The flow of information from the developers is absolutely appalling

Peter Bennett

Peter Bennett, the manager of the Freedom Inn, said he was one of a number of people losing patience.

He said: "They could have started the work as soon as the demolition was finished or they could have had a progressive plan of operations instead of half doing things or just half demolishing the place and going away and leaving it.

"We were told about 18 months ago that the redevelopment work was only weeks away.

Mr Bennett added: "The flow of information from the developers is absolutely appalling. It's the delight of consumer programmes - people go on holiday and see things like that and write in about it and here we are in Aviemore landed with it."

The development has been spearheaded by Probus Estates. About �8m of the �50m project cost has come from the public purse and the rest was being contributed by the private sector.

Completion next year

Project director Rory Mair has defended the progress, and said things were still on track.

He said: "The fact is the public sector is putting in the smallest proportion of the money and the private sector is putting in far more and they will put it in when they believe the moment is right. There is no reason to think they are not going to.

"Indeed, in my discussions with the private sector companies we are still headed towards a final date, a completion of phase one on January 2001.

"Whether we start next week or a month later I don't think is the real question. The question is when will we finish."

This is the image tourist bosses want to promote

But Mr Mair's comments did not appease Colin Bain of the town's go-kart track.

"What has happened here in the centre is terrible," he said.

He warned it was putting people off staying in Aviemore.

"People see this big pile of mess and think 'God, there can't possibly be anything working here', so they just walk away.

"We are totally sick of it, the whole village is sick of it. All we have had for years and years is one plan after the other about what is supposed to be happening to Aviemore."

He added: "Nothing happens, absolutely nothing apart from this mess and it's time they get on with it or they butt out and let somebody in here who is prepared to get on with it."

But local councillor Bob Severn, while conceding there are frustrations, said the council could not put any pressure on the developers because it is private land.

He said: "I do understand the cynicism in the area, the case of 'We'll believe it when we see it'."