Our members for the settlement of Alford are Alison Mackenzie, Andrew Travis, Duncan Ross, Lisa Moir, Margaret Henderson (co-opted), and Richard Atkey. There are 2 vacancies. Alford is in Aberdeenshire Council Ward 14 - Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford. 

Alford is located on the A944 main road, 26 miles WNW from the centre of Aberdeen City. Alford is our largest population centre, with a slightly older than average demographic. The most recent population estimate being 2670 (23% over 65, 58% 16 to 65, and 19% under 16 in age, compared to Scottish averages of 20%, 64% and 16%). The settlement has expanded considerably from its historic core supporting the agricultural industry, with many residents now associated with the oil and gas industries based in the Aberdeen area. There is a mix of private, social and sheltered housing.

Alford Academy, with its wide rural catchment area, has a school roll of around 700 pupils, and the Primary School is around 350, with around 60 children attending the Nursery. Both schools and the nursery now operate from a modern Community Campus building where there is a library and swimming pool. The Alford Medical Group employs 4 GPs and provides a range of medical services from a team of health practitioners. There is also a busy dentist’s surgery. There are 2 churches, a village hall, a post office, a pharmacist, 2 hotels, and a range of shops and eating places supporting both the local community and visitors. There are a number of Stagecoach bus services to/from Aberdeen each day.

Alford enjoys outdoor recreation facilities for team sports, specifically football and rugby, close to the Campus building, where there is also a dry-sky slope. There is an 18-hole golf course and a bowling green. Alford is fortunate to have the mature woodland and parkland of Haughton Park and Murray Park on its doorstep, for walking and cycling. Centred around Haughton House, is a holiday park which caters for touring caravans and motor homes. Alford is also notable for hosting high-quality visitor attractions: the Grampian Transport Museum, the Alford Heritage Museum, and the Alford Valley Community Railway.

There is an active Men’s Shed in Alford which also provides meeting space for community groups from its recently re-furbished premises. There are local groups, clubs and associations that cater for people of all ages and a range of interests.

In recent times there have been some expressions of concern about perceived deficiencies in: medical services; availability of health and fitness classes; and, public transport links.

The Glenkindie and Towie area sits between Kildrummy and Strathdon. The main population reside in the two settlements on either side of the Don. Glenkindie and Towie is represented on Donside Community Council by Anne Miller. There is a vacancy for one other community councillor for the area. Towie is home to the local primary school and nursery and Towie Public Hall which has been part of the community since 1845. Towie Hall is used by local clubs and organisations such as the Indoor Bowlers and The Towie Pipe Band, as well as hosting community events such as ceilidhs and quiz nights. See: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077534760901 

Aberdeenshire Council have decided that Towie Hall is ‘surplus to their requirements’ and are offering the hall and car park to the community as part of a Community Asset Transfer (CAT). If the community decides against this, Towie Hall will be offered for sale on the open market.  At present, the hall is run by a committee on behalf of the community under a lease from Aberdeenshire Council. CAT means that the community would own and run the hall, be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep, and liable for all running costs. Towards the end of 2024, a Community Consultation was undertaken as the first step of a process to establish the views and wishes of the residents of Towie, Glenkindie and surrounding area, and the current and future hall users. The report of this Community Consultation, including a summary of what the next steps are, was completed and approved in early March 2025. It can be viewed here. 

In Glenkindie there is a shop, post office and garage with 24 hour fuel. Glenkindie is also home to the Upper Donside Bowling Club. 

The local economy is a mixture of farming, holiday lets and small businesses. Many residents commute for employment to larger settlements locally, or further afield to Aberdeen. Some are self-employed and work from home. 

Local issues are concerned with the maintenance of roads, speeding and HGV traffic on side roads, lack of public transport, and poor broadband. 

Our member for this area is Sue Cross. There is one vacancy. Lumsden and Kildrummy is in Aberdeenshire Council Ward 14 - Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford.

Lumsden and Kildrummy are rural areas north-west of Alford supporting farming. Lumsden village has a mix of social housing, private let housing and private housing. Outwith the village,  and in the Kildrummy area, it is predominantly private housing and tenant farms. Most residents commute elsewhere for employment. Lumsden and surrounding area has a community of approximately 414. 

Lumsden church has now closed and sold to a private buyer. Lumsden Hall is run by a small group of volunteers. The Scottish Sculpture Workshop is based in Lumsden and holds regular events to which locals can attend. Lumsden has a garage which also serves as a shop. Lumsden has a primary school. The people of Lumsden own the hall and the market stance. The Lumsden Community Association runs the hall on behalf of the village. They hold regular events in the hall and the market stance, for example, the Mary Fair, produce show, craft fairs, soup and sweet, quiz nights and bingo. It can also be for private hire.

Kildrummy has the church (now owned by Historic Churches Scotland) which is open for 3 services a year, and for weddings and funerals. The area is also notable for the ruins of Kildrummy Castle, a visitor attraction operated by Historic Environment Scotland, and the popular and highly-rated Kildrummy Inn.

Employment is a big issue in Lumsden and Kildrummy. The only employment is Lumsden garage, the Kildrummy Inn, and farming jobs. Transport is the other big issue, there is none! Lumsden has the dial-a-bus but it runs a very limited service.

Lumsden has a feel of neglect.

Strathdon is a rural community with a dispersed population of around 500 people. It is located 50 miles from Aberdeen, 65 miles from Inverness, and 20 miles from Alford. It is represented on Donside Community Council by Paul Toohey. There is one vacancy. Strathdon is in Aberdeenshire Council Ward 15 - Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside.

The local economy is focused on land management of estates with grouse moors, pheasant and deer providing employment. Hill farming provides limited opportunities. Forestry is a key activity but is now mechanised, with little employment. Self employment is widespread and working from home is now prevalent. People commute to larger settlements - Aboyne, Ballater, and Aberdeen. There are holiday homes, and an ageing demographic with many retired people. The Lecht ski centre is part of Strathdon. A spectacular Highland Games, the Lonach , is held in August.

Strathdon has a Church of Scotland church, primary school, GP surgery, shop/post office, and a gift shop/tea room in Corgarff. The large Lonach Hall is used for community events and there are smaller halls at Corgarff and Glenbuchat. A Silver Circle for older people meets weekly and provides a local transport service for people without cars. Various social activities take place in the village halls.

Local issues include no public transport in the glen, and poor broadband in more remote locations. The local hotel/restaurant has closed and the community is looking at a community buyout.

Our members for this area are Linda Johnston and Roderick Campbell. There are no vacancies. Matters of local concern include the closure of the primary school and nursery, the proposed Correen & Suie Hills Windfarm development, and emergency resilience issues. 

The community is connected to Alford, the main centre for services and shops, over two bridges spanning the River Don. The modern single lane Montgarrie Bridge is currently closed on an extended basis due to structural failure of a culvert on the northern approach road. The Bridge of Alford, a Thomas Telford bridge dating from 1810, is not wide enough for two-way traffic involving heavy vehicles, and there are concerns over pedestrian safety. A controlled one-way system with a pedestrian footway has been suggested. There are community concerns that both bridges are subject to strains and damage caused by increasingly high river flows and by heavy axle weight vehicles. 

Taking account of this, the Tullynessle & Forbes Community & Hall Association are nearing completion of the resilience-building process to create a welfare hub centred on the hall.