Council leaders have been told they must find the money to replace a historic north-east bridge with a brand new crossing as a matter of urgency.
Banff Bridge has provided a link between the Moray Firth town and its coastal neighbour Macduff for 239 years.
Built in 1779, it now forms part of the A98 Banff to Buckie road, but its engineers could never have envisaged it would one day be used by more than 12,000 vehicles every day.
With both lorries and pedestrians sharing the 40ft crossing, there have been concerns raised that it is no longer suitable or safe.
And while councillors discussed options for a replacement last year and backed a £5 million scheme, work on the project is yet to begin.
Banff councillors John Cox and Michael Roy have now united to call for the replacement crossing to be fast-tracked – warning that the consequences of delay could be tragic.
Mr Roy said he had personal experience of the potential dangers faced by pedestrians making use of the bridge.
He said: “I will wholeheartedly support improvement to the bridge as it is becoming quite a bottle-neck and not only that, it is dangerous for pedestrians.
“In a previous life I used to live on the other side of the bridge and I would walk the dog into Banff every night.
“On more than one occasion I was clipped on the shoulder by the wing mirror of a lorry trying to negotiate the bridge.
“It is long past time something was done about it and I would fully support any improvement.”
Mr Cox said action was vital before there was a serious incident on the link.
He said: “The main issue is safety. The vehicles are getting bigger and they mount the pavement.
“Improvements are needed before there is a fatality.
“We need to look at opportunities for external funding for this, whether that is through Sustrans or the Coastal Community Fund.
“A lot of money is being ploughed into tourism, but this has to be addressed. We are talking people’s safety. It must be a priority.”
Last night, an Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said the local authority was still considering a replacement for the structure.
He said: “The outcome of appraisal work looking at future options for Banff Bridge was reported back to councillors and the local community last year.
“Since then, officers have been seeking funding to take forward further option development, alongside consideration of other priorities for investment in bridges across Aberdeenshire.
“We will endeavour to keep the community informed of any progress, as we recognise the high level of interest.”
