A north-east village will struggle to survive the summer unless a landslip hit road is reopened, a community stalwart has warned.
Gardenstown’s Harbour Road has been closed to the public since land overhanging the carriageway crumbled away in December.
And now Andy Sturdy, a member of Gardenstown’s community council, has claimed the closure could force local business owners to walk away if summer comes and goes without a solution in place.
Gardenstown villagers being treated like ‘prisoners’ over new road safety measures
Mr Sturdy had been spearheading efforts to get locals to tell the council when they would like temporary openings of the route but was left “disappointed” when only 13 handed back their questionnaires.
At present, the road is only opened under supervision once a week, for about six hours at a time.
It is meant to give people living at the foot of the hillside village an opportunity to do their weekly shop and visit friends and family.
Last night, Mr Sturdy said things could get worse before any improvement takes place.
“Some people are saying they want the road open all the time,” he added.
“Others are being more understanding.
“But the problem is the community doesn’t see anything happening, and so they feel no one is doing anything. There is a feeling of apathy, perhaps.”
The scenic village, which is a popular destination for holidaymakers over the summer, is packed with cottages which are rented out over the season.
Mr Sturdy believes these could begin to be sold off if people are not able to make money from them.
He said: “We will struggle in the summer if nothing is done, and tourism will suffer over the wider area.
“It’s a tourist village and we rely on that trade.
“People will start to give up their buildings and they will try to sell them, but who will buy it when you can’t get access?”
On Monday, concerns were raised about gates being installed to prevent traffic using the road near the landslip.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “The measures being taken are directly related to the safety of road users while investigations into a long-term solution continue.
“There will be regular controlled openings of the road, with the latest one coming up on Thursday from 9am–4pm.”
Local MSP Peter Chapman said he understood how “serious” a closure would be heading into the holiday season.
He said: “I fully understand the frustration felt by residents, and I recognise the difficulties posed by this closure.
“However, given the clear risk of further landslips, I am supportive of the temporary gate system remaining in place for now.
“I have been working hard behind the scenes to find a permanent solution that is safe and works for all concerned.
“That won’t happen overnight, but the sooner it happens the better.”
