The design and build of a new flooding scheme to protect homes and businesses in Oban could get under way in 2022.
Members of Argyll and Bute Council’s Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee were given an update on flood risk in the town yesterday.
Oban was hit by major flooding after heavy rainfall in October and the report included details of relief works completed since and an update on a flood study being carried out for the area.
Lochavullin Retail Park suffered extensive flooding with Lynn Road closed, preventing vehicles from accessing Tesco, M&S Food Hall, Homebase and Argos.
Cars which had been left in Argyll and Bute Council’s Lochavullin car park were submerged in water and a home in Soroba Road was flooded as the nearby Black Lynn Burn burst its banks.
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Pippa Milne, executive director of development and infrastructure, told members: “The October 2018 flood event resulted in significant disruption locally in the Lochavullin area and to the operation of businesses.
“Interim works have been undertaken since to improve the resilience of the current pump systems, and a short section of temporary flood barriers have been erected.”
She added: “A flood study is progressing towards completion later in 2019 which will assess flood risk from river, rainfall and coastal elements across Oban using the latest climate change projections, assess damages caused, and complete an economic assessment of options.
“This may result in identifying cost beneficial scheme options for Oban which may be eligible for 80 per cent Scottish Government funding from 2022.”
The study is being carried out by the council, with help from consultants EnviroCentre Ltd. It will be completed by December when it will be submitted to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
The scope covers flooding from river, rainfall and coastal waters in Oban, including future impacts using the latest climate change predictions.
Digital modelling has been used to simulate how flooding is generated during extreme weather events across a large area of the town, including Lochavullin.
The study will assess the damage caused by flooding and look at a range of solutions to mitigate risk, in order to determine what options are cost beneficial.
A range of options will be produced, with the potential for the council to receive up to 80 per cent of funding from the Scottish Government.
It is envisaged that the design and build of Oban’s flood scheme could take place between 2022-28.
