The Scottish Government has agreed to release extra cash for north-east communities left reeling by last weekend’s devastating flooding.
A month’s worth of rain fell in just seven hours on Sunday, destroying bridges and roads across across the north of Aberdeenshire and flooding fields, homes and businesses.
Seven bridges were closed-off around the Macduff and Turriff areas, with some completely washed away by floodwaters.
A large-scale clean-up operation is currently underway to restore the crossings and fix the rest of the damage, but it is estimated the storm will cost Aberdeenshire Council more than £1 million.
To assist the hard-pressed local authority, the Scottish Government has activated the Bellwin scheme for the region – a funding mechanism designed to support councils with the high price tags of dealing with emergency incidents.
Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure chairman Peter Argyle said: “Our officers have been working closely with the Scottish Government’s since last weekend’s floods.
“We have had a sympathetic response from the beginning, so it’s really good news that the door is now open to us put in a claim under the Bellwin scheme.
“We’ll still need to pay just over £1 million, but anything over and above – and it certainly will be well over and above that figure – should be covered by the Bellwin scheme.
“So there will be a cost to the council, but this support is very much to be welcomed.”
Mr Argyle added: “It’s been a tough time for everybody, but affected communities have handled the situation really well.
“I have nothing but praise for the way that people have looked after each other and the concern they have shown each other.
“Council staff have also been absolutely brilliant, and we owe them a huge debt for what they’ve done to get things back on track.”
The Scottish Government’s minister for public finance, Kate Forbes, said: “The recent flooding in Aberdeenshire caused significant damage and I know this continues to affect many people and communities across the area.
“The Scottish Government stands ready to assist local authorities in these circumstances.
“I would like to pay tribute to everyone who is working tirelessly to repair the damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure caused by these floods.”
