A derelict petrol station at the entrance to an Aberdeenshire town could be demolished and turned into flats.
Craighall Filling Station on South Road, Ellon has been lain empty since 2011.
Developers Grant and Geoghegan first put forward plans to build 16 flats at the site last year, but they were knocked back by local councillors amid concerns about the scale of the building.
Now the firm has resubmitted a revised version of the proposals, although they still want to build 16 flats.
The plans have received mixed reaction from locals who are torn between wanting the prominent site being brought back into use and concerns about the design and impact of having more homes on the busy road.
In her letter of objection, nearby resident Tracey Douglas states: “I realise that the petrol station needs to be demolished but I strongly object to the erection of two blocks of flats, 16 in total.
“Reasons are that this is the main Ellon to Aberdeen road and extremely busy, and that erection of this flats will just make matters worse. Also the height of them means I will have people who are able to look directly into my bedroom and garden, offering me no privacy.”
Ellon Community Council last night said residents should not accept “something because it is better than nothing”.
Chairman Sandy McDougall said last night: “I think initial reaction is that it is a certainly an improvement on the very first ones we saw.
“There are still some reservations and I am picking up comments from the community about whether this is a key feature as an entrance to the town, because it is the first thing you see when you are coming into Ellon.
“We always felt it should be something that makes you think ‘Ellon is open for business’. I think some members are considering whether the plans fit with that.
“We’re looking to maybe suggest how it could be enhanced from where it is.
“It has been out of commission for quite some time, the key thing is that really we shouldn’t as a community be accepting something because it is better than nothing.”