The owner of a popular visitor centre has hit out at “yet another” road closure on a major rural commuter route.
John Cooper said he was given no notice of plans to shut the B9170 Oldmeldrum to Methlick road this week and is frustrated by the council’s “farcical” communication skills.
He believes a series of closures have cost his Formartine’s Visitor Centre a five-figure sum in the last 12 months alone.
And Lord Aberdeen, whose Haddo House estate is next door, accused the local authority of “grotesque inefficiency”.
The route between Oldmeldrum House and the junction to Ladyleys equestrian centre was sealed off on Monday for re-surfacing works which are scheduled to last for two weeks.
Mr Cooper only found out when one of his customers made a “passing comment” last week after seeing signage informing drivers of the closure.
Mr Cooper said: “I really couldn’t believe it. We got absolutely no warning at all – I reckon I have lost tens of thousands of pounds with all the closures over the past year.
“The road is only seven miles long, yet has been closed for 12 weeks already.”
Philip Leiper, Aberdeenshire Council’s roads and landscape services manager for Formartine and Garioch, said: “In order to maintain a quality road network it is necessary to carry out maintenance and improvement works.
“Wherever possible, we try to ensure that restrictions to allow for maintenance cause minimum disruption to businesses and the public.
“However this is not always possible.”
Mr Cooper started an online petition in February in reply to another stretch of the road being closed and received huge support from local road users.
“I received an assurance from head of roads, Philip McKay, that this would not happen again.
“He apologised directly, but I just don’t think they care at all about local businesses..”
Motorists are now being diverted to Tarves and Pitmedden which, Mr Cooper believes, leads to an increased volume of traffic on the adjoining single-track roads as drivers tried to avoid the 15-mile diversion.
He added: “There are real safety issues with the road closure.
“A school bus came off the road last year – drivers just tear around these narrow roads at 60 or 70mph. I was forced off the road myself.”
Lord Aberdeen, of Haddo, last night echoed Mr Cooper’s frustrations and said: “This is one of the busiest roads in Aberdeenshire and has been subject to four or five closures over the last 12 months. It is just nonsense.
“Do they really feel it is a good service? Why can they not get the job done all at once?
“We are subject to grotesque inefficiency from Aberdeenshire council on a regular basis.”
