A flood defence scheme has been approved for a north-east caravan park devastated during the Storm Frank floods – despite opposition from environmental experts.
But the plans, for Deeside Holiday Park in Maryculter, could still be rejected by the Scottish Government.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee met yesterday to discuss the proposals, and voted seven to two in favour of the scheme, despite planners advising them to refuse it.
The site’s owners, Wood Leisure Ltd, want to construct a flood defence wall around the park perimeter, but the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has ruled the barrier might have a knock-on effect elsewhere along the Dee.
Last night Councillor Alison Evison said it had been a tough decision for the committee to make.
She said: “It was a very long, and very difficult, discussion that took place.
“I voted in favour of the wall because I didn’t think there was convincing enough evidence that it would increase the flood risk for neighbouring properties.
“But obviously the Scottish Government could now call it in so it’s not the end of the story, in many ways we are dealing with the unknown.”
On December 30, Storm Frank battered the north-east of Scotland, causing the river to burst its banks and leave a trail of destruction.
The Deeside Holiday Park was flooded twice during the events, with its main building damaged and caravans and motor homes left in ruins or washed away.
Sepa has claimed the flood wall would result in a “loss of floodplain capacity of around 5%”, which would put neighbouring properties at “increased risk”.
Last night, the park owners said they were fully aware the plans could still be rejected.
Sarah Wood MacGregor, partner, said: “Obviously we are delighted to have the support of the councillors, it’s fantastic they listened to our case and voted in favour of our right to protect the park.
“But we are fully aware that the Scottish Government could still call it in and we could have another hurdle to overcome.
“It’s vital for safeguarding the future of the park and the customers that are on it, it’s all about making sure that we are able to safely evacuate them if we need to,” she added.
Holyrood ministers have 28 days from yesterday to decide whether they wish to call-in the application.
