Work on a £15million project to alleviate flooding in an Aberdeenshire town edged closer after the plans reached a milestone.
A flood protection order has now been published for the scheme at Stonehaven, which has been designed to protect homes and businesses along the River Carron.
The river has burst its banks twice in recent years, destroying properties and belongings.
The finalised design for the flood protection scheme is now being produced after a consultation on the scheme, and the order is intended to make sure those affected know what is proposed, how it will affect them and how to make their views known.
Aberdeenshire Council’s preferred option for the flooding scheme includes building 4ft-5ft defence walls and raising or modifying bridges along the Carron.
Self-raising barriers would be constructed in sensitive areas, such as near A-listed St James’ Church.
Culverts in the Glaslaw Burn could be replaced as part of the plans, the white bridge by Cameron Street raised and the red bridge replaced.
The construction work is expected to take between 18 to 24 months to complete.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “There has been, and will continue to be, consultation with the wider general public, as well as the statutory stakeholders, community council, landowners, planning department, SEPA, Historic Scotland, the local fisheries board and Stonehaven Flood Action Group as the project progresses.
“The flood order for Stonehaven, which would allow the council to construct a flood protection scheme on privately owned land, has now been published.”
Documents on the flood protection scheme can be found at Stonehaven Library, and the town’s council offices in Viewmount and Carlton House and in Woodhill House, Aberdeen .
The documents can also be viewed at
http://bit.ly/StonehavenFPS