School Bus Fails to Reach Sandhaven

Secondary pupils from a north-east village had an extra day off school yesterday after a road closure stopped their bus getting to them – a closure which is becoming increasingly frustrating for motorists.

The B9031 Fraserburgh- Pennan road, from Sandhaven to the Phingask junction, will close for at least another week while Aberdeenshire Council constructs a cycleway and footpath. The Sandhaven bus to Fraserburgh Academy was unable to get into the village yesterday because of the closure and a minor accident elsewhere.

Fed up with the council’s diversion which takes drivers on a round trip through Rosehearty, locals and bus drivers have been using a back road into Sandhaven down St Magnus Road, which residents say is becoming increasingly hazardous.

“This is the only other way from Fraserburgh to Sandhaven, apart from heading to Rosehearty first, and even the buses are using it, but it is an absolute nightmare,” said one resident. “The road is really muddy and vehicles keep getting stuck, and with buses also using it, it has become dangerous.

“Everyone is so frustrated with the closure, they can’t understand why the council needs to close the road anyway.

“The official diversion is no better.”

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman urged locals to stick to the official diversion. He added: “We are aware that some people are not using the official diversion which is causing problems on more minor routes.

“We urge drivers to use the diversions in place for the safety of other road users and to minimise any problems on these other routes.”

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