A housing developer was left red-faced yesterday after its masterplan for a 200-home coastal development listed a string of closed-down businesses among the town’s local services.
The Peterkin Homes’ document for the Hallgreen scheme included former butcher Bannermans and the Cutty Sark bar – both of which have ceased trading – among a “wide range” of attractions in Inverbervie.
The mistakes were spotted as members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee considered the plans for the 42-acre site on farmland south of the town.
Councillors welcomed the proposals, saying they would make “a big difference” to the area, but suggested Peterkin Homes might want to paint a more realistic picture of local life in future papers.
Councillor Alison Evison said: “In the masterplan they talk about facilities in Inverbervie, but a lot of the facilities are historic and closed down and don’t exist any more, the butchers is no more and Keepsakes Gift Shop is closing down.
“We need to make sure we have an accurate paper going forward.
“Hopefully the new development will encourage new businesses to get going and more people and more customers.”
Last night Pearl Peterkin, director of Peterkin Homes, said: “I must admit this has taken quite a while to get through, obviously small rural shops are in decline.
“But in our last development in Drumlithie we actually built and ran the local shop.”
The proposals – which will be delivered in two phases – include 50 affordable homes, as well as a woodland walk area, an extension of an existing play park nearby, a grass pitch and allotments.
Mrs Peterkin said the firm had worked hard with the local community to devise a plan that satisfied people’s needs.
“I think because we are relatively small and local we have been able to work well with the local needs and had quite a lot of engagement in the community and what they wanted,” she added.