Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed that pier protection works being carried out at the A98 Banff Bridge have been postponed until the New Year.

The decision has been made due to stormy weather conditions in the area.

Work on the scheme was due to begin earlier this week, but will not now happen until early 2015.

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In a statement, the local authority said high speed winds were preventing the safe lifting of the remaining pier cutwaters into position. The cutwaters are vital to reduce turbulent flow around the bridge foundations when the River Deveron is in full flow.

However, for reasons of health and safety, both to the workers and the general public, the decision was made to delay the latest improvement works. To date, three of the six three-metre-high masonry cutwaters have been installed to the upstream face of the intermediate supports, or piers, during a previous phase. The final three will be installed during this phase.

(JP/IT)