In 2009, the access road leading to Dunnottar Woods and Dunnottar Nurseries was badly damaged when trees were uprooted following the flooding of the A92 and Stonehaven bypass. The road was repaired at a cost to the taxpayer of £119,035 but no improvement was made to the road drainage. Subsequently, the terrible flooding of 2012 led to further damage which led to the whole road being removed to allow access for digging equipment.

Without proper consultation, the road has been replaced by a narrow and un-tarmaced walkway which restricts ease of vehicular access to both Dunnottar Woods and Dunnotar Nurseries. Dunnottar Nurseries, which has traded at the formerly derelict walled garden for the last 30 years, has been severely impacted. Our customers are now expected to take an ill signposted detour route to locate the nursery along a badly maintained road. Deliveries of plants and garden products are forced to reverse down the single track road due to the lack of through route. The challenge is compounded by the low hanging trees which delivery vehicles have on occasion been unable to navigate due to the risk of damage to both vehicle and woodland.

Still no improvement has been made to the road drainage responsible for the initial destruction and the repair costs to date total £322,632.

The decision to replace the existing road with this walkway has not been taken through proper consultation with the community. The imposition of the walkway is damaging not only to our business which has been trading from the walled garden since 1992, but to the safe enjoyment of the woods by the local community.

Please sign our petition to show your support for the reinstatement of the Dunnottar Woods through road and improvement of relevant road drainage to prevent future destruction.