David Cooper and Debi Begg, who previously ran the Midmar Inn, have applied to Aberdeenshire Council for a change of use of the building (part public house and part private residence) to residential, with an extension to the house.

They closed the once-popular inn more than a year ago and its doors have remained firmly shut ever since.

The application is expected to go before councillors at the Garioch Area Committee on November 11, who must decide whether to grant the change of use.

Margot Kennedy, co-ordinator of campaign group the Friends of Midmar Inn Community Company, said the number of objections to the couple's plan had previously stood at 142, but since potential planning policy contraventions included in the application had been advertised in the press recently, she believed a further 40 representations had been received in relation to the application.

"They are thinking it'll go before the Garioch Area Committee on November 11 and my understanding is that they can either grant the planning application in which case we have no appeal; the can refuse the planning application for the change of use and Mr Cooper has the right of appeal; or thirdly, the area committee can refer the matter to a more senior committee and the same appeal procedure applies," she said.

"Objections came from all over the globe the first time around and I was absolutely staggered. There have been a huge number of letters of representations. It is a big, big issue for people because this is the only drop-in meeting place we have in this area."

Locals were left saddened and disappointed when the pub mysteriously closed its doors without explanation, and vowed to do all they could to save the establishment.

They formed a campaign group to represent the views of locals, and even won the right to buy the inn if it is ever put up for sale - under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.