Peterhead Info

Lockdown Timetable for further easing update from 2 April

Lockdown Timetable the current “Stay at Home” rule will be replaced by guidance to “Stay Local” on 2 April.

The First Minister has set out a Lockdown Timetable for the re-opening of parts of society over the next two months.

Lockdown Timetable – Stay at Home regulations will be lifted on 2 April and replaced with guidance to Stay Local, with more services including hairdressers, garden centres and non-essential click and collect services able to open from 5 April.

More college students will also return to on-campus learning and outdoor contact sports will resume for 12-17 year olds on 5 April if progress on vaccination and suppression of Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues.

The Scottish Government then hopes to lift all restrictions on journeys in mainland Scotland on 26 April. Discussions will be held with island communities already in lower levels on the possibility of having a faster return to more socialising and hospitality with restrictions on mainland travel to protect against importation of the virus.

Vaccination of all nine JCVI priority groups – more than half of the population, accounting for 99% of COVID-related fatalities – is expected to be completed by mid April, supplies allowing. The dates outlined are enabled by strong new evidence that suggests vaccines reduce the chances of transmitting the virus as well as reducing serious illness and death, even after a first dose.

Lockdown Timetable Further expected easing on 26 April includes:

all retail premises, libraries, museums and galleries, tourist accommodation would be able to open
the hospitality sector would be able to reopen outdoors for the service of alcohol, and potentially open indoors for non-alcohol service
up to four people from two households could be able to socialise indoors in a public place such as a café or restaurant
six people from up to three households could be able to meet outdoors and the limit on wedding and funeral attendance could be raised to 50 people
gyms and swimming pools would be open for individual exercise and non-essential childcare would be permitted
non-essential work in peoples’ homes and driving lessons could resume from this date

On 17 May, it is hoped that groups of four people from two households would be able to socialise indoors in a private home, and that cinemas, amusement arcades and small scale outdoor and indoor events could restart with limits on capacity. Further easing on this date would include outdoor contact sport for adults and indoor group exercise

The Nicola Sturgeon also indicated that in early June it is hoped that Scotland Lockdown Timetable could move to Level 1 and by end of June to level 0.

Grants of up to £7,500 for retailers and up to £19,500 for hospitality and leisure businesses will be paid in April to help businesses re-open progressively. These one-off re-start grants will replace ongoing Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF) payments and will provide more money up front to help with the costs of re-opening.

Eligible businesses must have applied to the SFBF by 22 March in order to receive these payments. The last four-weekly SFBF payment of up to £3,000 will be paid on 22 March, as scheduled. Targeted restart grants for businesses that are not in scope for the current SFBF support package may be considered if the Scottish Government receives further consequentials from the UK Government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Vaccination is already having a significant impact on the number of deaths in Scotland, and research giving us more confidence in its effects against new variants and in helping prevent transmission. That gives us more confidence in setting possible dates for our next steps out of lockdown in addition to the significant changes set out last week to allow more socialisation, and get children back to school as soon as possible.

“It is not possible to provide specific dates or details for coming out of lockdown beyond 17 May – that will depend on what impact there is from the changes already made – however my hope and ambition is that from early June, all of Scotland will effectively be in level 1 of the levels system, allowing for a further easing of restrictions – and possibly moving to level 0 in late June.

“That is not the endpoint – we hope and expect that vaccination, better treatments, continued use of the test and protect system, and proportionate ongoing precautions such as good hand hygiene will allow us to keep COVID under much greater control.

This will allow us to enjoy many of the things that we took for granted before the pandemic– normal family gatherings where we can hug our loved ones, sporting events, gigs and nightclubs. I cannot set a date for that point yet, but I do believe that over the coming weeks as more and more adults are vaccinated it will be possible to set a firmer date by which many of these normal things will be possible, and I am very optimistic that this date will be over the summer.

“Thanks to the sacrifices we all made three months ago, and the success of the vaccination programme we are now in a much better and brighter position, with well-earned optimism as we look ahead to the summer.

We are getting the virus under control, but it is still dangerous, and to reach these dates it’s more important than ever now to stay within the rules – until 2 April stay at home, except for essential purposes; don’t meet people from other households indoors, and follow the FACTS advice when out and about.”

Scotland Pubs and Cafes to reopen for outdoor service on 26 April

Scotland pubs and cafes, restaurants and bars will be able to serve people outdoors – in groups of up to 6 from 3 households – until 10pm from 26 April.

Alcohol will be permitted in Scotland Pubs, and there will be no requirement for food to be served.

There could be limited indoor opening of hospitality from 26 April too.

This will be limited initially to the service of food and non-alcoholic drinks until 8pm, and for groups of up to four people from no more than 2 households.

All remaining retail premises are expected to re-open on 26 April.

All tourist accommodation will be able to re-open, subject to any restrictions.

Libraries, museums and galleries will also reopen from 26 April.

Indoor gyms will also reopen for individual exercise on that date.

Monday 5 April will see the beginning of the phased re-opening of non essential retail.

Click and collect retail services will be permitted to reopen, along with homeware stores, and car showrooms and forecourts.

Garden centres will also be able to reopen on 5 April

Hairdresser and barber salons to reopen for appointments on 5 April.

Indoor meeting from 17 May

Up to four people from two household can socialise indoors in a private home or public space from 17 May.

Hospitality venues can open until 10:30 pm indoors (alcohol permitted, 2-hour dwell time) and 10:00 pm outdoors (alcohol permitted)

Outdoor adult contact sport and indoor group exercise can restart.

Cinemas, amusement arcades, and bingo halls can open.

Small-scale outdoor and indoor events can resume subject to capacity constraints.

St Olafs Well

St Olafs Well stay in sand dunes at Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire

St Olafs Well, a natural spring, now enclosed within a rectangular concrete wall, 2.5m by 2.0m, a little mark where it is.

Peterhead Community

Peterhead Community Test Centre 1 week

Peterhead Community Test Centre – After a successful first week

Author: Morven Jane

I wanted to share some information about the site to make people feel more comfortable about visiting.

Community testing allows for early identification of outbreaks and reassures you that you can safely go about your essential duties.

If you are an employer, encouraging your staff to be tested can give you peace of mind, at no cost to your business.

If you are already being offered testing, e.g. teachers, but are apprehensive, we will guide you through the process and hopefully give you the confidence to test at home in the future.

Our Peterhead Community Test Centre is based in the Rescue Hall on Prince Street and is open 8.00AM – 7.30PM every day, including weekends, until at least late May.

Anyone who lives/works/studies/shops in Peterhead and the surrounding area can come along up to twice a week for a self administered lateral flow test, which obtains results in less than an hour.

Being tested counts as essential travel, but we encourage you to visit as part of another essential journey, such as before a grocery shop or at school drop off.

Peterhead Community - Morven Jane — **Morven Jane** | Peterhead Community Test Centre

All ages are welcome, but those aged 12-17 should have consent from a guardian and those under 12 must have a guardian with them to assist with the swabbing process.

If you need additional support, you can come along with other members of your household support bubble, such as a carer or translator (although we do have translation facilities available).

Peterhead Community Test Centre

Please note that staff cannot administer any swab test. To be eligible for testing you must not have any coronavirus symptoms (new persistent cough, fever, loss of change in taste or smell), have had a coronavirus vaccine in the last 3 days, or have tested positive for Covid in the last 90 days.

In addition, avoid eating or drinking anything in the half hour before you carry out the test.

On arrival we will take your name and a contact telephone number (only used if your test is positive, and destroyed at the end of each day).

Scanning a QR code opens the website where you will register your test – staff are on hand to assist with this if needed and tablets are available for those without a smartphone.

The form is quite long, but there’s no rush – you will be asked to stand on one of the socially distanced crosses while you complete it.

After registration, you will be taken to one of three testing booths where an operative will guide you through the swabbing process. Once seated, you may remove your mask and blow your nose.

Open the swab packet AT THE HANDLE END, just enough to pull the swab out.

Swipe the (tiny – see photo!) swab over each tonsil 4 times, taking care not to let the swab touch anything else (hands, table, tongue, teeth, etc.) then rotate the same swab inside one nostril 10 times (only going up until you feel resistance).

Insert the swab (swab end first) into the tube provided, then put your mask back on and wipe down your booth. You will leave the test centre following the one way system, where someone will provide you with an information leaflet. Your test result will be registered after 30 minutes and a text/email automatically sent to you.

Only if you do not have easy access to either of these may you wait in the centre to receive your result.In the unlikely event your result is positive, staff at the centre will contact you to arrange for PCR tests to be sent for all members of your household.

You and all in your household (including in extended household) MUST go home immediately and self isolate. If your PCR tests are negative, you may end your self isolation. A major misconception about community testing is that it is designed to increase the number of positive cases.

Undoubtedly some asymptomatic positive cases will be detected that would not have otherwise, however detecting these prevents them from spreading it to others, causing more positive cases in the following weeks. In addition, by testing asymptomatic individuals, the percentage of positive tests will likely decrease as most at the site will receive a negative result.

I hope this has reassured people who are apprehensive about being tested and highlighted the importance of community testing.

We hope to see you soon!

Peterhead Community Test Centre and Morven Jane

Peterhead Community Test Centre

Peterhead.Live on Facebook or Twitter to get more actual information

New vaccination campaign for aged between 16 and 64.

New vaccination campaign Self-registration service aged 16 and older.

Unpaid carers who have not already been identified through social security data or GP systems will be able to register themselves for a coronavirus (COVID-19) New vaccination appointment from next week.

The new online service, which opens on Monday 15 March, is for unpaid carers aged between 16 and 64 who provide face-to-face care for a family member or friend.

Carers who receive relevant benefits (Carer’s Allowance, Young Carer Grant or Child Winter Heating Payment) will be in our system and will receive a letter with details of their appointment. But all unpaid carers are being encouraged to self-register – when they do, they will be advised if they are already scheduled for an appointment so there is no duplication.

A Scottish Government marketing campaign will be launched next week to encourage all unpaid carers who are eligible for a vaccine to get one. The campaign will be supported by additional communications from local carer services and other third–sector organisations to carers on their mailing lists.

New vaccination campaign — The new service is open to anyone aged 16 to 64 who provides face-to-face care – unpaid

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

“The support provided by unpaid carers is hugely valuable. I know they are under greater pressure than usual as a result of the pandemic, and we owe them our sincere thanks for the important work they do.

“Our vaccination programme follows the priority list set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) with unpaid carers included within Group 6.

“We have already written to many unpaid carers identified through Social Security data and GPs and we are launching a system which will ensure every carer who is eligible for an appointment can register for one.

“It is crucial that all unpaid carers are offered a vaccination so they are protected whilst they care for others.

“We will be launching an extensive marketing campaign to make sure all unpaid carers know about this opportunity and understand how to book an appointment. All those who have access to the internet are encouraged to use the online service but those who don’t can, of course, call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

“We continue to urge all those eligible to take up the offer of a vaccination. The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”

On behalf of the National Carer Organisations, Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP) Chief Executive Margaret Chiwanza said:

“Over the last year, carers have continued to provide support to family and friends in unprecedented circumstances. Their inclusion as a priority group for the vaccination recognises the overwhelming contribution they have made and continue to make.

“Many of Scotland’s carers will be in touch with a local carer centre but there will be many others who are not in contact with support services. It is essential that we reach out to these carers. The self-registration system will provide a single point of contact making it simpler for carers to make an appointment and receive a vaccination.

“It is vital that all of Scotland’s carers – young carers aged 16–plus, adult and older carers and those from Minority Ethnic backgrounds – are supported to protect and maintain their own health and well-being and that of the people they care for.

“We commend government for taking this very positive step.”

The new vaccination service is open to anyone aged 16 to 64 who provides face-to-face care – unpaid – for a family member or friend who is affected by a disability, physical or mental ill-health, developmental condition or substance misuse.

Self-registration online service nhsinform.scot/carersregister – will be open to unpaid carers from Monday 15 March

Covid-19 National New Vaccination Helpline – 0800 030 8013

Peterhead Producers Market

Peterhead Producers Market 03 April

Peterhead Producers Market planned for Saturday 3/4/21.

Will be the first market since highly successful launch in November 2020, Rediscover Peterhead is delighted to confirm that the Peterhead Producers’ Market planned for Saturday 03/04/2021.

Here is Last Producer’s Market

This market will focus on Food and Drink and Peterhead Producers’ Market would urge any businesses who are interested in taking part to get in touch as soon as possible.

First market in November was really successful, with a number of traders commenting that it was their best ever trading day at any market.

Peterhead Producers Market 1 — Peterhead Producers Market in November 2020

Priority will be given to those who supported first event and then on a first come first basis with the emphasis being very much on local Scottish produce.

The pitch fee is £40 which includes a fully assembled stall, if required.

Market stall fees have been subsidised by Rediscover Peterhead with the support of funding from Aberdeenshire Council and the NESFLAG Coastal Communities Challenge Fund.

Peterhead Producers’ Market Will be working hard to ensure a well organised and safe market with a one-way system in operation.

Peterhead Producers Market 2 — One-Way System

For further information and bookings, please contact Alasdair who is our market operator – alasdair.boyne@outlook.com

Aberdeenshire council tax freeze

Aberdeenshire Council Tax freeze is agrees for 2021/2022

Aberdeenshire council tax freeze has voted for 2021/2022.

Aberdeenshire Councillors have decided at a full meeting of council today to accept a Aberdeenshire council tax freeze which has been supported by funding from the Scottish Government despite concerns over the future implications of the move.

The motion to accept the freeze was made by 60 votes to four in favour.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced that the Scottish Government announced that it would compensate councils who choose to freeze their council tax at 2020/21 levels and that the additional allocation would equate to an increase in council tax of 3 per cent.

However there was no confirmation and promise that this level of financial support would be repeated in the following financial years to come leading to an amendment being brought by members of the council to still go ahead with the rise due to the uncertainty and the knock on effect on future budgets.

For Aberdeenshire Council the tax bands for 2021/22 will be as follows –

Band	Council Tax	Water	Sewerage	Total
A	£867.21	£141.66	£164.46	£1,173.33
B	£1,011.74	£165.27	£191.87	£1,368.88
C	£1,156.28	£188.88	£219.28	£1,564.44
D	£1,300.81	£212.49	£246.69	£1,759.99
E	£1,709.12	£259.71	£301.51	£2,270.34
F	£2,113.82	£306.93	£356.33	£2,777.08
G	£2,547.42	£354.15	£411.15	£3,312.72
H	£3,186.98	£424.98	£493.38	£4,105.34

Aberdeenshire council tax freeze for 21/22

Water rates will be confirmed when bills are issued at the end of February.

Leader of the Opposition SNP, Labour and Communities Partnership councillor Gwyneth Petrie said:“Families across Aberdeenshire will be relieved that councillors across parties have backed moves to freeze the Council Tax rate.

“The past nine months have been a time of extreme anxiety for many people who have seen their jobs threatened or disappear, or seen their businesses placed under extreme pressure.

“Freezing the Council Tax will give certainty to people that their bill will not increase during this financial year.

“I am therefore very pleased that the council has agreed this measure.”

It was also agreed that average weekly rents for council housing should increase only at the rate of inflation this year, meaning a 2.8 per cent rise from April 1.

This will see the average weekly rent increase by £2.29; a rise from £81.82 to £84.11.

Apply for Council Housing, prepares new system

Apply for council housing in Aberdeenshire are being advised of a temporary pause to online applications as a new system prepares for launch.

Currently, applications for accommodation are made via the Apply4Homes.org.uk website.

The website handles applications for properties managed by Aberdeenshire Council, Hanover Scotland, Langstane Housing Association, and Osprey Housing.

From April, a new online portal will allow users to Apply for council housing for rental properties directly from each housing provider.

In preparation for the change, applications via Apply4Homes will close on Thursday, March 18. Existing applicants will not be required to reapply for properties and are being contacted directly to invite them to register for the new system.

Following the launch of the new portal in April, Aberdeenshire Council will be changing to a ‘choice-based lettings’ approach in May, designed to give greater choice to applicants.

The approach will allow applicants to note an interest on properties they feel best meets their needs in the areas they wish to live. Adverts for properties will provide greater detail, including location, rent, facilities, photos and floorplans where available.

There will be no limit on the number of bids an applicant can make and properties will be allocated to those assessed as being in most need. As applicants will be choosing the property they wish to secure rather than a property being allocated to them, it is expected that fewer offers will be refused.

Support will be provided for those who require assistance in applying online, and further information for existing and new applicants will be provided in due course.

For more information on applying for properties in Aberdeenshire, please visit the Housing Options page on the Aberdeenshire Council website.

COVID-19 new restrictions changes

COVID-19 restrictions changes, more people will be able to socialise outdoors

More people will be able to socialise outdoors following good progress in suppressing Coronavirus – COVID-19, the First Minister has announced.

COVID-19 restrictions changes up to four adults from two households will be able to meet locally in any outdoor space, including in private gardens, for social and recreational purposes as well as exercise from Friday 12 March.

People should only go indoors if it is essential in order to reach a back garden, or to go to the toilet.

Outdoor non-contact sports and group exercise will also resume for adults in groups of up to to 15 people from this date.

Young people aged 12 to 17 will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to four people from four different households, participate in outdoor non-contact sports, and other organised activities in groups of up to 15 and travel across local authority boundaries to participate in such activities.

Should progress suppressing the virus continue, the Scottish Government intends to reopen places of worship with attendance limits increased from 20 to 50 where there is space for social distancing on Friday 26 March.

A final decision will be taken on Tuesday 23 March ahead of Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Vaisakhi.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“In recent weeks, we have seen a significant fall in new cases, deaths and hospital admissions, and the vaccination programme is progressing beyond our initial expectations.

All of this is excellent news, and provides strong grounds for hope, but that hope must also be balanced by caution.

“The changes announced today, while modest, are important, and are designed to help people’s health and well-being by enabling group exercise and allowing more social interaction.

They will also let children see more of their friends, and exercise and play more normally.

“With continued progress, we believe the reopening of places of worship can be achieved relatively safely, and will hopefully enable more people to draw strength, comfort and inspiration from acts of collective worship.

“I expect that further, more substantial changes will be possible in the weeks ahead, and I will set out as much detail as I can about that in Parliament next week.

If the data allows us to relax more restrictions more quickly than we have previously indicated, we will not hesitate to do so.

“We all have a part to play in keeping case numbers down while the vaccinators do their work, children get back to school and we all take tentative but firm steps back to life as we once knew it, so please continue to stay within the rules and follow the FACTS advice.”

Updated guidance and regulations will be published on Friday 12 March to reflect these changes.

The Scottish Government’s priority is to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level and keep it there, while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible. There are six main tools for achieving this:

the quickest practical roll-out of the vaccination programme
the most effective use of Test and Protect
applying proportionate protective measures (rules and guidance) to suppress transmission of the virus
effective measures to manage the risk of importation of the virus
supporting individuals, businesses and organisations to adhere to protective measures
providing care and support to mitigate the harms of the crisis

The six conditions for safe easing set out by the World Health Organisation are:

COVID-19 transmission is under control
sufficient health systems and public health capabilities are in place
outbreak risks are minimised in vulnerable settings
workplace preventative measures are established
risk of imported cases are managed
communities are fully engaged

dracula castle

Dracula castle is widely acknowledged is Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire having inspired Bram Stoker 1

Dracula castle is widely acknowledged is Slains Castle near Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire having inspired Bram Stoker to write world-famous novel Dracula.

Abraham “Bram” Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author, best known today for his 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula.

There are many stories about how Bram Stoker came to write Dracula, but only some of them are true. According to his son, Stoker always claimed the inspiration for the book came from a nightmare induced.

Stoker was a regular visitor to Cruden Bay in Scotland between 1893 and 1910. His month-long holidays to the Aberdeenshire coastal village provided a large portion of available time for writing his books.

New Slains castle — Slains Castle, Cruden Bay

Two novels were set in Cruden Bay: The Watter’s Mou’ (1895) and The Mystery of the Sea (1902).

He started writing Dracula here in 1895 while in residence at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel.

sign bram stoker — **Kilmarnock Arms** Hotel, Cruden Bay (Port Erroll) Picture: **Bram Stoker’s** Signiture in hotel Guest Book

The guest book with his signatures from 1894 and 1895 still survives.

The nearby Castle (also known as New Slains Castle, Dracula Castle) is linked with Bram Stoker and plausibly provided the visual palette for the descriptions of Castle Dracula during the writing phase in 1897.

A distinctive room in Castle, the octagonal hall, matches the description of the octagonal room in Castle Dracula.

The early chapters of Dracula were written in Cruden Bay, and Slains Castle possibly provided visual inspiration for Bram Stoker during the writing phase.

This is why the other name of the castle, Dracula castle.

The early chapters of Dracula were written in Cruden Bay, and Castle possibly provided visual inspiration for Bram Stoker during the writing phase.

151823356 1398429917167938 990362670726630685 n — Slains Castle, Cruden Bay

The Scotland castle thought to have inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been awarded listed status by Historic Environment Scotland.

8 1259298 — Dracula Castle | Dracula castle is widely acknowledged is Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire having inspired Bram Stoker

In 1916 the 20th Earl of Erroll, Charles Gore Hay sold the Castle and it’s contents to Sir John Ellerman, the shipping magnate. This ended 300 years of the Earls of Erroll staying at Slains. The surrounding estate and farmland were not productive enough to support the castle, especially after a period of agricultural depression and after death duties (inheritance tax) were introduced.

slains castle — Dracula castle | Dracula castle is widely acknowledged is Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire having inspired Bram Stoker 1

In 1925 the Castle was abandoned and the roof was removed to avoid paying taxes. Valuable dressed stone was also taken away and the castle has been deteriorating ever since. It is now quite a surprise to see old photos of how grand Slains Castle used to look. However there are modern-day plans to convert the castle and grounds into 35 apartments.

New Slains Castle 01 — Slains Castle, Cruden Bay / Dracula castle

To find the Slains Castle, follow signs for Cruden Bay. This picturesque village is 26 miles north of Aberdeen and has a lovely harbour and beach well worth exploring.
Impressive architecture is still clearly visible today as you roam the castle grounds and you can climb upstairs to the lookout and downstairs to the basement.

slains castle1 — Dracula castle is widely acknowledged is Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire having inspired Bram Stoker 1

There was once marble steps, fourteen bedrooms, tennis and croquet lawns, stables, a walled garden, a kitchen with firepits and seven main reception rooms! As I walked through the castle I wondered about which room I was in and who might have stayed in it in the past.