David Cooper and Debi Begg, who previously ran the Midmar Inn, applied to Aberdeenshire Council for permission for a change of use of the building (part public house and part private residence) to residential, with an extension to the house.

They closed the once-popular inn more than a year ago and its doors have remained firmly shut ever since.

The application for a change of use was heard by members of the Garioch Area Committee at their meeting in Inverurie on Tuesday (November 11), but they refused the application by seven votes to six.

Margot Kennedy, co-ordinator of the Friends of Midmar Inn Community Company, attended Tuesday's meeting.

"It was quite heated and the planning application was refused by seven votes to six," she said. "Midmar resident David Smith spoke on behalf of the Friends of Midmar Inn Community Company and he was then questioned by the councillors.

"Then Mr Cooper spoke and he lashed out in all directions and, in my opinion, made a very unprofessional and quite nasty speech.

"There seemed to be quite a lot of sympathy from some councillors saying that if they were refused permission, they'd (Mr Cooper and Ms Begg) lose their home. It went back and forth in every direction and by the time they came to vote, I could hardly follow what was happening.
"Ultimately, planning permission was refused and Mr Cooper said he would just apply again or appeal, so the whole thing is not over.
"The overriding factor was that the land is designated as business and commercial premises, not residential, and I think that was what swung it. Areas in the countryside have to have places where people can go and work.

"We would buy it if it was for sale but we can't trigger the Right to Buy until it's for sale. We can't make him sell it so we're in a bit of a stalemate. We knew he had the right to appeal and I think he will appeal."

Planning officers had recommended councillors refuse planning permission because, according to their report: "It has not been demonstrated that the public house has been sufficiently and properly marketed as a business or as a site for employment use. The permanent loss of this employment use and community facility and associated loss of amenity that would be caused by the proposed change of use has not been sufficiently justified."

Within 24 hours of the planning officers' recommending refusal of the application, all the windows and doors of the Midmar Inn were boarded up.

Locals were left saddened and disappointed when the pub mysteriously closed its doors without explanation and vowed to do all they could to save the establishment.

They formed a campaign group to represent the views of locals, and even won the right to buy the inn if it is ever put up for sale - under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

The application had attracted more than 150 representations from members of the community when it was submitted.

David Cooper and Debi Begg were unavailable for comment when the Piper went to press.