An Aberdeenshire village is calling for a retail giant to clear up a flood-hit store.
The former Co-op on Ballater’s Bridge Street has been empty since the firm relocated its two shops to a larger premises on Golf Road.
When Storm Frank hit the village on December 30 the former shop was hit by the raging waters of the River Dee, which wreaked havoc on Bridge Street’s businesses.
Some 307 homes and 60 businesses were hit by the floods in Ballater alone.
Many businesses on Bridge Street are now reopened and trading once again, however last night it was claimed that no effort has been made to clear or dry the old Co-op.
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor, Geva Blackett, is now calling on the retailer to take action at the site, which she described as a “blot on the landscape”.
She said: “The floods happened at the end of December. It is now approaching the middle of July and there is no sign of anything happening there.
“If you walk up that end of the street it is just completely dead, whereas on the other end of the street at the butchers it is beginning to look great.”
Chairman of the Ballater Business Association, Richard Watts, said: “I think anything that is empty is one thing and looking a disaster is even worse.
“I think in the context of what happened people can be excused for looking a bit of a mess for a bit. But the Co-op has been dragging their heels.”
The Press and Journal yesterday revealed the Duke of Rothesay has lodged plans to transform the former Netherley Place Co-op into a pop-up restaurant and cafe.
A Co-op spokeswoman said: “We’ll be announcing plans for the future use of both properties very shortly and would like to offer reassurance that both sites are close to being returned to an occupied state.
“With these plans in place we look forward to playing our part in helping the village overcome the devastating effects of Storm Frank.
“We’d like to apologise for any delay in communicating these developments and would like to reaffirm our commitment to the well being of Ballater and the local community.”
