A proposed £2.9million flood prevention scheme for an Aberdeenshire town will be put in place “without delay” after it was backed by the Scottish Government planning reporter.
It has been recommended that the Huntly plan, devised by Aberdeenshire Council, should progress without modification following a public hearing in the town in February.
Design work has been progressing on the project since councillors gave the go-ahead in April 2011 but four objections led to further scrutiny of the proposals.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Head of Roads and Landscape Services, Philip McKay, said: “We are obviously pleased with the outcome of the Public Hearing, because the Reporter’s recommendation allows us to progress this scheme if the Infrastructure Services Committee gives the go ahead in May.
“It was clearly important that objections to the scheme were properly investigated and weighed up against the benefits to the wider community and the extensive work we have done to this point means we should be able to move towards delivery of the Flood Protection Scheme on the ground with minimal delay.”
The scheme has been designed to reduce the risk of flooding to properties along the River Deveron, the Ittingston Burn and the Meadow Burn.
Existing defences on the River Deveron between the Bridge of Gibston and the Hill of Haugh would also be raised and strengthened.