Councillors have approved controversial plans for three drive-through food and drink outlets on the edge of Aberdeen – against the recommendation of planning bosses.
CAF Properties asked Aberdeen City Council for permission to build the development on land near Ardene House Veterinary Hospital at Kingswells.
But city council planners urged the planning committee to refuse the application which received 237 objections and 251 letters of support when it was lodged last year.
In a report, they raised concerns about the level of traffic and a potential danger to football fans at the under-construction Kingsford stadium walking along the road to visit the facilities.
But in a narrow vote at yesterday’s planning committee councillors decided to give the scheme the go ahead.
Committee convener Marie Boulton urged members to vote with the officer’s recommendations.
She said: “This has been a difficult one for me but looking at the report you can see that the officers have applied the council’s policies here.
“We do have a process and that has been applied to the recommendation here.”
She was backed by Hazlehead, Queens Cross and Countesswells councillor John Cooke who raised concerns that the project would leave the centre of Kingswells less attractive to developers.
But an amendment by Lower Deeside councillor M. Tauqeer Malik was submitted to give permission, arguing the economic benefits would be too good to ignore.
He said: “This is exactly what Kingswells needs, it will mean hundreds of jobs and provide amenity to the residents.”
The committee voted by five votes to four to approve the plan.