A visit to Westhill Tesco whilst there for other reasons, confirmed that there does seem to be this requirement, as there were a number of Banchory residents in the store at the time. Clearly Somerfield, regrettably, are not providing the service that the town needs.

Like others though I also question the need for a second supermarket, a preferred solution would be the upgrading the existing offering, both in terms of variety and space.

I have two major concerns, one that a large Tesco sited at the edge of the town could, given the range of products on offer, potentially close down the centre of the town, especially if a free bus is provided to take people away from the town centre.

My second concern is the site and the development itself.

The Westhill Tesco is intrusive by day and particularly so at night. Driving from Aberdeen to Westhill it is the first and most obvious building seen after leaving Kingswells. At night it is overly illuminated such that the other night when flying into Aberdeen approaching from the South I clearly recognised it to the west.

The Hill of Banchory development, whilst extensive, has for the most part been carried out sensitively with due regard for the area. Even the new Business Centre blends in reasonably well.

Both the Westhill and Inverurie Tesco stores are in, or on the edge of, industrial estates but in this case the approach to the town and the immediate area including the houses in the vicinity will be dominated by a large, intrusive, over illuminated, shed. However the development is wrapped up presentationally, 'eco building' or not, a shed it will be and it will be intrusive, by day and particularly by night.

I think that there are better ways of meeting the needs of Banchory without blighting its eastern approach.

Yours etc.
M J Salter
Glassel
Banchory