The following is text from a prepared statement sent to this newspaper by the district council's director of environmental health, Mr Laurence Borthwick:
"As many people will be aware, an application was made to the district council's planning department for the establishment of a refuse disposal site at Limpet Den, Stonehaven.
"The intention was that this site would be used for treated refuse and local commercial waste only.
"Since the application became public, Mr W. Wisely of Ury Estate has been subject to considerable criticism and has now felt it necessary to withdraw his provisional offer of the ground.
"The planning application has therefore been withdrawn."
The news was greeted with delight by Mr Donald Robertson, Logie Farm, whose unit adjoins the intended refuse site.
Concerned about the effect such a development could have on his livestock, as well as his home and family, he had already "briefed" his solicitor to lodge objections to the scheme.
The district council currently has refuse tipping facilities on Ury Estate, opened up just last year, but that location only has about a three-year life capacity.
What now then? Said Mr Borthwick: "We'll just have to start searching for an alternative site – one which will conveniently serve Stonehaven and the communities north of the town."

50 Years Ago

Friday, February 7, 1958

FRIDAY afternoon saw the official opening at Stonehaven of Britain's most modern radio station.
The station had actually been in operation since the previous Sunday when the old 'Stonehaven Radio', so well-known to shipping around our coast, closed down.
The official ceremony took place in the control room while the work of the station went on uninterrupted in the modern operating room.
The building is a single-story one of modern design and appearance, a feature being the six-sided operating room, completely walled by glass.
Behind this, and separated by a glass partition which gives first class visibility, is the control room.
The old station, it is understood, will shortly be dismantled.

100 Years Ago

Thursday, February 6, 1908

A SOMEWHAT lengthy case was tried at the J.P. Court on Saturday, a widow who holds a licence in Bervie being accused of a breach of her licence.
The police evidence seemed very clear, the constable stating that he heard the sound of a cork being drawn out of a bottle and also the rattle of glasses.
For the defence, it was contended that the widow was in love and had admitted her swain and his companion at the midnight hour, but had given them no refreshment.
This story was believed in by half of the Justices, one of whom, it is understood, insisted that an osculatory movement had a striking resemblance to a cork leaving a bottle.
This seemed to have some weight, for the case was found not proven.