Council bosses have threatened to cut off bus services and even call in police as a north-east community cut off since December by a landslip sees its woes deepen.
Residents in Gardenstown have been unable to get to and from the foot of the village for months after land on Harbour Road gave way following heavy rain.
And motorists are only able to pass through the street when Aberdeenshire Council staff are on-hand to monitor the hillside.
Businesses have suffered, there have been further landslips and this month repair attempts saw contractors cut through telephone cables.
Now it has emerged the community could be in for more struggles if car owners do not stop leaving their vehicles parked in a bus turning circle.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council announced yesterday that because of complaints from bus drivers, the bus service between the village and neighbouring Banff was at risk.
Drivers have complained that it is almost impossible for them to turn their bus within the village since the slip happened.
The spokesman said: “Stagecoach has made Aberdeenshire Council aware of issues it is encountering operating the 273 Gardenstown bus service in the lower part of the community.
“The bus company wants to continue to provide the best possible service for its customers so it has asked the council for assistance.
“Traffic cones have been moved and cars are being parked in the designated bus bay, restricting the space available for the vehicle to operate.
“When parked cars make the reverse turn required at this location too difficult, bus drivers are picking up and dropping off passengers at the Spar on Bracoden Road and from the bus stop and shelter at Bracoden Road and Garden Crescent.”
Aberdeenshire Council has also asked the police for assistance in dealing with the community’s parking issues.
The new blow to those living in Gardenstown comes just days after the authority announced a new schedule of road openings for Easter.
The road is scheduled to be open between 9am and 7.30pm today and tomorrow, and between 9am and 1pm on Monday.
“We want to be thinking about the positives rather than complaining to the council about it taking so long,” Andy Sturdy, secretary of the Gardenstown village action committee, said.
