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Public exhibition of Stonehaven flood alleviation options

A public exhibition has been organised to show the various long term options for flood alleviation in Stonehaven.

Heavy and persistent rain falling on already saturated land on November 1, 2009 resulted in flooding at over 50 locations across Aberdeenshire.

The worst affected area was Stonehaven where flooding, primarily from the River Carron, affected around 100 properties, leaving many homes and businesses requiring extensive repairs.

Fifty residents had to be evacuated from their homes when water depths exceeded 75cm (2’ 6”) in the worst-affected parts of the town.

Analysis suggests that while the 2009 event on the River Carron was extreme – current estimates are that it has a probability of occurrence close to 1 in 100 years – the town remains vulnerable to flooding.

At the time, emergency works were done to repair the rock armour structure where the river enters the sea, strengthen the river bank at Carron Terrace and remove dislodged rocks from the area around the Green Bridge.

Work was also undertaken to trim back trees and to remove a small sediment bank on one side of the river, upstream from the Green Bridge.

While this was shown to have a small impact on the ability of the Carron to carry more water through the main restriction at the Green Bridge, the later removal of a log weir immediately downstream was estimated to increase capacity by about 25%.

Despite this work, investigations showed a flood risk remains and a repeat of the events in 2009, or similar, would still be expected to cause extensive flooding.

A review of historical records in newspapers has identified a number of other flooding events which are attributed mainly to the river Carron, underlying the importance of identifying a suitable long-term solution.

Last year the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee approved a proposal to appoint consultants for a detailed review of long term flood alleviation options.

Aberdeenshire Council has booked Stonehaven Town Hall on Thursday, January 26 to let people view displays of the proposed options.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Peter Argyle, said: “Flood risk cannot be completely eliminated and it is important that local people have an opportunity to see the various options which are being considered and help to determine what level of protection is appropriate.

“Everyone should be aware that to deliver the standards of protection required, significant engineering works are likely to be needed within the town and potentially also outwith the main urban area – local views will be important.”

Chairman of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee, Paul Melling, said: “We really want to hear what people think of the various proposals and involve the community in choosing what’s best for Stonehaven in the long term, so we hope the exhibition will be useful in helping them decide.”

The exhibition will run from 10.30am–7pm and visitors will be able to ask questions about the options.

Each has been assessed to determine its effectiveness, its overall cost and benefit, and its likely impact on the built and natural environment, in line with best practice for assessing flood alleviation projects.

A summary of the six long term and six supplementary options can be found in appendices to a report to the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee here: http://bitly.com/w85mLK

A report on the findings from the public exhibitions will be submitted to councillors at a later date. This report will also seek Councillor’s agreement to proceed with the detailed design of a preferred option identified on the basis of effectiveness at reducing flood risk, the impact of the construction works on the built and natural environment in Stonehaven and the views of local residents

Any major flood alleviation works carried out in Stonehaven would be funded from the council’s Capital Plan allocation. When the preferred solution is determined, the scheme would be assessed against other competing demands to determine relative priorities.

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