I am a local resident who is broadly in favour of the new Tesco store to bring some competition for the current Somerfield store.

In addition to this, by hopefully reducing the amount of shoppers going to Aberdeen for their food, the town centre may see an increase in some trade as people nip into Banchory instead to pick up some items.

Despite this, however, I do have some concerns regarding the new store. The primary concern is the current plan for vehicular access to the site. Access will be from the Hill of Banchory road via a T-junction.

With the majority of the traffic expected to come from the west, then this will cause problems when the traffic tries to return home.

In addition to this, the access to the Hill of Banchory road from Raemoir Road will come under increased pressure at what is already a poorly laid-out junction.

The Tesco representatives also stated that the majority of the store will be concentrated on food. However, the store is going to be larger than the one in Westhill, so I find it unlikely that this will be the case.

In addition to this, they are advertising that they will sell 'local' produce in the store.

When I pressed them on this, all of these local goods will be transported initially to the main depot in Livingston before coming back north to be delivered to the store. This defeats the point of supplying local produce.

The traffic issues really need to be addressed and I will be raising them again when the planning permission application is submitted later this month.
I urge you all to do the same.

Yours etc.,
Alan MacLeod.
Banchory.