A controversial housing scheme in a north-east village has been given the go-ahead despite objections from local residents who say that lives could be put at risk by the development.
Fraserburgh-based housing firm Colaren Homes will now be allowed to build six homes at Rathen from January 1, 2017.
But Alaine Stephen, a Rathen resident, has raised concerns that opening the village to increased traffic from the A90 Fraserburgh to Peterhead road will put kids at risk.
“Anyone that’s familiar with the village will know how dangerous the A90 is,” she said.
She added that the village, which has no pavements, would become more dangerous with the increased traffic the new homes would create – creating problems for youngsters who walk to school or who use bicycles.
“If people genuinely wanted to come to the village, there’s been ample opportunity. We’ve had houses for sale for years.
“The safety of the villagers is the main thing. This really isn’t suitable.”
Last year, the firm had proposed the same six houses for the site, on disused farmland north-west of the village, but were blocked by area councillors who branded it “premature”.
The land, part of the local authority’s development plan for the district, is not scheduled to be released for projects until 2017.
The new application, which agrees to hold-off on construction until the land is released, was approved without objection from Banff and Buchan councillors at Tuesday’s area committee.
Speaking on behalf of Colaren at the committee meeting, Knight-Frank planner Gary Purves said that many concerns raised with the original planning application – which called for an immediate start to work – had been the subject of “positive dialogue” between the firm and local residents.
He also addressed suggestions that there was no desire for the houses being constructed, saying that 15 expressions of interest had already been lodged with the applicant.
“Not everyone wants to live in a large town – some people want to live in a village,” he said.
Five valid letters of objection had been lodged with the local authority from villagers ahead of the application going to committee.