Plans to turn a old toilet block in Turriff into a takeaway are back on the table and hoping to win favour with locals this time.
Previous bids to turn the public conveniences on Duff Street into a takeaway and then a house racked up complaints from residents concerned over a lack of parking at Duff Street, on the main A947 bypass.
However, permission for the takeaway was granted on appeal to the Scottish Government in 2014, followed later by a successful application for change of use to a house.
Neither of those conversions went ahead, though, and now takeaway food could be back on the menu with Aberdeen-based Cater Corporation proposals.
They split opinion at this month’s Turriff Community Council online meeting, though, where road traffic concerns were ultimately trumped by a view that new business should be encouraged.
Community councillor Rebekah Beats said: “I’d rather see a takeaway there than an empty building. Bringing another business to Turriff cannot do any harm so long as people park in the right place.”
Fellow member Rose Logan flagged up the historic road safety concerns there, though, adding: “There’s more and more traffic coming up there including bigger tractors and bigger lorries.”
The plans, by Huntly firm Neil Rothnie Architects, state off-road parking would be encouraged in The Square car park.
After a vote the community council decided not to formally object to the application.
