Name the red kite chicks

The Aberdeen Red Kite Project are offering a chance for you to name the two red kite chicks that have become the stars of the Aberdeen CCTV. We have one female and one male chick. Read More...
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Aberdeen features little in NPF

Aberdeen City and Shire features little in the Scottish Government’s new National Planning Framework 2, published today. Read More...
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MSP concerned about threat to rural home value

Nanette Milne MSP, Shadow Minister for the Environment, has demanded a meeting to urge the SNP Scottish Government to think again and review home Energy Performance Certificates. Read More...
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Scotland would be in deficit even with oil?

So, according to a UK Government report, Scotland’s economy would still be in deficit even with the oil and gas revenues from the North Sea. Read More...
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Speed limiters proposed in safety framework

The Transport Minister has launched a new ten-year road safety framework for Scotland, which sets what are claimed to be the ‘toughest’ targets in the UK for for reduction of injuries and fatalities. Read More...
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When is local radio not local?

If you have tuned into Northsound 2, today (or Northsound 1 after 7 pm), you may have wondered what happened to the familiar voices and why the DJs are talking about Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow as much as they are about Aberdeen. Read More...
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New City Centre Heart Potential Home for Energy Futures Centre

AREG (Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group) today welcomed the vision for a new city centre heart as a potential location for its world-class, state-of-the-art Energy Futures Centre. Read More...
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War of Worlds coup for social enterprise

The Artists Gallery – an Aberdeen business that provides training and work opportunities for people with a disability – is the only gallery in Scotland offering signed copies of the ‘War of the Worlds’ album cover artwork. Read More...
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Chambers demand Forth Bridge rethink

According to The Sunday Herald, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce have called on the government to revert to plans for a wider replacement Forth Bridge with light rail potential and a motorway approach. Read More...
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New civic centre for the Granite City

The first outline designs for the creation of a new city centre for Aberdeen have been unveiled today. The plans reveal a six-acre civic space, at the level of Union Street and Union Terrace, built over the Denburn Valley and Union Terrace Gardens. Read More...
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Political turmoil

When we were assimilating the seriousness of the international money crisis at the end of last year we were warned that these were unprecedented times and that no-one really knew what the future held for us. Read More...
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Expenses row grows

It is almost three weeks since we commented on the MPs expenses row. Since then, the on-going revelations have been quite shocking. Yet, here is evidence that, ten years ago, Westminster decision makers knew that the system needed changed. Read More...
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Google reported interested in NE base

The Press and Journal is running a story today that Google is interested in using part of the former Inverurie Paper Mill as a Scottish green-powered data centre. Read More...
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Mystery over Cameron's 'rule Scotland'

All the headlines quote Conservative leader David Cameron as saying he would “rule Scotland with respect”. Read More...
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Let's embrace the new city centre plan

The proposal to create a new city centre focus in the centre of Aberdeen is gaining momentum. Read More...
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What happened to the political antennae

At a time when young couples are finding it difficult to afford a homes, when families are cutting back on non-essentials and those approaching retirement age are realising that their pensions are going to be worth a fraction of what they expected, some of our MPs show themselves to be out of tune with the times by awarding themselves frankly ridiculous expenses. Read More...
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What was no 10 thinking about

What were the spin doctors at No 10 thinking?
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iPod for everything but music!

I was given an iPod Touch for my birthday, three months ago. So far I have never used it for playing music.... here’s why. Read More...
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UK faces disastrous North Sea decline

A top Aberdeen oil executive has sounded a warning in The Herald today that the North Sea oil and gas industry faces a disastrous decline if the government does not take action on the tax regime. Read More...
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Helicopter tragedy memorial service

As the news breaks that the helicopter which crashed last week had suffered a catastrophic failure in its part of its main gearbox, details have been announced of the memorial service that is to be held next week. Read More...
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Aberdeenshire provost's new wheels

Aberdeenshire Provost* Bill Howatson is to follow the Czech President in the choice of official limousine. Read More...
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Shock at helicopter crash

The helicopter crash in the North Sea this week has been a reminder that the economic miracle of North Sea oil, which has bolstered the UK economy for 40 years, comes at a price – on this occasion, a very human one. Read More...
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50 mph limit is wrong tactic

Thos of us who use roads in the North East of Scotland (and that is the vast majority of us), tend to drive longer distances and greater miles. In future, you may find that many of these journeys are limited to 50 mph. Read More...
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New name for special needs school

An Aberdeen school, which has been recognised for its sector-leading standards in special needs education, is to adopt a new name and new identity as it develops its services to meet a growing need. Read More...
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Happy 100th birthday motor club

Happy 100th birthday to Aberdeen and District Motor Club. They are celebrating this Saturday with a dinner dance in the Ardoe House Hotel. Read More...
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Children's illustrations exhibition

Banchory Gallery, a social enterprise that provides training and work opportunities for people with a disability, opens a new exhibition of children’s illustrations this Saturday (March 14). Read More...
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What is the truth about paper mill sale?

We are in a claim and counter-claim situation over the Inverurie Paper Mill. Was there, or was there not an offer to buy the mill? Read More...
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Don't attach too much authority to tweets

Within minutes of the helicopter accident in the North Sea last night the first reports of the incident were reverberating around the globe on Twitter, the internet short messaging phenomenon. Read More...
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Job losses at Inverurie paper mill

The news of International Paper’s decision to close Inverurie paper mill may not be unexpected, but the actual announcement is still a heavy blow for the local economy with a loss of 371 jobs. Read More...
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What do do they learn at driving schools?

Driving along a single-track country road this morning. Coming the other way as clear as could be was a Ford Ka with a young driver at the wheel. I could see him - indeed I could hardly ignore him. He could have seen me, if he was interested in anything beyond the front of his bonnet! Read More...
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plane daft

I find tonight’s story in the Evening Express hard to fathom. Apparently taxis from the airport can’t operate in the city and taxis from the city can’t operate at the airport. Read More...
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Yet another local government reform?

The Herald today runs a story about a growing demand for the reform of local government. The suggestion is that the current 32 local councils in Scotland should be cut to just ten. Read More...
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Flying the Saltire in Aberdeenshire

A mystified letter from Detroit in The Press and Journal this morning questions the extraordinary decision of Aberdeenshire Council not to fly the Saltire – Scotland’s national flag – from council buildings. Read More...
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Big Brother: is 2009 our 1984?

Watch out. From March, the government will have a record of your visit to this website. Read More...
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Spend, spend, spend

We now have the lowest interest rates in the UK. Good news for borrowers and spenders. Bad news for savers. Read More...
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RIP conventional bulbs

The EU is taking control of your home lighting. Read More...
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Battle rages over vital NE transport link

A cross-border battle is raging over the funding of the new Forth Bridge. But, is it worth fighting over this vital link in the transport network for North-east Scotland? Read More...
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