Another north-east business has been forced to shut up shop in a landslip-hit community.
Explorer, which offers boat trips out of Gardenstown to the Troup Head Nature Reserve, announced yesterday it will be unable to launch the boat this year because of the ongoing problems surrounding Harbour Road.
The route was closed to the public in December, following heavy rain which wiped out the side of a hill and scattered debris across the carriageway.
Ever since it happened, access to the lower half of Gardenstown has been restricted until the ground can be stabilised.
Iain West, who runs Explorer, is also the village’s assistant harbour master. He said: “Once the summer starts, it will be difficult because we can’t even get parked near the harbour so we have to carry everything down.
“So we will stop for this year. “It is more of a blow to the village in general rather than just myself. I only do this part-time, so it is not my main income.
“A lot of people come up to the village to stay in the holiday home and the boat trips give them something to do.
“We normally do fishing, creels and the boat trips, but can’t even get down to the harbour to take fuel to the boat. It is another blow for the village.”
The temporary closure of Explorer comes just a month after firm Gamrie Engineering announced it would be permanently shutting up shop. The workshop, which had been a fixture in the village for 34 years, cited a lack of business since the slip for the closure.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said the authority was happy to speak with Mr West about the use of other harbours until the slip can be repaired.
A public consultation event has also been arranged for Friday, from 9am to 8pm in the Dreel Hall, to advise the public on investigation work and traffic management arrangements.
Previously, council roads manager Derek Murray described the situation in the village as “very complex”
He added: “But safety is at the heart of all our decisions. “We are aware of the local desire to see the road reopen as soon as possible and we want things to progress.”
