The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Council and estate combine to build town flood scheme
Environment: System will divert excess storm water into nearby loch
“I’m pleased we can begin work on the scheme in the weeks ahead”
A deal has been struck between Highland Council and an estate to build a flood scheme in the hills above Kingussie.
The council will jointly fund the £248,000 project with Pitmain Estate, on whose land the alleviation scheme will be built.
The scheme will protect Kingussie from flooding by diverting excess storm water from the Allt Mhor burn into Loch Gynack along a newly constructed channel, instead of it flowing directly towards the town. The flood water will then be released into the River Gynack at a controlled rate to help alleviate flooding downstream.
Kingussie has been frequently hit by severe flooding from the Gynack over the years.
The flood scheme will be built by Aviemore contractors McGowan Ltd and work is expected to start this month. It is due for completion by the end of the year.
Highland Council convener Bill Lobban, who represents Badenoch and Strathspey, welcomed progress on the scheme.
He said: “I am very pleased to see that these works are starting as they are key factors in making the community safer from potential flooding.
“Hopefully this scheme will not only reduce the misery that flooding causes but have an added economic benefit as well.
“I look forward to seeing the channels once they are completed.”
The Allt Mhor is a major tributary of the Gynack which flows through Kingussie before reaching the River Spey.
Water from the burn will be diverted through the new channel which will run for about 1,300 yards.
An added benefit of the flood scheme will be that it will provide extra water for the existing hydro-electric scheme at Loch Gynack.
The existing scheme will be used to control the water released back into the River Gynack.
Alix Whitaker, of land agents Savills which represents Pitmain Estate, said: “This is a great public-private partnership and I’m pleased we can begin work on the scheme in the weeks ahead. The project will be good for local flood protection in Kingussie and green energy generation at the Allt Mhor hydro scheme.”