The cost of completing a major new flood prevention scheme in the east of Inverness has soared to more than £11million.
The estimate was made in new documents released as a public consultation gets under way on the main phase of the Smithton and Culloden Flood Protection Scheme.
Priced at £6.9million in 2012, the estimated cost has now risen to £11.4million, although the exact amount is still to be finalised and the Scottish Government is expected to foot 80% of the bill, with Highland Council paying the rest.
Local authority officials hope that construction of the scheme can start in summer next year, with the work expected to take between 18 and 24 months.
A formal consultation process has begun and is running until May 24, and the plans will be on display at a drop-in session on Wednesday next week at Smithton Free Church from 12.30pm to 7.30pm.
Designs drawn up by JBA Consulting include changes made following the previous consultation held in March last year.
They propose the replacement of a culvert between Lochlann Court and Redburn Avenue, the creation of flood storage areas in Culloden Park and Smithton Park, the removal of the long culvert beneath Smithton Park and the removal of a long culvert between the railway and Smithton Park.
Council chiefs identified the need for a flood prevention scheme in the area after significant flooding in the area in 2002, July and August 2011, when 50 homes were affected, and again in October 2014.
Modelling shows that the plans would protect 129 properties that would otherwise be hit by a once-in-200 years flood event.
Smithton and Culloden Community Council chairman David McGrath said the plans were welcome, but he was concerned they do not anticipate further development in the rapidly expanding area.
“We’ve already made our displeasure known about the short notice on which they have given for the consultation,” he said.
“What is proposed is good, but we’re not happy as a community because they are only dealing with the present problems. They are not looking forward and future-proofing.
“The people in Smithton are not to happy because their football pitch is going to be used as a suds pond.
“What they are doing is as good as it’s going to get, but it’s not dealing with future problems.”
