Councillors have criticised the length of time it has taken Aberdeenshire Council to respond to landslips in two north-east villages.
A road in Crovie has been closed since September last year while another in Gardenstown was permanently closed in December.
But only yesterday were councillors told that the tendering process to begin repairing the damage caused would not start until at least May.
The council’s project manager, Gavin Penman, addressed the Banff and Buchan area committee on Tuesday about both landslips.
He said soil nailing had been identified as the preferred option of repair in both villages and that repair work in Crovie could take as long as a month.
“The procurement process would begin at the end of May,” he added.
In Gardenstown, ground investigation work is due to finish next week, after which a report will be drawn up before a tendering process can begin.
Councillors Hamish Partridge and Mark Findlater voiced their disappointment over the timescales.
Mr Partridge said: “We’re six months in here.
“We’re only going to the community now. We’re looking at summer next year before anything is done.”
Mr Findlater added: “You’ve got people in Crovie that are cut off. I really don’t like the timelines.
“Banff and Buchan area committee needs the options in front of it as soon as possible so Gardenstown can return to normality.”
