BEATTOCK residents hope to next week get an update on plans for the crumbling road leading to Kirkpatrick Juxta Church.
The rural road, which serves three homes as well as the church, has become engulfed by a sinkhole stretching the full width of the carriageway.
Nearby residents have described the sinkhole as ‘impassible’ and say they are forced to leave their cars at the bottom of the road to avoid damaging their vehicles.
The hole first appeared three years ago and has since been reported to Dumfries and Galloway Council several times.
But there is ongoing confusion about who is responsible for the road’s maintenance, as both the local authority and the Church of Scotland have previously asserted that it is not their responsibility.
Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council received an update on the situation at their monthly meeting on Wednesday from Annandale North Councillor Lynne Davis.
She said: “There are discussions between internal departments and legal services on how we can progress this. Talks are progressing well and we will hopefully be able to provide a full response within the next two weeks.
“A full response cannot be provided at this time as legal guidance is being sought. We will provide an updated or final response by March 15 2023.”