. It comes as Nigel Farage's party declared themselves the 'real opposition' in the UK, after wins in a Westminster by-election, and mayoral and local elections down south last week. Against that backdrop, it's thought Conservative MPs and MSPs in Aberdeenshire are particularly keen to have Mr Cox expelled – amid predictions of possible electoral success for Reform in next year's Holyrood poll. Despite his continued independence, The P&J understands the Tories have 'decisively' voted behind closed doors to remove him from the ruling council coalition. Asked about the reported unhappiness on Mr Cox's involvement, Gillian Owen told us: 'I'm not in a position to answer for my colleagues.' Pressed, she added: 'No, I'm not even going to say whether I would like him to remain in the administration.' We understand Gillian Owen felt a vote on his administration membership had been sprung on her more publicly, leading to her sweary WhatsApp message. At 6.20pm, the Ellon and District councillor wrote: 'We agreed at our group no votes. 'F***ing b*****ds threw me under the bus.' It was soon-to-defect Mr Crawley who asked if she'd intended to call her own Conservative councillors 'funking (sic) b*****ds'. She replied: 'Yes I did and I shouldn't have, but but ….' The 'disgusting and upsetting' blow-up came only days before Gillian Owen was going to ask the Aberdeenshire Conservatives to re-elect her as their leader at the later-deserted AGM. As we revealed her furious communication the day before, Gillian Owen told us: 'I apologise for using unprofessional language in a group chat, which I regretted immediately and deleted.' Rumours of her abdication began to circulate from various Tory sources at the beginning of the week. The group was also rocked by Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford councillor Robbie Withey declaring his independence from the Tory whip to fight nursery closures in his ward. Another insider who's felt lost all week in the information vacuum told us: 'It's been a very strange week. 'It seems news on her future had made it down to folk in Edinburgh before the group had been told anything. 'We don't know what's going on. Our group is none the wiser and it's all in a state of flux.' Scott Begbie: Councillor's 22% wage increase makes me sick when so many services are under threat and tax bills are rising Controversial plans for Kintore hydrogen plant backed by council despite local protests
