Aberdeenshire Councillors are to continue to open Stonehaven’s Bervie Braes Road during the summer season, potentially extending opening if conditions allow.

The local community campaigned for the reopening of the road after it was closed following major landslips in 2009. It is currently open one-way from April until October to address concerns over the economic impact caused by the closure.

It closes for the winter season, reopening in Spring to give tourists visiting nearby Dunnottar Castle a more direct route into the town itself.

Works associated with the seasonal opening will cost in the region of £300,000, the council said.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Policy and Resources Committee have reviewed the seasonal opening arrangements. Councillors heard from Head of Roads and Landscape Services, Philip McKay, who recommended existing arrangements allowing for seasonal reopening of the road in one direction remain in place.

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The committee also heard that to fully stablise the slope would cost somewhere in the region of £3.5million.

Douglas Samways, chairman of Stonehaven Town Partnership, spoke at the meeting. He described the measures proposed by the council as an "overreaction" and criticised the appearance of barriers protecting road users from minor slippages on the slopes. He asked the committee to review the measures taken in response to the risk from the Bervie Braes, "balanced properly with the economic advantages" in consultation with the community and to think again about the seasonal reopening of the road.

Councillors heard that although there is pressure from the community to reopen the road on a year-round basis, risks previously identified remain.

Stabilisation work to date has cost around £3.1m, not including the cost of measures to allow seasonal reopening.

Committee chair and council Leader James Gifford said: "It’s a very difficult position we find ourselves in. It’s a fine balance between the economic benefit of having the road open and the safety and risk assessment that goes with that."

(IT)