Deeside LA Taxis appealed to the Scottish Government after they were refused retrospective planning permission to change their Banchory base from a funeral director's office to a taxi operator's office.

Owner Ronald Forbes was delighted that a report issued last month by the Scottish Government allowed the appeal.

He said: "I'm pleased it has all come to an end but the council should be reprimanded for trying to bully me out of my premises. I'm just going to forget about it now but I'd like the people of Banchory to know that the council were not able to push me about."

The taxi firm were originally refused permission for 47a Station Road to be turned into a taxi operator's office because the parking of taxis along Arbeadie Road was deemed to be a "road safety hazard".

Several local residents and the Aberdeenshire Council Social Work Office directly across the road from the property objected to the application, claiming that parked taxis on Arbeadie Road were causing traffic congestion and an increased risk to schoolchildren in the area.

However the taxi firm has since stopped its drivers parking their vehicles along the narrow road, which is used by public transport as part of a bus route.

If the Scottish Government had refused the taxi firm permission to use the property, Mr Forbes would have had to move the base back to his home in Drumoak with the result that at least two employees would have lost their jobs.

A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council said: "We note the reporter's decision on this planning appeal."