TWO Oldmeldrum business owners says visitors are being put off driving through the town centre by confusing road signs showing both main roads into the town are closed. One even described the situation as "madness".
Other traders say they back the men's attempts to bring shoppers back to the town.
Now, a Mid-Formartine councillor, who is also a member of the Oldmeldrum Town Centre Working Group, says the poor signage will be changed following traders complain
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Work began three weeks ago on regenerating the town centre using £370,000 from planning gain and grants. It was hailed as "massive improvement" on the existing square with work promised in stages to minimise traffic disruption.
Business owners support the regeneration project.
However, the reality for the works' potential to seriously affect the bottom line has hit home for at least one business. Work is expected to take 20 weeks to complete.
Mr Jeff Goodhall, who has owned the Square's Capercaillie Furniture Store, which manufactures pine and oak furniture, has accused Aberdeenshire Council of not listening to business owners over regeneration works.
Mr Goodhall is adamant the council should take what he described as a "sensible approach" by not closing either Commercial or South roads for 24 hour stints and leaving one lane open for traffic at least during business hours.
In fact, Mr Goodhall said the works have cost his business dearly – he experienced his worst trading day last Saturday in 14 years, he said.
"This is an absolute nightmare. The council don't seem to care about Oldmeldrum business. Nobody has come round to see us, they say they have but they haven't. It's obvious from what they're doing is they want a one-way system installed in the Square.
"We want to get Oldmeldrum open for business again, but five months- what business could cope with that- it's madness."
Robin Philip has owned Morris's Hotel for almost a decade, but insists drivers can easily divert around the square, park and enjoy the shopping then rejoin the Aberdeen road, despite "road closed" signs
Mr Philip wants shoppers to know Oldmeldrum Square is still open for business, but argues the confusing road signs pose a potentially serious threat to his and other businesses in the Square.
"There's a serious potential for business losses unless the signage is changed," Mr Philip told the Ellon Times. "These signs are putting people off coming into the village. I haven't got a problem with them doing up the square, but it's just the signage that's the problem, the square isn't actually shut but there's other ways around it."
When a Times reporter attempted to drive through the town square from the Inverurie side on Monday evening, there was confusion amongst motorists once they reached the Square, which had been blocked off. All six vehicles in front attempted to turn around back down Commercial Road, eventually using the bypass to get through town.
However, a simple right turn past Morris's Hotel, then a left turn past the garage would have taken them back through the other side of the square.
Meanwhile, Mid-Formartine Lib Dem Councillor John Loveday insists the council is committed to preserving traffic through the town, but agreed the diversion signage is poor. He's currently working with the council to rectify the problem.
"I feel rather upset they feel that way, because we have gone out of our way to ensure input was received from everyone involved," Cllr Loveday told the Times. "There was very little opposition to this scheme. Despite what some business owners say, several traffic infrastructure officials have been round there in a bid to meet their needs. There's certainly no ulterior motive about diverting traffic away from the town centre, but I agree the signs were badly done and we're changing that at the moment and are getting new signs made up. We are committed to bringing people into the town."
