London’s popular Boris Bikes could soon be installed in Stonehaven – to help shoppers get to a new supermarket.
The Sluie Estate Trust wants to build a large supermarket and petrol station at New Mains of Ury, to the north-east of the town.
And to encourage shoppers to leave the car at home, the trust visualises offering bikes for rent with stands in the town centre and at the supermarket.
David Strang Steel, from the trust, said: “We’ve been considering a supermarket in Stonehaven for about 10 years.
“The current proposal is for a supermarket and petrol station only – there are no houses attached to it.
“We’re going to propose 25 Boris style bikes are installed between town centre and the site.
“It will make it easier for people to get there, and if the system works in London, why couldn’t it work in Stonehaven? It’s an alternative to walking to the shops, and we’d look at getting some sort of bike panniers on the front.”
Rival supermarket plans for Stonehaven have been rejected in recent months, due to various concerns including the impact their size and associated housing would have on the landscape, flooding and out-of-town locations.
But Mr Strang Steel said he thought the proposed five-acre site was ideal as building work – including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route’s fast-link – is already planned or underway for the Netherley side of the town.
He said: “We think this is edge of town rather than out of town.
“Our site is in a good strategic position because it’s adjacent to the main road junction, and it’s well screened from the town. Other than five or six homes at the new Kirkwood development, realistically the only people that will see it will be on the A90 or the fast-link.”
A public consultation on the project was held earlier this year, and a planning application is now expected to be lodged with Aberdeenshire Council by the end of the month.
If approved without delay, the supermarket could be open by late 2016.
However, Mr Strang Steel warned it could be held-up in discussions about the emerging local development plan, which only allocates a smaller site at Spurryhillock for a store.
It is understood Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons have all indicated they would be interested in the site but are not committing until Aberdeenshire Council makes a decision.