A row has broken out amid a group of Stonehaven residents who claim their concerns about the future of their homes are going unheard as work on a flood protection scheme moves forward.
Three properties on Dunnottar Avenue face onto the River Carron where major building works will be carried out during the second phase of construction.
The families say they will need to give up their back gardens for months and, in the long-term, have their riverbank access completely cut off and still be responsible for the upkeep of the land on the other side of the wall.
Aberdeenshire Council approved funding for the scheme, which was subject to an extensive public consultation, in September 2014. It will reduce the flood risk to 372 homes and a school close to the river.
But the residents claim their concerns about the work have not been heard.
Cynthia Leslie said: “We have asked for a gate to be put in at the bottom of the garden, they have told us that if they did that they would to give it to 28 others, which is complete nonsense.
“We’re not going to have access to our back garden while they are building and it will be dug up. They’ve asked us to choose what plants we want and told us it will be a like-for-like replacement, but that’s impossible. We’ve worked for over 40 years on our land.”
However, Aberdeenshire Council has refuted the claims.
The principal engineer for the scheme, Rachel Kennedy, said: “We have explained why access to the riverbank is not possible at this location. Officers have also offered to enter into dialogue with neighbours to attempt to gain a right of access across the land, but this was rejected, as was a council offer to purchase the land affected.
“Throughout the development of the scheme we have tried to balance the requests of individuals with the need to deliver a scheme providing protection to the wider area.
“The scheme has been modified where possible to address residents’ concerns, however there are some situations where the council cannot accept the risk associated with these modifications.
“While we have not been able to meet every individual’s request, the current scheme has been through rigorous public scrutiny which confirms that it achieves that delicate balance. Our focus now is on delivering a project that will benefit the town as a whole.”
The council stressed that the scheme had been given the go ahead following a public consultation and meetings with residents and landowners.
However, resident Liz Stuart, who moved into her home after the plans for the scheme had been approved, said: “It’s not so much that they’ve instructed us, it’s more that they’ve dictated to us.
“It’s their attitude more than anything, they say they have consulted people but they haven’t, they’ve just pushed ahead.”
