The keeper of “the only roadside shop from Peterhead to London” has petitioned the council to help undo road markings which are wreaking havoc on his business.
Henry Hadden, who runs the shop at Longhaven with his wife Susan, claims he has suffered from the bus stop markings which mean his customers have nowhere to park.
The shop is at the Longhaven lay-by on the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road.
After receiving complaints from the one regular bus-user in the village, Bear Scotland painted thick yellow lines in the lay-by where the bus can stop outside the newsagents.
But these prohibit parking in that area, with the potential for anyone caught to be handed a £70 parking fine.
Mr Hadden raised his concerns and started a petition.
Yesterday, he brought it to the Buchan Area Committee with 119 signatures requesting the reinstatement of the old white markings which did not restrict public parking.
Councillors were told that Bear Scotland owns the lay-by and Transport Scotland regulations dictate the markings which are required for the bus stop, but the council has to provide access to public transport.
The possibility of relocating the bus stop further north in the lay-by was considered at a public event, but a “universal no” was given to that suggestion which would have simply moved the problem to somebody else’s front door.
After 27 years of running the shop, Mr Hadden is now worried about the future if the agencies do not agree to deviate from their regulations and allow removal of the yellow restriction lines.
He said: “As a small rural shop, we’ve diversified in the fight to stay open over the years and I think we’ve done a pretty good job.
“We get all sorts of customers passing through with HGVs, deliveries, professionals travelling. But because of the bus stop, people are no longer stopping.
“The shop and bus stop have been harmonious for years, but now one person complained and action was taken, so we’re struggling.
“Ideally, we want the white box reinstated, but it would be acceptable if they could even remove the yellow line stopping people from parking.”
Councillor Iain Sutherland said he he had been told it was possibly “the only roadside shop from Peterhead to London” and requested the bus stop regulation be ignored.
Officers informed the committee that Bear Scotland had asked Tranport Scotland to permit a deviation from the rules to change the lines.
Committee chairman Norman Smith vowed they would defer calling for a report on the lay-by until that decision was known.
He added: “We will do our best to find a solution to this.”
