Surface water risk review starts

Perth and Kinross Council has confirmed that the long-awaited surface water management plan for Blairgowrie and Rattray is now under way.

The news came to light after local residents pushed for an update on the plan after flooding hit parts of Rattray again recently during heavy rainfall.

The plan was first proposed over a year ago following extensive flooding in the Rattray area on October 31, 2021.

However, a number of delays hit the project, including a lack of suitable bids for the contract for the work when it was first put out to tender.

A PKC spokesperson told the Blairie: “The council originally tendered the project to develop the Blairgowrie and

Rattray surface water management plan in June this year, but there were no suitable bids at the time.

“Following a second tender process consulting engineers RSK Environment Ltd were appointed and the project commenced in October.

“This will consider the risk of surface water flooding in Blairgowrie and Rattray, including detailed consideration of the flooding on the Rattray Burn.

“This project will seek to further improve our understanding of flood risk in the area and will consider the feasibility of potential measures to manage the identified flood risk.

“The work is initially programmed to progress until the end of 2023, although this may change.

“A questionnaire will be issued to residents in the next few weeks seeking their views and experiences of past flooding.

“We will also shortly be issuing an update to residents who were affected by flooding on November 18.

“In the meantime, the council will continue with the other actions set out in the published Tay local flood risk management plan, including inspections of the Rattray Burn and clearance works where this will substantially reduce flood risk.

“Land and property owners have the ultimate responsibility for avoiding or managing flood risk.”