D-day looms for holiday park

A Mearns holiday park application on the site of an abandoned piggery will go before councillors next month.

A planning bid for the site at Dowrieburn in Luthermuir was submitted to Aberdeenshire Council in May.

The Monarch Leisure and Park Homes application for 47 chalets would mean the removal of the piggery which is contaminated by asbestos.

A local river bank would also be cleaned up if the application is successful.

Demand for high-quality self-catering accommodation in Scotland is increasing rapidly, according to figures just released by Visitscotland.

As the uncertainty over Brexit continues, more people than ever before are opting for “staycations” with occupancy rates in Aberdeenshire up 10% and static caravan occupancy rates up 18%.

The figures were welcomed by Bill Mcdonald, the man behind the proposed luxury lodge development at Dowrieburn.

He said he was optimistic about the application’s prospects.

“While we can’t claim to have forecast the effect of Brexit, we’ve been clear from the outset about the growing market for high-end holiday accommodation and these figures back up our belief,” he said.

“Aberdeenshire Council and its planning officials have been very helpful and encouraging – they have worked with us on our application which comes up for consideration next month.”