‘Pennies’ after damage

Last week, the Scottish Government announced £7million would be provided to Aberdeenshire Council for flood protection.

It is part of £420million being handed out to local authorities over the next decade.

However, Mr Cox added that the announcement of £7million for Aberdeenshire was “pennies” next to damage in the village.

He said: “What is the cost to Ballater? We are up to something like £120million and that is counting and counting.”

The defences being considered by the Ballater Flood Group could be in the form of 1.8 miles worth of Hesco barriers, “flow routes” on either side of the bridge and limited clearance work to restore the river.

The organisation financed its own hydrology survey which concluded the community could be at risk of further deluge in autumn.