Royal Deeside :
The Deeside and Donside Development Project

The Deeside and Donside Development Project

Upper Deeside and Upper Donside together form west Aberdeenshire and the easter part of the Cairngorms National Park. Because the main A9 provides easy access to the western side of the park, the eastern side is much less developed. Here the centres of population are smaller and further apart. Nonetheless it contains some of the most beautiful countryside in Scotland and central to the area is the Royal castle of Balmoral.

The Deeside and Donside Development project was established to assist communities develop enterprises which are both viable and sustainable. On this page we provide information about this project.

What is the Project?
The Deeside Donside Development Project has been the outcome of community action planning within the Cairngorms National Park. This action planning has been undertaken in Ballater and on the west side of the Park in Badenoch and Strathspey. With the support of statutory agencies such as the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the process has enabled communities to take a lead role in assessing their needs and aspirations. It has involved in depth engagement to ensure all members of the community have the opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of their action plan.

Map showing the Cairngorms National Park and Local Authority Areas and area covered by the project

Aims
• To provide assistance for communities to engage in an action planning process
• To support the outcomes of the action plans
• Build working partnerships

Who manages the Project?
Nick Mardall is the project manager and his role is to work with new and existing groups to extend the community action planning process in the Braemar, Ballater and Strathdon community council areas within the Cairngorms National Park. The role will be supportive and will involve facilitating sustainable projects identified by these groups. His position is managed and coordinated by Ballater (RD) Ltd, a local rural partnership and registered charity often called, simply, BRD.

The development manager’s role is overseen by a Steering Group consisting of representatives from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Aberdeenshire Council, the Association of Cairngorms Communities, Marr Area Partnership and BRD.
The steering group will ensure that the outcomes of the community action planning are met and achieved and that the development manager’s work programme is transparent and appropriately targeted.

How can the project help you or your group?
The project is about helping projects or ideas progress to the benefit of the group and wider community. Nick will help you identify potential funding, assist with application forms, setting timescales for achieving results, forming working groups etc
Nick Mardall can be contacted by telephone:

Direct 013397 53775; Office 013397 55467; Mobile 07834512029; Email: nick.dddp@btconnect.com

If you live locally then feel free to come to the office to discuss your ideas or project. The project share office space with BRD. The office address is :

c/o Ballater (RD) Ltd,
The Bank House
7 Bridge street
Ballater AB35 5QP

The entrance is behind the main entrance of the Bank of Scotland and the office is on the second floor.