Moray’s MSP has demanded answers over the timing of major roadworks which traders in a Speyside village fear will wreck their livelihoods.
Scottish Government minister Richard Lochhead has written to the boss of Bear Scotland to ask whey the resurfacing scheme in Aberlour is being carried out during the tourist season.
A mile-long stretch of the A95 through the village has been damaged by years of poundings from heavy goods vehicles travelling to and from the region’s many whisky distilleries.
Local business owners accept that repairs are needed – but believe completing the three-month project over the summer spells the “death knell” for shops and hotels which rely on tourism to remain afloat.
Roads company Bear has promised to make every effort to reduce disruption in the village, but has yet to explain the controversial decision to do the work at the height of the visitor season.
Mr Lochhead, who is the Scottish Government’s rural affairs secretary, said: “I sympathise with the concerns of residents and local business owners in Aberlour over the timing of these works and have written to Bear Scotland highlighting their concerns.
“Successful summer trading and the tourist period is essential to Aberlour and the Speyside region, and I’m keen to understand to what extent this was considered by Bear during the planning stages of the works.
“Clearly these major road improvements are important and necessary, however, it’s key that the views of the community are given due consideration and I’ve sought the assurances of Bear that this will be the case.”
Owner of Aberlour’s Ewe and Me gift shop Sarah Baines welcomed the MSP’s decision to raise villagers’ concerns.
She said: “It’s good that Mr Lochhead is taking it on, and is in communication with Bear Scotland.
“Hopefully he can get some answers on our behalf, though with the work set to begin on Monday I don’t know whether it can make a difference.”
Bear Scotland said it was “doing everything possible to minimise the disruption during the upgrade of Aberlour High Street”.