TWO north-east towns which have been rivals for generations are poised to do battle over ownership of a strip of riverside land.
For years Banff and Macduff have co-existed with an element of competition with locals on both sides of the Deveron fiercely protective of their own heritage.
However, the bridge which links the two settlements could become the scene of a battle with a councillor who represents Banff claiming that for once it is his town which is being shortchanged.
Banff and District member John Cox argues that historic maps show that an area of land between the bridge and Station Brae, which is now classed as part of Macduff, actually belongs to Banff.
He is now hoping to reclaim the land for Banff and is calling for a sign which welcomes motorist into his town to be moved to its “rightful place”.
Mr Cox said that if the land had not been sold off from the common good in the 70s it could have allowed major expansion to local landmarks.
He said: “It had always surprised me that a number of properties on the Macduff side of the bridge had an AB45 post code and a Banff telephone exchange number.
“At the moment the area between the bridge and the bottom of Station Brae is perceived to be in Macduff, however this is clearly not the case. The loss of the unofficial car park at Sandy Ends, due to a storm, is actually in the Banff Ward as it clearly shows in historic maps.
“This is not a land ownership issue as it was very shortsighted back in the mid 70s when the council sold this very important area along with the Wrack Woodland.
“If this was still in the common good it would have been an ideal opportunity to develop the grounds from Duff House to the Bridge of Alvah as a themed park.
“As the current Banff town sign is looking in need of replacement maybe it is right its proper and rightful location should be considered.”
However his comments have received a backlash from others on the opposite site of the river who argue that times have changed and the land should remain under Macduff’s adoptive ownership.
Mark Findlater, councillor for Troup, which covers Macduff, said that times must move on and Mr Cox should accept that the land is now part of his town.
He said: “There has always been a healthy rivalry between Banff and Macduff – in fact I think during the 1970s there was a fight on the bridge between Banffers and Macduffers.
“Macduff has always had the mindset that it is being short-changed compared to Banff and that they get more than we do.
“The maps might show that once upon a time that land belonged to Banff.
“However, times have changed and things move on and this area is now, rightly, considered part of Macduff.
“As far as I’m concerned the Macduff sign isn’t moving anywhere so neither should the Banff one.”
One local businessman who lives in the disputed zone says he does not mind whether he is in Banff or Macduff, but classes his land as being in the former.
He said: “We are Banff – despite being on this side of the bridge – we have a Banff postcode and phone number.
“That surprises a lot of people as most think we should be Macduff, but I’m not bothered either way.”