Huntly road closures: Hairst aiming to be "good neighbour"
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AHEAD of this year's Hairst event, committee members are looking to help Huntly prepare for the impact of road closures.
The event on Saturday, September 2, will turn the Square into a hive of activity and the Room to Run event will take up its traditional base near The Gordon Schools.
However, as a result, road closures are required to "keep the area safe," said Hairst chairperson Pat Scott.
"It is an event for the town centre," she said.
"That was why it was instigated, was to bring people into the town centre.
"And we do try not to cause too much inconvenience.
"It's boring stuff, but it's quite important.
"We don't want to cause undue inconvenience but we have to keep the area safe.
"And that means taking everyday traffic out of it."
According to Aberdeenshire Council, the Square will be closed to traffic between Castle Street and Duke Street, from 7.30am to 2pm on Saturday.
Diverted drivers will go via Deveron Street, Chapel Street and West Park Street.
For the Room to Run event, Castle Street and Gordon Schools Road will be closed from McVeagh Street to The Simpson Arch.
The 15-hour closure will begin at midnight on September 2, 2023 and end at 3pm.
Hairst organiser Kay Thomson said letters had been hand delivered to affected town centre properties, and people with caring responsibilities should contact the committee ahead of the festival.
Ms Scott added that extra parking had been arranged with the Linden Centre, Tesco and Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky on King Street.
"We are always really conscious that traffic is an issue on the day, as is car parking," she said.
"And we would encourage people who stay in the town to walk to the town centre.
"But we have done our best to provide extra parking beyond the parking that already exists in the town.
"We are very keen and anxious to be good neighbours and, because there is road closures affecting Deveron Street, we have produced letters which residents of that area should have received.
"Just to make them aware of the road closure and contingencies for emergencies."
