Residents in a troubled Fraserburgh neighbourhood are hoping closer co-operation with council chiefs will help to resolve the problems which have been blighting their area for years.
Complaints from people living at North Braeheads, next to the town’s former police station on Kirk Brae, have ranged from fly-tipping to general disrepair.
Now the local residents association and Aberdeenshire Council are working together to address the issues.
Representatives of the local authority are attending the group’s meetings to listen to concerns – and pledge swift action to remedy them.
Fraserburgh councillor Charles Buchan applauded community leaders for their efforts to spruce up their area, which is home to about 80 private and local authority-owned properties.
“A lot of the problems have been caused by non-residents coming in and dumping things,” he said.
“I think the residents association is to be commended on their perseverance and their efforts to keep North Braeheads as a decent place to live and bring up children, despite the many difficulties encountered.”
Kevin Watt, chairman of the residents association, said he was pleased the local authority had begun attending the group’s regular get-togethers – and taking steps to deal with members’ concerns.
“I think it’s a good thing that the council are coming to the meetings,” he said.
“I know that all residents don’t attend, but, for us it’s bringing everything together.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “Some of the issues are currently being attended to and we are actively working with the local tenant and resident group covering this area to agree a way forward and find solutions to the problems being highlighted by the tenants.”