Developers defy local folk’ s wishes

SIR, – I refer to your story about the hugely controversial Milltimber South planning application and the mysterious removal of objectors’ posters (The Press and Journal, May 26).

The community will continue to object to replacing the nine horses currently in the fields with 99 houses for 300-plus people and their cars, and 2,000 square metres of shops and further parking for a maximum of 140 cars and lorries.

We also have deer and foxes in and around the fields, and if you really look closely when walking along Queen Victoria’s beautiful old railway line, which would be dominated by this development, you can see red squirrels have recently returned to the area. And of course, birds and nature everywhere. This site has been repeatedly put forward for development over decades and all proposals have been rejected. Proposed development was again soundly rejected as part of the 2017 local development planning process at local government level.

However representations made by the developer to the Scottish Government reporter, without stakeholder consultation, resulted in its unexplained and unjustified inclusion in the final 2017 ALDP against the wishes of planning officers, the community and our local councillors.

The draft outline 2022 local development plan recently put forward by Aberdeen City Council reflects the wishes of the community and the council to preserve the land as green belt for future generations.

It was great to read in your story that the developers welcome feedback.

They will be pleased that 50 more objections went in on Monday and would no doubt welcome many more.

Steve Horton, North Deeside Road, Milltimber, Aberdeen