Public consultation announced on AWPR routes
March 04, 2005

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen has announced details of consultation into five potential routes for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. These will be put to the public at a series of public exhibitions in March and April. Comment is invited at the exhibitions or on the web.

The routes going forward for consultation are:

• Pitfodels
• Murtle (the route through Camphill)
• Milltimber Brae
• Peterculter/Charleston
• Peterculter/Stonehaven

A decision on the preferred route will be taken once the responses have been considered after the April 29 closing date for comments.

"There has been much debate about the preferred route, particularly in relation to the impact on the Camphill and Newton Dee communities," Nicol Stephen said at the announcement. "I have listened to their concerns and I want to make sure there is an open, well informed consultation. I would encourage everyone to express their views before the closing date of April 29."

"We are obviously very pleased that the Minister for Transport is putting route options out for public consultation," Dr Stefan Geider, Camphill Medical Officer responded. "It means that the public have a real chance to make a difference for the 200 special needs children and adults at the Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools and the Camphill Newton Dee community.

"The consultation confirms what we have been saying all along. There are alternatives," he added.

The Save Camphill campaign urges everyone (wherever they live) to respond to the consultation invitation. It has asked supporters to state in the comment box "I object to the Murtle route through Camphill" (or similar wording), before adding any further comments.

• You will be able to submit your comments on the web as soon as the consultation pages go live on the AWPR website

As soon as we have precise details we will post them on this website.

PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS
Thursday, March 10 - AECC and Old Mill Inn, Maryculter
Friday, March 11 - Westhill Church Hall and Old Mill Inn, Maryculter
Monday, March 14 - Inverurie Town Hall and Old Mill Inn, Maryculter
Tuesday, March 15 - Peterculter Village Hall
Wednesday, March 16 - Cults East Church
Thursday, March 17 - Cults East Church and Peterhead Council Chamber
Friday, March 18 - Dyce Community Centre
Tuesday, March 22 - The Merc Hotel, Ellon and The Burnett Arms, Banchory
Wednesday, March 23 - Webster Park, Kingswells
Thursday, March 24 - Altens Community Centre
Tuesday, March 29 - Newmachar Village Hall
Thursday, March 31 - St Leonard's Hotel, Stonehaven
April 4-6, 11-13, 15, 19, 20 & 22 - Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen

«back

Standby for action as route goes to consultation
February 18, 2005

Save Camphill believes the Minister for Transport, Nicol Stephen is set to announce the dates for public consultation on five route options, starting early in March 2005. Public opinion could help to decide the fate of Camphill and whether the road should be diverted away from the special needs communities.
It is expected that five routes will go forward to the public consultation:

• Cults/Pitfodels
• Milltimber/Bieldside (the route through Camphill)
• Milltimber
• Culter
• West of Culter.

We also understand you will be able to take part in this consultation at public exhibitions, on the web, or by writing to the Minister. If you have any interest in the concerns about Camphill you will be welcome to comment, no matter where you are in the world.

As soon as we have precise details we will post them on this website.
«back

Route details published
February 18, 2005
We have finally been able to draw up an accurate map of the proposed route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route through Camphill. You can see at the bottom of the home page on this website (click on the small map to see it in larger size).

The map clearly shows the road passing less than 100 metres from the bedrooms of some of the most severely learning disabled children at Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools. At this point the road would be six lanes wide, including the off ramps climbing to the North Deeside Road junction.

The entire north end and the entrance road would be demolished to make way for the new road and its junction with North Deeside Road.

On the other side the road will be less than 50 metres from the fields where the special needs adults from Camphill Newton Dee work.
«back

Save Camphill responds to leak of Hogg report
January 28, 2005
Responding to leaked news of Professor Hogg's interim report on the impact of the AWPR on the Camphill special needs communities, Save Camphill welcomes its conclusion that further detailed research is required to assess the full effect the proposed route would have.

This finding concurs with the recent preliminary report commissioned by Save Camphill and conducted by the internationally recognised expert on disability and quality of life, Professor Roy Brown.

"We have only just received copies of Professor Hogg's report," Dr Stefan Geider, the Camphill Medical Officer points out, "so it is too early for us to make a detailed response. However, we welcome the fact that Professor Hogg agrees that further and more detailed studies are essential.

"It is also important to recognise that Professor Hogg's report restricts itself to examining the psychological aspects of the proposed routing.

"Even from that narrow perspective, Professor Hogg concludes that there is a high risk of detrimental effects on the special needs children in our care - specifically during the construction phase, which is estimated to last well over a year. Indeed, Professor Hogg's report questions if the school could actually remain open during that period.

"The Camphill communities have a legal responsibility to look after the well being of the 200 vulnerable adults and children in the Camphill Newton Dee community and Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools. Professor Hogg's report confirms there is risk of damage to these communities and for the individual special needs residents and pupils.

"Given that a decision to drive a road through Camphill is irreversible, we believe that risk cannot be contemplated in view of the potentially catastrophic damage that this routing could cause for the communities and the special needs individuals for whom Camphill is home.

"While Save Camphill is not opposed to the development of an Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, we must continue use all legal means at our disposal to carry forward our 11-year objection to the detailed routing that threatens 65 years of work that inspires the international Camphill Movement.

"Camphill also has no desire to delay the road. Indeed, that is one reason why Camphill formally objected to this routing in November 1993 - more than 11 years ago. It is also one reason why we have been urging the authorities to back up their research into the wildlife effects of this route with research into the human impact.

"Like Professor Brown, we are bound to question why this research appears to have been almost an afterthought, starting just months before opening of public consultation."

Click here for more information from Grampian TV
«back

Channel 5 News to focus on Save Camphill campaign
January 24, 2005
Channel 5 News is to run a feature on the Save Camphill campaign on its flagship nightly news programme.

Sky News recently took over the contract for Channel 5 News and the Sky crew spent a day in Aberdeen filming at Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools and Camphill Newton Dee. Pictured is interviewer Peter Laing being shown the closeness of the proposed route to the children's residences by Dr Stefan Geider, Camphill Medical Officer.

The Channel 5 News item on Save Camphill is due to be aired late January or early February.
«back