Torphins Community Help: TORCH

Torphins Community Help: TORCH TORCH – Torphins Community Help, was formed as a resilience sub-group of Torphins Community Council

Don’t forget you can still join Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks free priority services which will give you ex...
20/01/2026

Don’t forget you can still join Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks free priority services which will give you extra support during power cuts caused by extreme weather and advance notice of any planned power cuts so you can prepare in advance.
For more information and to check if you qualify, you can visit online SSEN.CO.UK/PSR, call 0800-072-7253 or textphone 0800-316-5457.
Remember - if you have a power cut, call 105.

Expect a final blast of wintry weather tomorrow morning before the big thaw takes hold.There is an amber snow and ice wa...
10/01/2026

Expect a final blast of wintry weather tomorrow morning before the big thaw takes hold.
There is an amber snow and ice warning for western Aberdeenshire and Torphins may be on the edge of that.
The snow will eventually turn to rain but there will also be very windy conditions.
As the temperature begins to rise there will be significant snow melt which will lead to potential flooding issues with watercourses, culverts and drains struggling to cope and being overwhelmed.
Be aware of large areas of surface water and the risk they can cause while driving. Some may be deeper than you realise and be alert for potholes.
There is still the potential for power cuts so . Conditions on pavements, side streets and side roads are still very tricky in places so take care and be patient. Keep looking out for others less able to help themselves .
This has been a long haul for our community but the resilience and helping each other has been fantastic - keep it up, we are almost there!

More freezing conditions tonight and more snow expected with a yellow alert for snow and ice tonight until 3pm tomorrow ...
09/01/2026

More freezing conditions tonight and more snow expected with a yellow alert for snow and ice tonight until 3pm tomorrow then one from 2am to 3pm on Sunday.
The good news is that temperatures should warm up on Tuesday although the thaw will likely bring flooding issues in some places.
Be patient as the side roads and side streets are still very tricky and there is still the potential for power cuts caused by ice encased lines.
Remember the drill - . We are getting through this together.

Although we have had a rare day with no snow this week, don’t drop your guard yet - the yellow weather warning for snow ...
08/01/2026

Although we have had a rare day with no snow this week, don’t drop your guard yet - the yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been extended until noon tomorrow and there will be freezing temperatures tonight.
Expect an icy start to tomorrow and take extra care on the roads and pavements.
There is still a potential for power cuts so have everything you need just in case .
Also keep an eye out for others less able to look after themselves and lend a helping hand .
We know everyone is fed up of this extended spell of snow but the community spirit and help has been fantastic and proves what a great place it is we live in.
Stay safe, stay warm and shout out if anyone needs assistance.

While the worst of the snow is over for just now and we have had a slow thaw today, don’t be lulled into a false sense o...
07/01/2026

While the worst of the snow is over for just now and we have had a slow thaw today, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security.
We face freezing temperatures over the next few nights meaning snow that hasn’t been cleared will be harder to shift and there will be black ice issues on the roads and pavements.
The council is still working hard to clear side roads and side streets and our local farmers and estates have been doing a heroic job in snow clearing, towing out stuck vehicles and checking on remote properties. Thank you to you all.
More snow is expected this weekend and into next week, so remain vigilant and be patient, and help others who are less able to help themselves are okay.
Torphins and Tornaveen has shown what a brilliant community this is in these difficult circumstances.

If you know of anyone who still needs assistance, then put it either on the TORCH or the Torphins Community Forum page.

07/01/2026

⚠There is a YELLOW weather warning for snow and ice running through to midday on Thursday (January 8 ) with further snow and ice likely to bring further disruption on Wednesday. ⚠

While there are currently no weather warnings thereafter for the rest of the week, overnight temperatures are expected to continue to drop significantly, which may lead to icy conditions in areas that thaw during the day.

Customer Services continue to support local residents with a range of queries, many related to winter issues, but also a high percentage of business as usual.

Service Points remain open to support customers who are able to attend in person, with web chat also being well utilised.

Customer Services are liaising with roads, waste etc regarding their priority workloads and continuing to keep customers updated of progress as we are aware.

Customers should continue to follow the guidance available on our website relating to severe weather https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/safety-and-emergencies/weather-emergencies

👉Schools
Following a blanket decision on school closures for the last three days, parents and carers will be contacted directly via their usual channels for whether schools and council-run nurseries will be open or closed on Thursday and Friday.

Aberdeenshire Council has reverted to local decision-making to ensure where schools can open safely, they do - although we anticipate this will be a limited number.

Headteacher decisions will be based on a range of factors impacting our schools’ ability to operate safely. This includes the ongoing weather warning and related impacts on the road network, staff and pupil travel and school facilities.

You can also view the latest decisions on our website at https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/school-closures

Please note the website will clear at 4pm each day with information for the following day.

👉Roads
Our roads teams supported by contracted farmers, contractors, support agencies and volunteers continue to focus on keeping roads clear and increase our push into towns and onto minor routes and local trunk roads to aid connectivity within our communities.

We have also redeployed 80 waste personnel and around 90 landscape staff where possible, to help clear footpaths, focusing on key establishments like sheltered housing schemes and care homes – again, we expect to see real progress being made in the coming days.

Currently we have 64+ drivers on rota to provide seven day per week cover for our 32 primary routes with additional drivers brought in throughout the day to support our operations.

We have the following equipment in operation across Aberdeenshire:
• 32 primary gritters
• 12 secondary
• 20 town gritters
• 2 tractor-mounted snow blowers
• 47 footway gritters

Support
• 120 farmer plows
• 50+ additional contractor plows

Mutual Aid support
AMEY has been quick to respond to our approach for mutual aid with 12 pieces of additional plant now delivered and operating including snow blowers, tractors with ploughs and salt spreaders. We’ve also brought in a snow cutter from Tayside Contracts and have a locally-sourced snow blower in operation as well.

Interactive Map
Due to the ongoing snow event, we have made updates to our FixMyStreet platform which make it easier for people to report winter-related road issues that we might not already know about.

This can be done by submitting a report and selecting Winter & Gritting – Other (Winter Maintenance) from the available options.
https://fix.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/around?lat=57.30906&lon=-2.35225&js=1&zoom=0&filter_category=Other%20(Winter%20Maintenance)&sort=created-desc&status=open,closed,fixed

Please be aware that, due to the weather, we are currently dealing with a high volume of enquiries. These are being assessed and addressed on a priority basis.

👉Waste and recycling
Bin collections will be attempted in Fraserburgh, Macduff, and Banff. Black lid bins will also be attempted for Laurencekirk and trade waste for Banchory. For all other routes, residents can take bins back in.

When conditions do improve, we will look at the missed collections along with our staff and vehicle resources to determine where it is practicably possible to return for bins.

With thanks to the snow clearing efforts by our dedicated staff, all household recycling centres opened today from 9am. Please take care on the access road to Peterhead’s recycling centre as it continues to be cleared.

Members of our waste and recycling team have also been redeployed to help the Roads team as well as support the more vulnerable such as helping to clear access to local care homes at Deveron Court Turriff; Forbes Court New Pitsligo; Banchory’s Dalvenie Care Home and Hanover Court Sheltered Housing; Stonehaven’s Carnegie Care Home and Eden Care Home; Portlethen's Glebe Court; Westhilll’s Blackhills Care Home; and Laurencekirk’s Mearns Care Home and more.

👉Health and Social Care Partnership
The weather continues to impact on service delivery, and our amazing teams are doing all they can to keep supporting people.

Vaccination Clinics are closed today, and we are assessing our ability to re-open safely for patients and staff. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.
Home Care teams are working to complete as many visits as possible, and we are very grateful to families for the support.

GP Practices are working as best they can to get people the care they need. Many GP practice teams are working remotely so that they can continue to provide appointments over the phone or online.

Our Minor Injury Service is operating although with reduced capacity due to staffing issues.

👉General advice
For more information and to access local preparedness resources, visit: https://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/winter-weather-advice

To see our planned gritting for each day, go to: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/roads/winter-maintenance/gritting-routes

Stay informed – follow trusted sources like council websites and social media channels for updates and advice:
• https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ opens in a new tab
• https://www.sepa.org.uk/ opens in a new tab
• https://powertrack.ssen.co.uk/powertrack opens in a new tab

General advice for road users
• Plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel
• All road users should consider if they really need to travel during adverse weather.
• Consider delaying travel until conditions improve
• If you are travelling on the roads, prepare yourself and your vehicle for the conditions
• Ensure your mobile phone is charged and plan your journey, including an alternative route
• Have sufficient fuel, warm clothing, food and water in case you’re delayed

Don’t be fooled by the fact there was no more snow overnight. There is a new Amber weather warning from 11am today until...
06/01/2026

Don’t be fooled by the fact there was no more snow overnight. There is a new Amber weather warning from 11am today until 7pm and it started snowing again just after 6am.
Some of the main roads are black - for the moment - but many of the side roads are horrendous. Conditions in Aberdeen are poor.
Do not travel is the best advice again today as there will be a lot more snow. Sit tight and stay safe.
Make sure you have the things you need for any potential power cuts.
Help others less able to help themselves - clearing a path or getting them some provisions will make a huge difference for them.
The community spirit so far has been excellent and we must give special thanks to all those who have helped, particularly our farmers and council snow clearing crews.
Be patient. Remember it’s winter and we haven’t had snow like this for about 15/16-years.

05/01/2026

Across the region there remain weather warnings in place for ice and snow. As a result, many of our services continue to be disrupted and teams across the council and health & social care are working extremely hard to mitigate the impacts on citizens.

ROADS:
Our roads teams continue to focus efforts on keeping our primary routes (about a third of our extensive road network) as clear as possible. However, many routes are only passable with extreme care, and we would urge people to only travel if absolutely necessary.
Many of our gritter drivers have been working long shifts since before Hogmanay to prepare for the snow and the impacts and we will need to ensure they get the rest and recuperation they need to be able to keep us and them safe. Our thanks to all of them for the incredible work they continue to do.

SCHOOLS:
Teams are evaluating the ongoing situation and considering all the factors including travel conditions, staffing, buildings and facilities.

WASTE COLLECTIONS:
Staff are working hard to get snow cleared at household recycling centres across Aberdeenshire. For now, Huntly, Fraserburgh, and Macduff household recycling centres are open. Inverurie and Westhill household recycling centres are expected to open around 12:30pm. All other household recycling centres are closed, and we will update if more are able to be cleared of snow.
Waste collections have been suspended. Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates.

HOUSING:
Teams are prioritising emergency repairs to keep everyone safe. Routine appointments this week may be delayed, but we’re still booking new appointments for dates beyond next week.

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE:
All Aberdeenshire Vaccination Centres will be closed today and tomorrow.
GP Practices across the region are working with reduced capacity and people should keep an eye out for local updates for the most up to date picture.
Homecare Teams are working to reach the most vulnerable clients wherever possible and will remain in contact with families.
Our Community Nursing Teams are also supporting the most vulnerable clients wherever they can.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to all of the staff, volunteers and emergency services working to look after everyone.

Please note: Our Contact Centre is experiencing high call volumes, so please bear with us if it takes a little longer to get through. Thank you for your understanding—we’ll do everything we can to catch up as quickly as possible while putting safety first.

04/01/2026

Police travel advice has been issued following a further Amber weather warning for snow across north and northeast Scotland.

The Met Office has issued an Amber weather warning for heavy and persistent snow affecting parts of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Highland, Orkney and Shetland. This warning is in place from 18:00 on Sunday, 4 January until 10:00 on Monday, 5 January.

Previous Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in place for Dundee, Perth & Kinross, Stirling, Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire.

Strong winds will continue, increasing the risk of significant drifting and temporary blizzard conditions. This brings an increased risk of:
• Travel delays on roads, with some vehicles and passengers potentially stranded
• Delays or cancellations to rail and air services
• Some rural communities becoming cut off
• Power cuts and disruption to services, including mobile coverage

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell: “The forecasted heavy snow showers and ice means driving conditions are likely to be hazardous in some areas. Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the weather warnings.

“We continue to work with partners to help our communities impacted by the adverse weather.

“If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions, be prepared for delays and allow extra time for your journey. Please don’t drive through road closures, the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety.”

Full details of the warning and what you should do can be found on the Met Office website.

Emergency contacts
Power
You can call 105 free of charge in the event of a power cut to report or get information about your area.

Electricity suppliers also provide information on their websites on what to do if your power goes off.

Water supply
You can report issues with water supply to Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778 or find further information on their website.

Flooding
Information on flood alerts and warnings is available through the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. You can find more information on their website.

General advice for road users
• Plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel
• All road users should consider if they really need to travel during adverse weather.
• Consider delaying travel until conditions improve
• If you are travelling on the roads, prepare yourself and your vehicle for the conditions
• Ensure your mobile phone is charged and plan your journey, including an alternative route
• Have sufficient fuel, warm clothing, food and water in case you’re delayed
• Do not ignore road closure signs – they are for your safety
• Congestion caused by vehicles may restrict emergency services and recovery vehicles from providing essential assistance
• Listen to media broadcasts, including radio, for updates Traffic Scotland radio player or visit Traffic Scotland Trunk road traffic updates & route planner
• Follow your local authority for the latest updates in your area via Facebook, X or their website.
• Other information can be found on the Met Office, Ready Scotland. For public transport information visit Traveline Scotland.

Snow conditions this morning are worse than yesterday. Best advice - stay at home and don’t travel. The roads are bad an...
04/01/2026

Snow conditions this morning are worse than yesterday. Best advice - stay at home and don’t travel. The roads are bad and all you will do is add to the problems. Sit tight and stay safe. Be a good neighbour and check on those less able to see they are okay.

The Met Office has updated its snow forecast to issue an amber warning for the north-east from noon tomorrow to noon on ...
01/01/2026

The Met Office has updated its snow forecast to issue an amber warning for the north-east from noon tomorrow to noon on Saturday.
Expect heavier and prolonged snow showers which will make travelling difficult in some places.
Plan ahead and be prepared. Travel only if absolutely necessary. If you do travel then make sure you have the right kit with you in case you get stuck.
Be prepared and be a good neighbour by looking out for others who might need assistance.

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