Councillors have rejected plans to build a controversial takeaway restaurant in a toilet.
Planning bosses had backed the unusual Turriff development, and had recommended members of the Formartine area committee do the same.
But at yesterday’s meeting, serious concerns were raised about the impact the eatery would have on road safety and neighbouring residents.
The novel idea for the eatery in the town’s Duff Street was first mooted by the team behind Cinnamon restaurant in Aberdeen last September.
But the local authority rejected the application three months later and yesterday, councillors upheld their decision.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said members at thrown the proposals out because they did not comply with planning policy.
She said: “It was refused on the grounds that the proposed site was not appropriate for the development due to road safety concerns and the negative impact on the amenity of the surrounding residents.”
The original scheme met with a flurry of local objectors and residents again raised concerns about the renewed application.
Neighbour George Mearns said: “While I support business growth, I believe this is the wrong application for a proposed food takeaway.
“As we all know, there is already a chip shop on the other side of the road, which does cause congestion to the flow of traffic during opening hours.
“Allowing another food outlet in Duff Street needs serious discussion.”
Dianna Jack said: “Duff Street is a very busy bypass through Turriff and there is already enough congestion with double parking and big HGV lorries having to stop by the lights when they see traffic coming the other way as no way would they be able to pass.”
It is understood that alternative plans to transform the disused toilet block in to a small house will appear on the committee agenda in the near future.
The developer, Perth-based Interurban Developments, was unavailable for comment last night.