Bypass workers are being forced to “go into the woods and dig a hole” due to their on-site toilets not being cleaned.
Construction workers based near Ellon say it has been three weeks since cleaners came to tend to the yellow cabins, where the toilet and canteen facilities sit next to each other.
They are currently working to dual the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road between Balmedie and Tipperty as part of the £745million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Project.
One whistleblower said some colleagues had been so desperate they had gone into the woods, while others have driven to nearby shops and restaurants to use their facilities.
And he said the “horrendous” smell was also having a knock-on effect on the canteen, with workers opting to take their breaks in their cars instead.
He believes the toilets have not been cleaned because bosses do not want to spend money.
He said: “When I first started here there was a cleaner that would come twice a day without fail. Now they just have one cleaner for the whole thing who has been off. They haven’t replaced them.
“There’s no-one cleaning any of the cabins. There must be about 140 members of staff affected.”
He added: “People are going out into the woods and digging a hole to relieve themselves. Others are going to McDonalds or wherever the nearest toilet is.
“It’s absolutely disgusting.
“The smell is horrendous.
“The toilets are part of the yellow cabins, which is also where we’re supposed to go for our breaks. They have a microwave, fridge and all the rest of it in there. We can’t use them to eat our lunch because of the smell coming from the toilets. People are just going to their cars or going home to eat their lunch.”
Last night, community leaders called for transport chiefs to take immediate action – although Transport Scotland insisted contractor Aberdeen Roads Ltd took its welfare duties “seriously”.
Ellon councillor Gillian Owen was “appalled” at the claims, and said: “I am disgusted and shocked to hear about this. AWPR management need to sort this out – they have a duty of care to provide the workers usable toilets.”
Fellow councillor Isobel Davidson said it was “totally unacceptable”, adding: “The toilets provided should be up to scratch – they should not have to use public ground to go to the toilet.”
Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has now written to Aberdeen Roads Ltd calling for further information on what action was being taken and said: “It is disturbing to hear of any reports which suggest toilet facilities for employees might not be up to basic standards and I would call for necessary measures to be taken as soon as possible if this is in fact found to be the case.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said the north section management team had been notified. He said: “Aberdeen Roads Limited, the project contractor, takes its responsibilities seriously regarding the provision of suitable welfare facilities on site.
“There are nine main offices and eleven support locations, as well as numerous localised welfare facilities across the whole site, which are serviced by professional cleaning companies to help ensure the required standards of hygiene are met.
“With in excess of 1,500 people across site, staff are asked to play their part too by ensuring rubbish is disposed of appropriately, and to leave toilets in a condition they would expect to find them.”