Invite to see dredging works

Scottish Ministers have been invited to visit a Mearns beauty spot to see the work being done by volunteers.

The Bervie and Forthie waters near Fordoun require regular dredging by a group of trustees.

However, campaigners say efforts to protect the waters from flooding have been caught up in a “mire of bureaucracy”.

They claim it can take up to five years to approve routine applications for works, and insist the dredging programme is only doing the bare minimum to protect Bervie Bridge and local homes and businesses from flooding.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has now been asked to visit the group at work in the Mondynes area, which is next to the A90, so she can see the need for more active sediment management.

North East region Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “BEAR Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Sepa have been helpful to the people who helpfully keep the Bervie Bridge open by lowering the water.

“I invite Roseanna Cunningham to Mondynes to speak to the people involved, see how much they are helping, and whether this mire of bureaucracy can be resolved.

“I am hopeful she will see the value in such a visit.”

A spokesman for the trustees said there was an urgent need for the minister and her team to see the issue for themselves.