Moray Council confirm Parkmore Bridge will remain closed for Dufftown Highland Games

MORAY Council has confirmed that the Parkmore Bridge between Dufftown and Keith will remain closed for the Dufftown Highland Games this weekend.

The section of road, located on the B9014, has been closed for four weeks to allow for masonry repair works to be carried out.

However, locals have raised concerns over the possible impact the closure could have on visitor numbers as the Games return to the Speyside village for the first time in three years.

Moray politicians wrote to Moray Council recently to ask if it was possible to reopen the bridge for the Games weekend but were told that this would not be possible.

A spokesperson for Moray Council said: "The works at Parkmore are programmed to be undertaken during the school holidays. If the timing of the works was changed to accommodate the Dufftown Games this would likely result in a prolonged period of disruption to both school transport and commuters. There are no plans to change the timing of these works."

Moray MSP Richard Lochhead and Moray MP Douglas Ross both expressed disappointment following the council's response to their enquiries regarding postponing the works.

Mr Lochhead said: "I appreciate this is not the response the local community was looking for and concerns will remain about the impact on the Games.

"We can only hope that any affect on this year's event is limited. After the disruption of the last few years I know everyone wants to ensure their success and I'm certain the community will turn out in big numbers to show their support."

Mr Ross said: "With many visitors coming to Dufftown games at the weekend this could cause unnecessary problems, so I asked the council if they were able to remove restrictions for the weekend.

“Unfortunately, the roads department have stated that this is not possible due to a number of factors, but diversions will be well sign-posted and they will use their social media channels to alert people that they will have to take an alternative route.

“Although I understand the council have a small window to carry out these works, the games have been planned for some time, and the council are well aware, so it’s a shame that they couldn’t have mitigated for this.”

See diversions here.

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