Councillors yesterday backed plans for a number of Dracula-themed street names in Cruden Bay, hoping it could boost tourism in the local area.
A new housing development in the village, just off of the A975 Aulton Road, required six new street names but those put forward by the developer were deemed unacceptable.
After being asked for their input, Cruden Community Council came up with a creative solution that would emphasise their link with Bram Stoker’s world renowned novel Dracula.
Councillors in attendance at the Buchan Area Committee meeting welcomed the community council’s suggestions.
Councillor Alan Fakley said: “When the original names came forward they were deemed as weak or unacceptable. For instance the proposal from the developer, Chapel Hill Road, when there is already a Chapel Road in Cruden Bay.
“Personally, I thought that the names actually lacked character.
“At the community council meeting that was held, they thought it was a good idea that the villages very famous relationship with the book would be a better source of names.
“What they put forward was that the main characters and author would be a better base for the names of them.”
Councillor Stephen Calder also agreed with the newly recommended names, he added: “I agree with the recommendations in the naming of the streets in that they highlight the link of the village and Bram Stoker who visited, I think, over a period of about 12 years and I think started writing some of his world famous book in the village.
“It highlights the link with Bram Stoker and the novel and as much as it does that, it boosts the areas tourism and world position as far as that is concerned.”
Slains Castle is believed to be the inspiration for the setting of the 1897 novel as Mr Stoker was a regular visitor to the area in the late 1800s.
The soon to be vampire themed streets are not the first commemoration to the writer in the village as a plaque in his name resides at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel where the Dracula author once stayed.
While there, Mr Stoker wrote a message in the guestbook which said: “Second visit to Port Erroll. Delighted with everything and everybody and hope to come again to the Kilmarnock Arms.”
The accepted names were Westenra, Renfield, Harker and Stoker as proposed street name Dracula received strong objections from community councillors and the developer.
Bram Stoker’s grandson, Dacre Stoker, also formally agreed to the use of his surname for street naming purposes.