SA row has erupted over a new north-east road which remains closed despite being completed more than a year ago.
The route, which links the B9170 Oldmeldrum road to B9001 Rothienorman, was built by Malcolm Allan housebuilders to meet a planning condition attached to new housing developments at Uryside and Portstown.
Work was finished on the project last year, but it remained closed after a dip in the road was discovered on a roundabout at the Rothienorman end which prompted fears lorries might topple over.
Workers are now on site attempting to repair the road, with the route expected to be opened by November, but questions have been raised about the protracted delays.
Last night, north-east MSP, Peter Chapman, confirmed he had raised his concerns with Aberdeenshire Council.
He said: “Given the traffic congestion experienced daily in and around Inverurie, I would have hoped there would be greater urgency in getting this work completed. There is no use having a link road if nobody can drive on it.
“I have been assured now that work has started to amend the problems in the design and should be completed within four months.
“But I do still feel that there are questions to be answered around why the road was not built to the correct specification in the first place, and why the council did not insist upon that at the earliest stage.”
The developers have responded that the work was held up while they awaited formal approval of the new designs.
Colin Wood, technical manager for Malcolm Allan, said: “The remedial works are now under way, and are happening as we speak.
“There’s a 16-week programme of works which will be completed by November and the road will be opened by that time.
“There has been a delay while the design was agreed upon and approved by Aberdeenshire Council.”
