Approval was granted today for the first large-scale supermarket in Stonehaven. It took us councillors on Aberdeenshire Council three hours and 40 minutes to consider applications for four different stores in the town.

In the end proposals for a supermarket, hotel and restaurant between the Slug Road and the A90 on the Ury Estate were approved, by 27 votes to 18. Local councillors Raymond Christie and Graeme Clark moved the motion for a delegated grant, against officer recommendations.

I supported the application.