Scotmid scraps plans to play music in Bucksburn shop over upstairs neighbour complaint

Scotmid has scrapped plans to play music in its Bucksburn shop after an upstairs neighbour complained it would be an “invasion and disruption”.

The national firm lodged a proposal to Aberdeen City Council seeking permission to play music in its Sclattie Park store.

It also wanted the go-ahead to start a home delivery service.

The plan recently went before the local authority’s licensing board.

Scotmid solicitor Audrey Junner explained the move was part of a wider project across all Scotmid stores in Scotland.

She said the introduction of deliveries was a reaction to changing customer shopping habits and a shift in the market towards grocery purchasing.

However, not everyone was a fan of the proposed changes.

Kevin Murphy has lived above the shop for 42 years and said he has “had no problems whatsoever living above commercial premises until supermarket chains moved in”.

He wrote to Aberdeen City Council “strenuously” objecting to the addition of music, saying it would be a “new invasion and disruption” to his day-to-day life.

In his letter, the disgruntled resident also said he has been subject to a number of disturbances since Scotmid arrived.

He noted these noises include banging doors, loud music, chatting staff, deliveries at 6am, and vibrations from a refrigeration unit.

Mr Murphy revealed the problem was so bad that he lodged a complaint with the local authority due to “continuing noise” caused by the remote fridge unit.

He even claimed that Scotmid has been getting away with making changes to their operations, despite “numerous” complaints from residents.

This includes storing their bins and large cages on the pavement outside the shop, and overfilling their food bin which he said leaves “raw meat hanging out and lying on the ground for gulls to fight over”.

At the board meeting, Ms Junner took Mr Murphy’s letter into consideration and said Scotmid would be happy to remove its request for music in the Bucksburn store.

She said: “Scotmid pride themselves on having good relations with their neighbours, particularly when they’re in close proximity.

“As a result of that, the in-store radio wouldn’t be installed here, so we’re effectively only asking to add on deliveries.

“I hope that that will give the objector some comfort.”

Ms Junner also confirmed that Mr Murphy had been in touch with the store manager in relation to the existing noise.

This led the Scotmid facilities team to visit the store and carry out checks, but they found that there “wasn’t any excessive noise detected”.

However, the licensing board were happy with the amended proposal and unanimously granted it.

Councillor Gill Al-Samarai said: “In suggesting that you remove your condition about music, you are showing that you are trying to be a good neighbour.”