A group set up to promote and better an Aberdeenshire town has released a report showing the fruits of its labour.
Stonehaven Town Partnership – which incorporates about 50 community organisations – held a series of public consultations in 2012, designed to give locals the chance to shape the future of the area.
Suggestions included improving the caravan park, demolishing or upgrading the town’s leisure centre and accompanying gym, creating an all-weather sports pitch and tackling parking problems in the town centre and old harbour areas.
The need for a major supermarket in Stonehaven – which has been discussed by councillors regularly in recent months – was also on the list.
Now the group has released a study summarising what has been achieved since the Planning for Real consultations.
According to the document, 24 of the suggestions have now been actioned, either by local organisations or Aberdeenshire Council.
Two of the “major” successes, according to the document, is the Caravan Club’s takeover of the council-run caravan park, and the introduction of the land train, which takes visitors around the town’s favourite attractions.
However, the report also acknowledges there are outstanding issues, including the need for a supermarket, overcrowding at Dunnottar Primary School and the long-running row over the restrictive use of the Bervie Braes.
STP trustee David Fleming said: “The Planning for Real reports have been the completion of a long exercise which shows that public consultation works.
“A significant number of suggestions were raised by members of the public and have been implemented by various agencies. STP is grateful for all of the comments that were made and for the help in all of the agencies in delivering a better Stonehaven.”