THE first phase of a £1.7m project to realign sections of the A935 between Brechin and Montrose started this week.

Visiting the site at West Broomley on Thursday, the council’s roads spokesman Councillor David May welcomed the start of the scheme, and pledged that investment in roads will continue to be a priority for the authority.

Councillor May said: “This route has been identified as one of our priorities for action and I am delighted to see work start on site.

“This is the second major project to get underway in Angus recently, with work also starting at the A92 at Big Tree Bends.

“This shows that, despite tight financial constraints, Angus Council remains committed to investing in our roads, creating a safe and efficient network which is important for the county in both transport and economic development terms.”

The work at the A935 is being carried out by W. Brown Roadworks and is expected to last approximately eight weeks.

Further realignment at the A935 at Balwyllo is expected to start in the spring and last for around 12 weeks.

The final phase of the works are due to take place on a double bend at Mill of Dun, which is programmed for the late summer/early autumn of this year.

Brechin City Youths Football Club is celebrating 40 years of offering youth football within the Brechin and surrounding area in 2012.

To mark this special occasion there will be a calendar of events organised for later this year.

A sub-committee will be formed to assist with this momentous task.

The teams’ players who participated in the Aberbrothock League in 1972 and former players, coaches, parent helpers are requested to get in touch to allow them to be informed and invited to the various activities which will be taking place in 2012.

“The first thing on the agenda is to replace the whole club’s playing kit which is an expensive burden,” explains a club spokesperson.

“The football kit for all teams requires to be replaced this season and local businesses are being offered the unique opportunity to sponsor the existing teams on an individual basis.

“The costs incurred will relate to the replacement of a team kit, their details printed on the shirt and advertising on the website, which will last for two years, along with updates on how the team are doing.

“The cost will be around £400 per team, with the kit supplying around 20 players.

“This replaces the existing deal with Mackie Motors.

“Brechin City Youths FC appreciate this and would like to extend thanks to Kevin Mackie for his fantastic support to local football over the last few years,” added the spokesperson.

Brechin City Youth FC has always been run and organised by volunteers, which is a huge undertaking and investment in the young people within our local community.

“Without these volunteers over the years there would be no club.

“Brechin City Youths provide a valuable service in offering a positive healthy pursuit where youngsters can gain some valuable life lessons, including discipline, self esteem, confidence, working as a team, communication, keeping fit and inclusion.

“Many of the negative aspects no longer exist due to the existence of Scottish FA Quality Mark and Angus Club Excellence awards.

“These look at codes of conducts for coaches, players and parents, policies involved with running a club such as child protection, coaching improvement and first aid provision.

“Brechin City Youths FC is accredited with both awards.

“There are teams for both boys and girls and there is normally a membership exceeding 200 members or players every year - showing the popularity of local grassroots football.

“Teams can play all over the Scottish FA East Region, which includes Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perthshire.”

If you are interested in sponsorship or want to coach, play or be involved with the running of the club or wish to get further information on the 40th anniversary events, visit the website at www.brechincityyouths.co.uk or the specially created facebook page. You can also follow the club on twitter @brechincityYFC.

THERE was an excellent attendance at a recent meeting in Edzell where almost 60 proprietors, factors, farmers and gamekeepers turned out to hear about the highly successful Angus Glens Tick Project.

The Project, which is run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is entering its final year during which time researchers will continue to study the impact of ticks on wildlife and seek methods of reducing this parasite and the louping ill virus which it transmits.

Mainly funded by the Angus Glens estate owners, the project is unique in its collaborative approach to research and land management and is dedicated to improving the health of these upland areas for game, wildlife and humans. Since the start of the project six years ago, many of the Glens estates have employed the GWCT’s best practice guidelines with regards to acaracide treatment for sheep and thus have been successful in reducing tick levels. This, in conjunction with other upland management techniques, has resulted in an uplift in red grouse numbers which in turn has been beneficial to the local economy.

Attendees were given presentations by the GWCT’s main project researcher Laura Taylor,

senior upland scientist Dr Kathy Fletcher and director Scotland Dr Adam Smith.

“The GWCT has benefited from monitoring the management in the Angus Glens as it has enabled us to take our research forward and improve our advice in the future.” said Dr Fletcher.

Ian Coghill, GWCT chairman of trustees, was guest speaker and Roddy d’Anyers Willis director of event sponsors Savills gave the vote of thanks following questions from the floor.

“This project must be regarded as one of the most successful pieces of research carried out by the GWCT in Scotland in recent years and we are indebted to those who have participated,” said Mr d’Anyers Willis.

“In particular I would like to cite Laura Taylor and Dr Kathy Fletcher who have inspired not just keepers but farmers and shepherds to participate and benefit from tick research and control. Savills is delighted to have been invited to support this initiative. We cannot match the generosity of the grouse moor owners who have helped to fund the project but we are proud to be associated with this excellent piece of grouse research. It has been most rewarding to watch the progress and to witness the revival of grouse and the moorland birds in the Angus Glens.”

HILLVIEW could be set for regeneration if Angus Council approve plans to demolish a number of flats.

A proposal has been put forward by Ron Ashton, director of neighbourhood services, to demolish the two empty blocks at 47-58 Hillview, comprising of 16 flats, and build four family houses in their place.

The move to replace the flats with houses is just one of three options which will be put to the committee on Thursday evening.

Two further options include making the site into a play area with additional car parking space or converting the flats back into their original layouts.

The cost of the play park would be in the region of £60-£65,000 while the conversion would cost around £640,000. Meanwhile the demolition and building of family homes is set to cost around £480,000.

In support of his proposal Mr Ashton said: “The new build option will provide a change of character in the area and would remove some of the high blocks, leading to a more open feel with a reduction in the number of flats.

“As these would be considered ‘new supply’ houses, they would be exempt from the tenant’s Right to Buy.

“Although this option reduces the total number of dwellings available for rent, the demand in the area for flats is very low at present, but the demand for houses is high, so there is certainty over a good response from potential tenants.”

There is a total of £650,000 set aside for improvement works at Hillview which would be sufficient to cover any of the three options available.

Therefore, should the recommended proposal be accepted is it will come in well within budget.

Mr Ashton said: “Once tender returns have been received, any available balance from the £650,000 provision will be reallocated within the overall HRA Financial Plan.”

The Hillview flats have lain empty since 2010 when the decision was made to close them down and re-home any remaining tenants.

A subsequent consultation revealed that many of the respondents wanted a children’s play area but only 15/20 out of 100 households took an interest.

Mr Ashton concluded: “The demolition of these two blocks of flats in Hillview and the construction of four new family houses will provide a much-needed boost to the type of housing available in the area, building on work with the community to improve safety and security and a sense of place.”

Brechin’s Damacre Road will see carriageway and footway works taking place on the week commencing Monday, February 27.

Movement of pedestrians and vehicles will be affected throughout the works which is due to last approximately four weeks.

Pedestrian access will be available to all properties but for health and safety reasons if work is being carried out directly in front of an access, barriers will be in place around the working area.

If you are a resident of Damacre Road and would like to have a dropped driveway access in front of your property, subject to approval, the Council can carry out the works for a fee of £300.

Residents in the area are asked to check whether any bushes, shrubs or hedges are overgrowing their boundary wall or kerb and if it is have been asked to trim such vegetation back flush with the rear of the footway to a vertical height of at least two metres.

Failure to carry out such measures may result in the Contractor cutting back the overgrowth and a charge being made for this work.

Domestic refuse collection will be unaffected and wheelie bins etc., should be put out as normal.

Should you require any further information regarding these works, or would like to arrange a dropped driveway access, please contact Suzy Milne on 01307 473938.