The closure of a popular fast food diner has dealt a blow to efforts to regenerate Peterhead town centre.
The Wimpy restaurant, which has traded in the north-east town’s Marischal Street for four decades, shut up shop this week.
The collapse of the business coincides with the arrival of competitor KFC on the outskirts of Peterhead.
Last night members of the town’s community council lamented the loss of another stalwart high street brand.
Stephen Calder said: “We should view with concern that a long established fast food restaurant in our town-centre has closed, while KFC has opened at an out-of-town location, and plans are being proposed for a further two fast food restaurants at the Buchan Gateway.”
He added that out-of-town locations should only be considered for businesses which will not have a “significant adverse effect” on the town-centre.
However, Aberdeenshire councillor Tom Malone insisted efforts to breathe new life into the ailing shopping district were beginning to have an impact.
He said: “It’s sad, sad news. I’ve been here in Peterhead four decades and it has been here as long as I can remember.
“But the regeneration agenda that Aberdeenshire Council is committed to is aimed at resolving a nationwide problem – that town centres are not the retail hubs they used to be.
“One thing the council can’t do is make business people locate to the town-centre when it’s more cost effective to work on the outskirts.”
Councillor Malone said he hoped developments such as the Buchan Gateway project – a scheme to build a supermarket, hotel and other outlets to the area – and Score’s development of Peterhead prison would bring new investment to the town.
News of Wimpy’s demise sparked sadness among residents, who took tosocial media to sharetheir memories of the diner.
One said: “As if we didn’t have enough to cope with when Woolies went, and now this, how much more heartache can we take?”
Another added: “So sad, used to hae to queue to get in on a Saturday when I was a kid.”
Peterhead’s Wimpy outlet hit the headlines earlier this year when a baby was burnt by bleach left on a bathroom surface. The firm’s management offered a fully apology.
Wimpy was unavailable for comment last night.