Tenders sought for Stonehaven flood prevention scheme

Tenders for Stonehaven’s flood prevention scheme are to be sought after the Scottish Government cleared the way for progress on the £16 million project.

A formal notice has been published, giving Aberdeenshire Council the power to enter properties and build on land it does not own in order to complete the works.

The move follows a public hearing in the town in March over plans to provide protection against a one in 200-year flood event.

Preparatory work could be under way within weeks, with the project scheduled to begin in earnest around a year from now.

Stonehaven was ravaged by flood waters when the River Carron burst its banks at the end of 2012, causing festive season heartache for families and ruining local businesses.

Council funding for the scheme was approved in 2014.

The works will involve a number of individual projects, including alterations to five bridges along the river, construction of flood walls in the stretch leading to the mouth of the Carron and the installation of higher capacity culverts on the Glaslaw Burn tributary.

The council says the works are designed to provide a 0.5% chance of occurrence (the equivalent of a one in 200-year flood event) standard of protection, including an allowance for climate change (a 33% increase to 2080) and a safety margin catering for any uncertainties.

A spokesperson said: “The scheme will provide a standard of protection well above the current Association of British Insurers requirements, reducing flood risk to 372 residential properties, two public utility sites, a school and an emergency service site.”

Pre-construction preparation is expected to take place around the town from October, with the tender for construction to be issued at the end of the year.

Work is expected to begin on the ground around August 2018 and could take two years to complete.