A group of north-east residents have joined forces to raise their fears over a proposed recycling plant close to their homes.
People living in the hamlet of Hill of Findon near Portlethen have objected to a bid by the construction firm Les Taylor Group to build a recycling plant in a nearby quarry.
They fear it will lead to more heavy goods traffic on the already-congested road and the high levels of noise and dust they create.
Hill of Findon resident Mabel Stewart said she has complained to Aberdeenshire Council about it but no action has been taken.
“The problem is the amount of trucks,” she said.
“Just before Christmas I counted 14 in quarter of an hour past my house.
“The road is getting all churned up.”
The Les Taylor firm has run a quarry at Hill of Findon for several years and has applied for permission to build a recycling plant on the site, to deal with thousands of tonnes of waste from demolition and construction sites.
Residents are concerned that the number of lorries passing their homes every day is already higher than should be visiting the quarry as laid down in planning conditions.
“In one hour we have had 45 lorries passing in one instance,” said Mrs Stewart.
“You can just imagine a waste recycling plant opening. There will be lorries coming from everywhere.”
Neighbour Evelyn Noble said: “The traffic is horrendous just now.
“I’ve got no grass verge outside my property, it’s all been taken away.”
With three other recycling centres built nearby, the residents are not keen to see another erected in the vicinity. They want the firm’s lorries to use another access road to the quarry, coming from Cove.
Nobody from Les Taylor Group was available to comment yesterday.
“Everybody here would be quite happy if they came in the other way,” said Mrs Stewart’s husband Jimmy.
“We want someone to take notice.
“It is upsetting, and devaluing everyone’s property.”
The proposal is likely to be considered by councillors because objections have been raised.
The closing date for representations to be received by the council is Thursday.
A council spokesman said: “Any alleged planning breaches should be reported to the council and will be investigated.”