A Strathdon community hit badly by the snow every year is celebrating after a new warning system went live.
The snow gate on Cock Bridge is regularly closed when temperatures fall and blizzards hit.
Until now tourists and locals looking to use the A939 Lecht Road, or the Snow Road, often would not know the route had been closed until they reached the gate.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
However following a campaign to install a webcam, which cost £3,502, motorists will now be able to see for themselves before venturing out in potentially dangerous conditions.
The project was spearheaded by the Strathdon Community Development trust, with the backing of Aboyne, Donside and Upper Deeside councillor Geva Blackett.
Funding for the project came through a grant from the Marr area committee and developer contributions.
Mrs Blackett said the project would hopefully be just the start of a wider scheme to introduce a network of devices at every gate along the route.
She said: “Braemar was the first community to install a snow gate webcam because we never knew if the road was open or not without actually going and looking; despite some initial scepticism it proved a huge success and the Cairn o’Mount soon followed suit as did Glenshee.
“With the Snow Road bringing tourists along the road from Blairgowrie to Grantown the obvious next step is a webcam on every gate along the way and the Cock Bridge one is the first – working with Ballater and Crathie Community Council we are now looking at cameras at the Crathie end of the B976 and the Ballater end of the A939 and hope they will be up and running by next winter.
“While we can hopefully raise the money through a number of different avenues for the infrastructure, there are 4G and maintenance costs to cover and that’s where we are looking for local businesses to take on sponsorship – for example, Moxon Architect has kindly agreed to sponsor the B976 for a year.”
To view all the devices currently live visit www.snowgatecameras.co.uk
