The meeting of all 68 members of Aberdeenshire Council finished tonight at 6pm after dealing with a number of controversial planning applications during the day.

The Ury golf course and 90 big houses on ancient woodland near Stonehaven were approved by a 45-20 vote; some 300 houses between Scolty Hill and Bridge of Feugh at Banchory were turned down; an existing gypsy travellers site at St Cyrus was approved by 41 votes to 24; and a smaller travellers’ site at Boddam was turned down.