Transport Scotland is taking action to stop drivers churning up the roadside verge on the A90 at Newtonhill.
Local Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Mollison explains: “I have been approached by a number of constituents over the verge on the dual carriageway beside the Tesco store. The community council also asked me to raise the issue with Transport Scotland.
“We suspect lorries and other vehicles have been pulling in at the bus lay-by but parking on the grass verge. Whether this is for safety reasons, bad driving, or extra wide vehicles, who can say. But the outcome is that the vehicles have churned up the verge on the southbound carriageway. The suspicion is that drivers have gone into the nearby Tesco. They cannot spend an extra minute driving off the dual carriageway and parking in the store’s car park.
“The result is a mess. The grass is unsightly. It looks as if it has been ploughed – badly. But was well as looking unsightly, there is a more serious concern. If the bus overshoots the stop slightly then passengers could have to alight into several inches of uneven and squelchy mud.
“Transport Scotland chief executive David Middleton tells me that ‘unfortunately there are few physical measures which are effective in discouraging motorists from parking at such locations.'”
Mr Middleton had however a glimmer of hope. He told Cllr Mollison: “As there is a clearway order in place on this section of road, it is a road traffic offence to park on the trunk road. Our operating company BEAR Scotland Ltd has notified the police of this issue and requested that the site is monitored for any further occurrence, with enforcement carried out where appropriate.
“BEAR Scotland will continue to monitor the site during weekly inspections and carry out repairs as necessary.”
Cllr Mollison added: “I am glad that some progress is being made.”