Deeside business owners have raised concerns about the impact on their livelihoods after a major road closed for resurfacing yesterday.
Motorists are being sent on a 10-mile detour as a consequence of the A93 Aberdeen to Braemar North Deeside Road closing for surface dressing works between Tullich Cemetery and Newton Cottage for five days between 9am and 4pm.
And yesterday, a local cafe owner voiced her anxiety after the first day of the closure led to hardly any customers visiting the venue.
Wilma Doherty, owner of the Riveside Café in Ballater, said: “We rely on passing trade going from Aberdeen to Ballater and there is no passing trade at all, because we are on the section where traffic has already been diverted.
“We had to lobby the council hard to even put signs up to say that we are still open; that was frustrating, because we weren’t consulted and only found out the road was closing when signs came up saying there would be a closure.
“My family rely solely on the cafe for our livelihoods, as well as having part-time staff.
“We’ve been so quiet since the closure, we have a huge garden, the sun is shining and we would usually be busy, but so far it’s been dead.
“It’s really upsetting when it’s your business and I just want people to know we are still open.”
Other local tradespeople have raised similar fears over the situation.
Peter Gray, owner of Campfield Filling Station, said: “I am concerned I will lose my passing trade, but I want to reassure all my customers that the station will be running as normal and that the 24-hour pay at pump service will still be available.”
The diversion takes drivers across the Dinnet Bridge on to the South Deeside Road, and back on to Bridge Street in Ballater.
Philip McKay, head of roads, landscape services and waste for Aberdeenshire Council, insisted that the works needed to be implemented.
He added: “The five-day closure of the A93 from Tullich Cemetery to Newton Cottage in Ballater, is to allow for essential maintenance and preparatory surface dressing works to be carried out.
“Access to homes will be kept whenever possible and a signed diversion will be in place.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will seek to complete the works in a timely manner.”
