At May's local council elections there will be a new voting system, and this area is now part of a new bigger council ward.

Explaining the new system, Allan Hendry said: "The current one councillor one ward system, which we are all used to, is to be replaced with a new system called Single Transferable Vote (STV).

"This is where we have much larger wards, represented by 3 or 4 councillors. Here in the new Mid Formatine ward there will be four councillors. The new ward includes, Black Dog, Balmeadie, Belhevie, Potterton, Whitecairns, Udny Green, Udny Station, Pitmedden, Methlick, Tarves, Oldmeldrum, Barthol Chapel, Cairnbanno and many other rural settlements.

"When you vote in May, instead of marking the ballot paper with a single cross, you will now be able to vote for as many candidates as you wish - ranking them (1,2,3 ...) in order of your preference. For example, an SNP supporter would vote for their favoured candidates as being their first choice. Even people who have in the past voted for a different party, now have the chance to vote SNP as their second preference."