Aberfeldy businesses are concerned construction work in the centre of their town could wreck their summer trading opportunities.

Residents of the Highland Perthshire town have long anticipated a major £1 million redevelopment by the council of its central space, known as The Square.

Plans are being concidered at this time to make the big open space all one level by removing the kerb. Power plug-in points will be added and drainage improved.

At a community council meeting on Tuesday, locals learned the redesign project is out to tender until April 15, then due to start on June 10 continuing through to November.

The council has explained that doing the work in winter would be “risky” and would take twice as long if it happened off-season.

But the timing has angered cafe owner Mike Haggerton, who said: “I’m in favour of the long-term benefits this scheme will bring to Aberfeldy, but the new revelation that the work is planned to take place this June to November is serious.

“During this time, we hear Aberfeldy Square will be a building site with high barriers positioned around the work area.

“This is peak season of course. We all know that. And yet once again the council doesn’t seem to care about the huge impact this will have upon the fragile local economy, the family businesses, the tourists, or the local residents.

“This work could absolutely be completed out of peak season, but low season weather risk is being touted as the reason for killing off Aberfeldy’s summer trade in The Square.”

Dagmara Ciach owns Square Feet, a shoe shop looking onto The Square.

She said: “July, August and September are the best sales months for me. I wish they would start the work earlier and finish earlier.”

Perth and Kinross Highland Ward councillor John Duff said more details would be shared with locals once a contractor was in place.

He added “Work on the design for the new town square has been ongoing for the last four plus years and is finally coming to fruition.

“Access to businesses in The Square will be maintained at all times but there will obviously be some disruption in and around this area of the town and residents are asked to be patient while the work progresses.”

Fears about the monthly farmers’ market have been smoothed over by chair of the Aberfeldy Community Council, Victor Clements. He said: “The first three markets will go ahead as usual. We await confirmation, but it has been suggested the market can be relocated to Breadalbane Community Campus during the work. The market certainly won’t be called off.

“We’ve been told June 10 for the work to start. PKC is weighting the tendering process which is ongoing now heavily towards a firm that can do this job sensitively, with the minimum disruption. We’ve been promised good liaison between contractors and the community.

“Aberfeldy Small Business Association has headed up this process positively from the start and the redesign of The Square has the support of all the businesses concerned.

“There has been a lot of noise from ‘keyboard warriors’ rather than the people with a business around The Square who will be impacted.

“Part of the plan is to make it more like a square and less like a car park.

“Yes, parking will be lost - 13 spaces permanently and 20 over this summer - but I hope those that know Aberfeldy will be able to use their brains and not automatically expect to park directly outside the shop they plan to visit.

“I feel confident, when the work is complete, we will be left with something that will be a big improvement.”