Former Turriff TSB to become pub despite neighbour’s fears about ‘alcohol-fuelled nuisance’ inches from garden

The branch closed in March 2021, but will now get a new lease of life.

By Ben Hendry

April 30 2023, 6:00 am

Councillors recently debated plans to turn the former Turriff TSB into a pub. Image: Jason Hedges/DC Thomson

A former bank in the heart of Turriff will become a pub – despite worries about an outdoor drinking area just inches from a neighbour’s garden.

Aberdeenshire Council has now granted a licence for the venue on the town’s Main Street.

It’s been empty since TSB closed the branch in March 2021.

A cutting from the front page of the Press and Journal from December 2020 when the Turriff TSB was one of many closed by the banking giant. — We covered the decision to close the bank when it was announced in late 2020. Image: Clarke Cooper/DC Thomson

Christine Hosie was last year granted planning permission to turn it into a bar, and has now cleared the final hurdle towards opening up.

However, the local authority first had to consider complaints from worried neighbours.

Why did neighbours object to Turriff TSB pub plans?

Ashley Benzie pleaded for the council not to grant the licence, citing the “kind of people likely to be there” and “undue public nuisance” as concerns.

She added: “We are concerned regarding alcohol-fuelled customers who may cause a nuisance in person, by noise and possible disrespect.”

Ms Benzie said the beer garden would sit at the boundary of her property, which would give her “no peace or security”.

The beer garden would be created here, with residents’ gardens just beyond these walls. Image: Jason Hedges/DC Thomson

James Allan said the beer garden would be about 20 inches from his own garden and 10m from his door.

He added: “My home would be valued at a substantial loss if a beer garden was to go ahead.

“I doubt the licence holders or the council will reimburse my loss?”

The former TSB is in the town centre. Image: Jason Hedges/DC Thomson

Why did councillors decide to grant the licence?

Ms Hosie attended the recent meeting of Aberdeenshire Council’s licensing committee to plead her case.

She said: “I will run a respectable business.”

The applicant pledged to put up an acoustic fence to prevent noise from reaching the nearby properties.

Watch the discussion here:

A police representative asked for a condition to be attached to stop music being played in the beer garden and for sales there to end at 10pm.

Ultimately councillors were persuaded to grant the licence.

Work has already been taking place on the transformation, with the pub expected to open until 11pm through the week and until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

The plans come just weeks after Aberdeen sisters were given permission to turn the former TSB branch in Mannofied into a new cafe.