Members of a north-east community have been told that no alternatives to a closed skip site have been investigated – despite residents facing lengthy journeys to do their recycling.
Gardenstown’s household waste recycling centre (HWRC) at the village’s New Ground was closed following a landslip in January which left large boulders in a precarious position.
And now locals have been told that no alternative site has been looked for in the six months since.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services team has responded to a freedom of information request to say that residents can instead recycle at either Fraserburgh or Macduff – a 16-mile round-trip.
“No alternative sites in Gardenstown have been investigated,” he added.
“Alternative HWRCs are available at Fraserburgh and Macduff for residents of Gardenstown to use, depending on their preference.
“Both the alternative sites have a much greater range of facilities and are full-time sites.”
The local authority also plans to instal three waste bins at Main Street for residents to use.
The spokesman said: “It is planned to swap one of these waste bins for a mixed recycling bin and to add a communal food waste bin to enable residents to participate in the recycling system in line with other residents of Aberdeenshire.”
The saga over the landslip at Gardenstown has been further complicated by issues over the site’s ownership.
The council maintains the landslip-affected area is under private ownership.
Banff and Buchan area manager, Margaret-Jane Cardno, said: “Although the council has made arrangements to make the site secure, contact will be made with the owners of the slipped land in order that alternative security arrangements can be made.”
Council workers also visit the New Ground site in Gardenstown regularly to check for fly-tipping.
The slipped land remains unstable and there is a danger of further rock falls.