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Peterhead is a town in Scotland with a population of approximately 19,000. It is situated in Aberdeenshire, at the easternmost point in mainland Scotland.
[edit] Description
Peterhead, like Fraserburgh, first grew as a fishing port, and became the largest white fish port in Europe.[citation needed] Although the industry is in decline, it is still important to the town. The Ugie Salmon Fish House showcases traditional fish preparation methods. The town grew again following the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1960s.
Peterhead is also home to one of Scotland's high security prisons and until April 2005 was home of the nearby Royal Air Force station - RAF Buchan.
Peterhead is Aberdeenshire's largest settlement. It has a relatively diverse economy, including food processing, textiles, service industries and, importantly, fishing. Peterhead was founded by the Keith Earls Marischal in 1587, and was developed as a planned settlement. In 1593 the construction of Peterhead's first harbour, Port Henry, established a base for trade and safety which has grown into Europe's premier white fish landing port. Over 90,000 tonnes of fish, with a value of around £60m are now landed at Peterhead, which is also base to over 550 fishermen.
A new phase of growth was initiated in the 1970s with Peterhead becoming a major oil industry service centre, and the completion of the nearby St Fergus gas terminal. At this time, considerable land holdings were allocated for industrial development. In recent times, the town has suffered from several high profile company closures and is facing a number of pressures, including Common Fisheries Policy reforms and uncertainty over the future of HMP Peterhead.
The Peterhead Project initiative under the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership brings together the Council, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Communities Scotland, commerce and community representatives. In addition to Wellbank, the programme is assisting business diversification and town centre environmental improvements. Peterhead Bay Authority plan to extend the northern breakwater as a stimulus to the town's economic development.
Peterhead is often referred to as The Blue Toon and people who were born there as Blue Tooners. More correctly they are called Bloomogganners, supposedly from the blue worsted stockings that the fishermen originally wore. In May 2007, the Peterhead Football Club adopted as its fan song "The Blue Toon Tune".
Population around 19,000 Source: General Register Office for Scotland data and Council forecast
[edit] Education
[edit] Peterhead Academy
Peterhead Academy houses over 1400 pupils and the school is split up into 8 houses (Arbuthnot, Buchan, Craigewan, Grange, Marschall, Ravenscraig Slains and Ugie), all representing areas of the town. The school has pupils coming from surrounding villages such as Boddam, St Fergus, Inverugie, Rora, Hatton and Cruden Bay.
[edit] Primary schools
Peterhead has seven primary schools (Clerkhill, Buchanhaven, Meethill, Dales Park, Central, Burnhaven, Anna Ritchie), Clerkhill being the largest.
[edit] Transport
Peterhead has a number of in-town and out-of-town bus services. These include:
260: Aberdeen - Balmedie - Ellon - Hatton - Peterhead
261: Peterhead - Cruden Bay - Hatton Village
263: Aberdeen - Balmedie - Cruden Bay - Peterhead
269: Fraserburgh - Crimond - Peterhead
280: Peterhead - Stirling Village - Boddam
281: Peterhead Chapel Street - Meethill Circular
283: Peterhead Chapel Street - Aalesund Road Circular
284: Peterhead Chapel Street - Catto Drive Circular
286: Peterhead - Mintlaw - Stuartfield - New Deer
469: Fraserburgh - Peterhead
747: Peterhead/Ellon - Dyce
963N : Aberdeen - Newburgh - Cruden bay - Peterhead (Night Service)
All these stop at the new Peterhead Transport Interchange
[edit] Main employers
Company/Organisation Activity
- Score Europe & Score Energy, Engineering
- Scottish Prison Service (HM Peterhead Prison), Prison Services
- ASCO Plc, Oil Services
- Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd, Oil Company
- ASDA (Walmart), Retailing
- Morrisons Supermarket Plc, Retailing
- Smiths of Peterhead Ltd, Woollen Manufacturing
- Fresh Catch Ltd, Fish Processing
- Forman Fish Ltd, Fish Processing
- Taylor Crane Company Ltd, Crane Hire
- Macdonald Hotels (UK) Ltd (Waterside Inn), Hotel Services
- Macrae Foods Ltd, Fish Processing
- Barchester Healthcare Ltd (Kirkburn Court Nursing Home), Nursing Home Services
- Community Media Ltd, Printing and Publishing
- Strachans Ltd, Grocery Wholesale
- Ken Cassells Ltd, Fish Processing
- The Palace Hotel (Peterhead) Ltd, Hotel Services
- Alexander Buchan Ltd, Fish Processing
- Dales Engineering Ltd, Steel Fabrication
- Precision Powertrain (UK) Ltd, Transmission Manufacturing
- Stagecoach Bluebird, Bus Services
- Department of Social Security, Government Benefits Office
- Aberdeenshire Council, Local Government Services
- Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, Health Services
- Peterhead Box Company Ltd, Box Factory
- Natural Skincare Factory, Healthcare Products
Definition based on more than 70 employees. Source: Various
[edit] Tourism
View of Peterhead bay, looking towards the breakwaters
Merchant Street with the Harbour in the background
The harbours, maritime and built heritage are the town's principal tourism assets. Recent initiatives include investments in the Peterhead Bay area, which have included the berthing of cruise ships in the harbour. A number of projects are planned under the auspices of the Peterhead Project initiative, including tourism strategy development, enhancement of existing attractions, measures to improve the town's physical attractiveness, and improved marketing and promotion. Robert (Bob) Simmers (Peterhead-citizen) has been one of the foremost persons in town to have established the Peterhead-Aalesund-friendship/twinship.
[edit] Twin town
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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Settlements and Places of Interest in Buchan, Aberdeenshire |
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| Other Settlements |
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| Places of Interest |
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(Source: Wikipedia) |