Time is running out for north-east residents to have their say on the future of a bridge which is used by thousands of vehicles every day.
Drivers and pedestrians who utilise the Banff Bridge on the A98 Fraserburgh to Inverness road have been urged to take part in the public consultation which ends next week.
Aberdeenshire Council has stressed that all options for the future of the pivotal link between Banff and Macduff are being considered, including the possibility of upgrading or replacing it.
To date, 450 people have responded to the local authority’s online survey and it is understood the council is seeking several hundred more responses before Tuesday’s deadline.
The 400ft span, built in 1889, is a vital arterial route across the River Deveron. Thousands of vehicles cross the bridge every day with up to 180 pedestrians using it on a daily basis.
Local area committee chairman, John Cox, has called on north-east communities to get involved in the consultation before the deadline.
Mr Cox said: “I would encourage as many users of the bridge as possible, not just residents of Banff and Macduff, to feed opinions and experiences into this survey.
“It has been designed to understand the typical journeys people make using the bridge and their general experience of travelling on it, either as the driver of a vehicle, as a pedestrian or cyclist.”
Fraserburgh councillor Brian Topping added: “It is important to gauge the economic and social impact of this crossing on the local area, so that the council can be well informed when considering any options for its future.”
This latest survey follows a minor consultation on the seven-arch crossing which was carried out in 2008 to “gauge the extent of problems and issues” which were facing drivers and pedestrians.
Now, the council has appointed consultancy firm AECOM to carry out a fresh study, following a decision by the infrastructure committee.
To access the 2016 survey – which has been running for six weeks – visit www.banffbridgesurvey.net