Delay for shopping complex

Members of a community council have withdrawn their support forthe pounds25 million revamp of a shopping centre.

The decision by the Westhill group follows their fears that thelocal veterinary surgery might be lost.

The Town and County practice is earmarked to be knocked down tomake way for the car park in the new centre.

However the owners are angry that the alternative accommodationoffered to them by developers Gladedale Capital is totallyunsuitable.

And they appealed to the community council to support them intheir objection.

In place of their six-and-a-half room surgery on Westhill Drive,they would have to move to a one room, first-floor unit if they wereto accept the developer's proposal.

Partner Liz Geraerts said this would mean a loss of staff andloss of a service which had served the community for 23 years.

She and fellow partner Chris Wiper went to this week's communitycouncil meeting to outline their plight.

Before the problem with the vet's came to light, communitycouncil members had backed the new shopping complex, saying it wouldmake Westhill a major retail attraction.

However, chairman Stewart Whyte said: "We have now decided towithhold our support for the planning application until the vetshave been treated fairly."

shind@ajl.co.uk