Appeal lodged over rejected crematorium plans

An appeal has been lodged with the Scottish government over plans for a crematorium which were rejected by Aberdeenshire councillors.

Businessman Fraser Milne lost his bid to construct the facility at Daviot near Inverurie earlier this year.

He said it would help meet growing demand, but a local business objected to the plans.

A Scottish government reporter will now be assigned to the case, and is expected to make a recommendation to ministers in the coming months.

Mr Milne wants to build a crematorium on a site on the Inverurie to Rothienorman road.

One neighbouring business - Stewart Trailers - raised concerns that it could affect its viability.

Aberdeenshire Council's Garioch area committee agreed with planning officials' view that it should go ahead.

However, the Formartine area committee voted against it and were backed by the infrastructure services committee at a later meeting.

In his statement of appeal Mr Milne's solicitors said the council acted unreasonably in refusing the application without giving reasons for doing so.

They argued that the council had been inconsistent when considering other applications for crematoria.

Aberdeenshire Council said it would be inappropriate to comment.