A feud over the naming of Fraserburgh’s streets is rumbling on.
Local councillors Brian Topping and Ian Tait are embroiled in a war of words over the street names for the Merryhillock development, over the proposal to include a nod to Braveheart William Wallace.
The row broke out last month when Mr Topping claimed Mr Tait had refused to help come up with a list of suggestions for the housing scheme – with each councillor given the chance to put forward three.
However, Mr Tait rejected this and blasted Mr Topping and Independent Michael Tait’s choice of Wallace Way as “political” – vowing he would raise the matter with the authority’s head of legal services.
Last night, he produced fresh allegations that other names selected for streets at the 590-home development were based on business connections.
“Councillor Topping pushed for political street names,” he claimed.
“I think street names should be chosen so people belonging to any of the political parties or to none can be comfortable with the name of the street they live in.
“I am concerned that he also suggested the name Corbet Close which is the name of a local family who once ran a hotel business, for which he worked over the years by providing his own disco service and by working in the kitchens and so must have gained a significant income from the family. I find it unacceptable that a street should be named like this without explanation.”
But Mr Topping – who previously worked at the former Station Hotel when it was owned by Fraser Corbet – last night denied the claim, and said he was disappointed at his former SNP colleague.
“Corbet Close is named after the landowner where the houses will be built – Farquhar Corbet. The person I worked for was the late Fraser Corbet,” he added.
“I’ve made that quite clear and it’s in the agenda for the meeting in black and white. My concern now is for the surviving members of the Corbet family. To make allegations like this is totally disrespectful to them.
“I’m very disappointed a local colleague has felt the need to stoop to such depths – it’s a sad day for local democracy.”