The use of e-mails and the internet has certainly made it a bit easier for at least computer-literate members of the general public to be kept informed of the progress of various planning applications, and to allow their voices to be heard, although it does rely on the Council keeping their planning applications web site as up to date as possible.

Generally, however, the whole planning process is still shrouded in mystery for most ordinary people.

Many documents in connection with this application have been lodged on the Council's web site over the last year but one of the crucial ones – the Council Officials' own internal recommendation to the members of the Area Committee - was only posted on the web site at the 11th hour before the meeting ( December 16).

Whilst I appreciate that the Council has to take inputs from a number of bodies before officials can make a recommendation, the conclusion they came to - to recommend approval of the application, subject to a number of provisos – must have surprised many members of the public who had been studying the previous papers lodged on the web site, including several from the Council's own departments' who had recommended refusal of the application or who had raised substantial queries.

The planning process must be as open as possible and give the public every opportunity to comment at every stage, rather than simply let matters be discussed behind closed doors between the applicant and Council officials, advising the public of the deals that have been made and compromises reached only when it's too late for further comment.

This development is contrary to the Local Plan and is being opposed by Banchory Community Council, all three local Banchory Councillors and a number of the Council's own departments, not to mention the substantial number of objections from members of the public.

Despite this, it is entirely possible that the Area Committee could, by dint of votes from non-Banchory based Councillors, based on recommendations from nameless officials, still go against the wishes of the local community and approve the development.

It was also interesting to note that, in the same edition of the Piper ( December 19), the Darroch Learg Hotel in Ballater gained Gold Star status in the Visit Scotland awards scheme, proving that well managed hotels in Deeside can, indeed, prosper.

Yours etc
Ian R. Stewart, C.A.
Arbor Court
Banchory