Aberdeenshire town centre health checks and facilities monitor findings published

Aberdeenshire Council has published the findings from its town centre health checks and facilities monitor which were recorded across the area last year.

Maintaining town centres which are attractive, vibrant and accessible is essential to ensuring our towns continue to prosper. 

The health checks play a key role in shaping the council’s town centre strategies by highlighting existing strengths and identifying areas that need further development.

Every two years the council reviews the vitality and viability of Aberdeenshire’s main town centres and this year’s focus will be on Banchory, Banff, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Inverurie, Peterhead, Stonehaven and Turriff.

The update includes surveys which were carried out in September, along with an online public survey which remained open for six weeks. It also introduces new Storymap formats designed to make the results easier to explore, sharing insights from the council’s involvement in a Place Standard Tool Community Safety Pilot which examined how people feel about safety, traffic, public spaces and local facilities. 

You can access the findings of the health checks at https://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/town-centre-health-checks 

The facilities monitor records key services and facilities across 179 settlements in Aberdeenshire including shops, services and community facilities which support everyday life.

This year’s update features refreshed survey data gathered last summer and also benefits from the addition of new facilities such as parcel lockers, water top-up points and public telephones. The council has also introduced a new interactive facilities monitor dashboard which tracks changes over time through the use of the ArcGIS system to map and record data which makes it easier to explore and analyse.

You can access the facilities monitor at https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/statistics/services-and-facilities 

Paul Macari, Head of Planning and Economy, explained: “Healthy, thriving town centres are essential for the long term growth and success of our region. Regular town centre health checks alongside our facilities monitor help us understand what’s working, what’s changing and where new opportunities are emerging. They not only inform future planning and development decisions but also provide a vital picture of how our town centres are performing over time. 

“They will also be used to inform Place Plans within our academy towns, ensuring that local priorities and emerging trends are reflected in future development. Once again we’re inviting residents and local businesses to share their experiences and insights – your views play a crucial role in shaping future investment and ensuring our town centres continue to grow and evolve.”