Stonehaven residents still smarting from the loss of their bank branch have been told its place could be taken by the latest branch of a popular pizza.
The town’s RBS bank closed its door in October but community leaders are hopeful the prominent Market Square unit will not remain empty for long.
Plans were tabled earlier this year to convert building into a restaurant and take-away.
And the developers behind the proposals have now revealed that should they be given the go ahead it would house a Domino’s Pizza outlet.
The application will be discussed by Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee on Tuesday.
And though some members of community organisations have questioned the need for another food outlet – this with sit-in and takeaway facilities – they are united in the belief that bringing the building back into use as soon as possible is paramount.
A report by planning officers has recommended the committee backs the proposals, which have been submitted by Bennett Developments And Consulting on behalf of Sava Estates.
The decision on whether they are ultimately approved or rejected lies with the council’s infrastructure services committee.
The committee report states: “The proposed change of use respects the scale, density, character and amenity of the surrounding area.
“Furthermore, the proposal has also incorporated suitable mitigation against noise and odours, minimal impact on amenity of nearby residential properties and character of the conservation area and there is safe and convenient access for parking and storage and collection of waste for this commercial venture.”
Don Bennett, from the consultancy firm, said the developer was feeling positive about the application going forward.
He said: “We are quite comfortable having read the report which explains the work that has gone into ensuring these proposals work well within Stonehaven town centre. We have been very mindful of it being a conservation area.”
John Robson, treasurer of Stonehaven Town Partnership, said it was important the building not be left empty.
He said: “If the bank has got to go then at least there should be something else in there. We already have a lot of food outlets in the town but it’s better than having an empty shop.”
And Raymond Christie, chairman of the town’s community council, added: “We haven’t formally discussed this yet but in my opinion it is better that it is used in the long run.
“Obviously it would be preferable if RBS had stayed because the service we have now is rotten.”
RBS closed its branch last October citing shifting customer habits, before ordering a series of further closures across the north-east earlier this year.
The Stonehaven site is the latest Sava Estates has purchased with a view to breathing new life into it.
Last month, it lodged an application to turn an old bingo hall in Peterhead into a restaurant.
And in July, the Glasgow-based company purchased the at-risk King’s Theatre in Dundee.
It’s understood the Stonehaven venture could create 20 jobs.
Should the restaurant open, the ATM currently attached to the building would be retained for another five years due to contractual obligations prior to the bank closure.
