BRAEMAR SCOTLAND WEBSITE

www.braemarscotland.co.ukwww.braemarscotland.co.uk

NEW BRAEMAR SCOTLAND WEBSITE

BRAEMAR COMMUNITY WEBSITE

 To help in the process of updating the Braemar Scotland website,

 we need some photographs that we can include in the new site.

The photographs need to show Braemar at it’s best; they can be pictures of the village, events, surrounding countryside, people or wildlife - the list is endless.
So be inspired! Please email your photos to the Tourism Group e-mail address.
 The photos need to be original and free from any copyright and allowed to be copied and used on the new site.

The best photograph, as judged by the committee, will receive a £20.00 prize and the ‘honour’ of having their photo on the new website front page for thousands to see!

 

 

Community Action Plan page 2

Delivering the Braemar Community Action PLan

  

• Braemar Community Council
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• Co-ordinating Group formed from sub-groups
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• Braemar Tourism Group
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• Services Group
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• Young People
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• Braemar Community

- Actions, Partners & Timescales -

 

Key to organisations and partners
Item	Abbreviation used	Organisation
1.	AC	Aberdeenshire Council
2.	BCC	Braemar Community Council
3.	BCL	Braemar Community Limited
4.	BRHS	Braemar Royal Highland Society
5.	BTG	Braemar Tourist Group
6.	BVH	Braemar Village Hall
7.	CBP	Cairngorms Business Partnership
8.	CHA	Castleton Hall Association
9.	CNPA	Cairngorms National Park Authority
10.	COAT	Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust
11.	DDDP	Deeside Donside Development Project
12.	HS	Historic Scotland
13.	IE	Invercauld Estate
14.	MAP	Marr Area Partnership
15.	ME	Mar Estate
16.	MLE	Mar Lodge Estate
17.	NTS	National Trust for Scotland
18.	RDP	Royal Deeside Partnership
19.	SE	Scottish Enterprise
20.	SEPA	Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
21.	SNH	Scottish Natural Heritage
22.	VS	Visit Scotland

 

 

 

 

 

Theme 1 Visitor strategy, attractions & services
Item	Title	Description	Key Partners	Short-term Actions	Medium-term Actions	Long-term Actions
1.	Visitor strategy	To develop and promote an agreed plan to attract and meet the expectations of visitors to the Braemar area, satisfying the needs of those passing through as well as those choosing to stay overnight or longer.	BTG, BCL, BCC , RHS, CNPA, CBP, NTS, AC, VS, retail, hotels, estates.	Establish the remit for an inclusive steering group. Commission a study and define a workplan.	Branding. Visitor promotion. Signage and interpretation. Coordinate, enhance and promote visitor services.
2.	Braemar Castle & Visitor Centre	To conserve, improve and develop Braemar Castle as a must-see visitor attraction with quality modern facilities housed in a Visitor Centre with reception area, toilets, shop and catering.	BCL, HS, volunteers.	Volunteers recruited covering: interpretation, shop and ticket sales. gardening, administration, marketing, fund raising and event organisation. The roof also requires repairs.	Develop the learning experience the castle offers through schools as well as other educational establishments and special interest groups. Create a venue for corporate entertainment, including weddings and small scale music and drama.	Develop the interpretation of the collections, history and context of the castle to enhance and refresh the visitor experience. Provide employment.

 

 

 

 

 

3.	Kindrochit Castle	To raise the profile of both Kindrochit Castle structures, explaining their historical significance.	AC, HS, CNPA.	Cut back vegetation. Form a Friends of Kindrochit or Adoption group from among the community to look after the Castle in the future.	Stabilise and consolidate the walls, improve access (including disabled access), install feature lighting and install interpretive material with directional signage in the village.	Establish a maintenance programme for the future, in collaboration with AC and community volunteers.
4.	Highland Games Heritage Centre	To explore the opportunity to harness the Braemar Gathering’s international reputation, creating a year-round attraction.	BRHS	Commission a feasibility study.	Develop proposals and funding strategy.
5.	St Margaret’s Church	To restore the St Margaret’s Church building and develop it as a hub for arts-related activities, enhancing Braemar as a tourist destination.	AC, BCC, BCL, CNPA, BRHS, HS, IE, MAP, NTS, SE, voluntary Project Team, Aberdeen University, Architectural Heritage Fund, Scottish Episcopal Church, Scottish Redundant Churches Trust.	A formal Feasibility Study (Iridescence & Tourism UK) and an Options Appraisal (Simpson & Brown) has been commissioned	Develop detailed, costed plans, a funding strategy and long-term governance arrangements, probably through the creation of a board of trustees.	Create new employment opportunities as well as boosting revenues for local businesses.
6.	Footpath network	To develop an interconnected network of footpaths around the village, ensuring consistent signage, monitoring, maintenance and promotion.	BCC, BTG, CNPA, COAT, IE, ME, NTS.	A working group has already been formed to scope out improvements to be introduced during 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

7.	Dee footbridge	To construct a footbridge over the River Dee and associated paths to connect with the existing network. To improve the range of pedestrian and cycle routes to promote Braemar as a sustainable visitor destination by being a hub for walking and cycling.	BCL, CNPA, SNH, SEPA, AC, SE, volunteers.	A Facebook page for the Dee Bridge has been set up to elicit comments from the community and other interested parties. Volunteers will be needed in future: raising awareness.	Develop initiatives to ensure that existing under-utilised car parks are brought into use.	Completion of the Dee Bridge is likely to take at least two years. Further plans for a connecting path to the east (Keiloch and old Brig o’ Dee) along the south of the A93 may be developed.
8.	Glenshee Ski Centre	To explore an integrated approach to visitor management, attracting visitors for Braemar and the Ski Centre.	BTG, BCC, Glenshee Ski Centre.
9.	Braemar Golf Club	To partner with Braemar Golf Club, building visitor numbers through new joint marketing initiatives.	BTG, BCC, Braemar Golf Club.

 

 

 

Theme 2 Community facilities, services & transport
Item	Title	Description	Key Partners	Short-term Actions	Medium-term Actions	Long-term Actions
1.	Corriemulzie Hydro	To build a community hydro scheme on the Corriemulzie Burn on Mar Estate, with income generated made available for local projects.	BCL, ME, DDDP, AC, CNPA.	The project currently has 90% loan funding from Community Energy Scotland for up to £59K to progress the project to planning application stage. To date, £28K of this has	Develop detailed design and build programme.	It is expected that this project will require 2 to 3 years to completion.

 

 

 

				been spent, mainly to fund statutory consents and feasibility studies.
2.	Braemar Village Hall & Castleton Hall	To ensure that both halls are sufficiently kitted-out, maintained, promoted and utilised to serve the community and, as appropriate, visitors.	BVH, CHA, the community.	Repair roof and explore potential for renewable heating system.
3.	Adult learning classes	To identify and meet the demands for adult learning opportunities to benefit local people.	RDP.	Link to Upper Deeside Learning Centre. Commission needs assessment
4.	Recycling, composting and refuse	To ensure that appropriate recycling, composting and uplift facilities are in place to serve local businesses and residents, thereby helping to reduce Braemar’s carbon footprint.	AC, the community.	Initiate new discussions to review current service and needs.
5.	Noticeboards	To ensure that well-sited, well- designed and durable noticeboards are in place to help inform local residents and visitors of news, events and local meetings.	AC, BCC, CNPA, NTS.	New noticeboards have been developed, with sponsorship obtained to meet their costs, and will be in place during 2013.
6.	Emergency health care	To explain how the existing services available meet the emergency health care needs of Braemar, and how they are accessed.	BCC, the local GP.	Collaborate with the emergency services and the local GP to promote and support First Responders in the village.
7.	Sports	To investigate the feasibility of building a tennis court in Braemar.	AC, BCC, ?????	Identify potential partners and research

 

 

 

				potential sources of funding.
9.	Bus links to the south	To secure a bus service serving Braemar from the South, opening up new opportunities to bring visitors to the village, as well as serving the needs of Braemar residents.	BCC, CNPA, Nestrans.	Initiate dialogue with agencies and bus company.
10.	Links to Aberdeen	To secure additional bus services, including an express service, from Braemar to the North.	BCC, AC, bus companies.	Address potential for express service from Banchory with Marr Bus Forum.

 

 

 

Theme 3 Young people
Item	Title	Description	Key Partners	Short-term Actions	Medium-term Actions	Long-term Actions
1.	Youth club	To establish a Youth Club in The Shieling for Aboyne Academy pupils. It is intended that the Youth Club will be held fortnightly during term time, with the possibility to extend it throughout the year.	AC Community Learning & Development, volunteers.	Volunteers have already trained in Youth Development. Consult with young people about what they want from a Youth Club. Funding plan to be investigated.	Provide the facilities that young people want to ensure they remain engaged.
2.	Landscaping and park areas	To ensure that the play park contains appropriate play equipment, providing a safe and stimulating environment for children in the village. Also, to ensure that general landscaping in the village is attractive and well-maintained.	AC, BCC, the community.	Review play park drainage and equipment. Review general landscaping in the village.	Restore the fountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theme 4 Housing, employment & the economy
Item	Title	Description	Key Partners	Short-term Actions	Medium-term Actions	Long-term Actions
1.	Affordable housing	To ensure that there is sufficient appropriate affordable housing to match demand.	AC, IE, ME, Castlehill Housing Association.	Meet with affordable housing providers to assess demand and likely options for development.
2.	Business units	To ensure that there are sufficient business units to meet Braemar’s needs and promote their availability.	AC, BCC.	Audit all business unit accommodation in Braemar and publish a regular update on space becoming available.	Gauge demand for additional space through a further survey, collaborating with potential partners, if required, to bring on new units.
3.	Skills training for employment	To identify what additional employment skills are required, such as customer care training, and develop a delivery plan.	AC, BCC, BTG, IE, ME, NTS, local tradesmen and businesses.	Establish a working group to gauge demand, identify existing training available, and promote new opportunities.
4.	Mobile signal, broadband and radio reception	To ensure that the local communications infrastructure delivers the best possible service for business and the community.	AC, BCC, the community.	Set up meetings with key infrastructure providers to determine what improvements are achievable.
5.	Energy efficiency	To improve energy efficiency, reduce heating bills by exploring schemes such as The Green Deal, and make	AC, BCC, SG, energy providers, the community.	Assess relevant schemes and integrate their promotion.

information and assistance available to local residents and businesses.

Other Projects
Item	Title	Description
1.	Black House	Build a Black House, including a mock-up illicit still, in the grounds of Braemar Castle. Sheep and Highland Cattle could compliment the Castle as an attraction.
2.	Auchtavan	Provide a visitor centre showing the history of how the community would have lived in years gone by. Volunteers would be needed to staff the centre on open days, currently 4 per year, but this would be extended if/when the visitor centre is opened.
3.	Guide Shieling	The Guide Shieling is owned and operated by the Guide Association although there is no Girl Guide Pack in Braemar. The Scout Association, catering for boys and girls from the age of 5, has active groups of Cubs, Beaver, Scouts and Explorers. There is an opportunity to increase use of the building for the benefit of the wider community.
4.	Swimming pool	The village survey confirmed that a swimming pool, for use by the Braemar community and visitors, would serve as a significant visitor attraction and popular local amenity.

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