Stonehaven’s long-awaited flood protection scheme could take another step forward next week.
Scores of homes and businesses were damaged when the River Carron burst its banks in 2009 and 2012, prompting Aberdeenshire Council to draw up plans to prevent a repeat of the devastation.
Last year, the first phase of the project was carried out when a drain in the Arbuthnott area was reopened.
Residents living in the old town had repeatedly asked for the drain to be reopened to help get rid of excess water, and the £300,000 works were completed in December.
Now the next stage of the scheme is due to move forward on Thursday, when members of the policy and resources committee will be asked to approve the progression of the design work of the scheme, at a cost of £1.8million.
The committee has already approved in principle to funding of the flood protection scheme of up to £15million.
A tender for the design has since been awarded to Mott MacDonald, and after a detailed review of work done to date, the firm is ready to begin the next design stage.
The estimated £1.8million includes design development, detailed design, tender preparation and technical support.
If the project continues at its current rate, it is expected the notice for the proposed scheme will be advertised – as it is legally required to be – by early this summer.
At this stage, anyone can formally object to the proposed scheme. If the council is unable to resolve the issues the scheme will be referred to Scottish Ministers, who may decide to hold a public inquiry – which may delay the delivery the scheme of a year at least.
Philip McKay, head of roads and landscape services for the council, said: “While we are making every effort to progress this scheme as quickly as possible, it should not be expected that delivering such a project through the heart of historic Stonehaven will be easy.
“It is likely there will be a number of objections, so at this stage timescales are difficult to state with certainty but we will do what we can to avoid significant delays and deliver this scheme for the benefit of Stonehaven.”