An Aberdeenshire councillor has vented her anger at the omission of a “forgotten” storm-hit village from a major flood alleviation plan.
Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee yesterday backed the north-east local flood risk management strategy for 2016 to 2022 – despite concerns that Kemnay had been sidelined.
Ellon, Inverurie and Port Elphinstone, Insch and Stonehaven have been earmarked for flood protection studies within the scheme – which sets out the council’s objectives for tackling flooding in high risk areas.
A study for Ballater will be carried out separately to the other four, outwith the local flood risk management plan.
Twelve locations in Aberdeenshire have been identified for such assessments, but Kemnay is not on the list.
And now, West Garioch councillor, Sheena Lonchay, is calling for the Garioch village to be designated a Potentially Vulnerable Area under the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s flood risk management strategy.
Some 600 homes and 100 businesses are estimated to have flooded across Aberdeenshire in the days following Storm Frank.
According to the council, 47 homes were flooded in Kemnay on the night of January 7, with the River Don bursting its banks and drains overflowing.
However Mrs Lonchay claims nearer 62 properties were filled with water during the deluge.
Speaking at the committee, she said: “My concern is there is no mention of Kemnay in the local flood risk management plan.
“I appreciate these plans were drawn up on information available before January and there had to be a degree of clairvoyance to know Kemnay was going to flood.
“But there was a feeling through that period (of storms) that they were the forgotten town. Nobody was much interested in Kemnay.
“That feeling has just been compounded by the fact they don’t feature in this flood plan and continue to deal with the aftermath of flooding.”
The council’s director of infrastructure services, Stephen Archer, said: “The event was an extreme event. We are there to talk, we are there to listen with all communities across Aberdeenshire. In no way should one be forgotten over another.”
Sepa confirmed there was a “high probability” Kemnay would be made a PVA in the future.