An Aberdeenshire councillor has raised safety concerns over limited access to a large area of a north-east village.
Newlands Road in Mintlaw is the only route connecting hundreds of houses – as well as a health centre, library and primary school – to the main A950 road from Peterhead to New Pitsligo.
Central Buchan SNP councillor Jim Ingram has called for a new access point to be built.
Concerns about whether emergency vehicles could get to residents were first raised at a Mintlaw Community Council meeting in June.
The issue was heightened when the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay travelled through the town on June 29.
The Newlands Road access was completely closed as the relay passed through the village.
In a letter to senior Aberdeenshire Council officials, Mr Ingram wrote: “This prompts me to request that consideration be given to the formation of an alternative access point, which can better serve the needs of this portion of the community that has a history of being inconvenienced on numerous occasions in the past due to this limitation.”
Mr Ingram suggested that an access between Burnside Road and Nether Aden Road, used in the 1970s, could be reinstated.
He added: “I am confident that should this proposal find approval it would go a considerable way to alleviating the safety and other concerns being expressed by the community.”
After consulting with council transport bosses, the local authority’s head of roads Philip McKay told Mr Ingram there was sufficient access for emergency services.
He said: “My colleagues in transportation have confirmed that, in terms of access for emergency services, in practical terms there are numerous locations around the periphery of the site where emergency vehicles could gain access including along cycle and footways.”
Mr McKay added that the council did not consider the current layout of the roads a safety concern.
“I understand that this may not be the decision which your constituents wished to hear, but I trust this updates you on the current position.”