Action group formed after Dee flooding winds down

Ballater: Organisation has served purpose – but ‘more can be done’

A Deeside action group, formed in response to the major floods which struck the region last winter, has closed down because it has “served its purpose”.

The Ballater Flood organisation issued its final report this month, having reviewed the circumstances behind the flood and the subsequent recovery operation.

Their findings have not ruled out the possibility of another flood occurrence, but noted the “river channel capacity has increased” following the December 2015 event, which meant the Braes collapse was “unlikely to be repeated”.

Last night, group coordinator Tony Cox said: “It remains the case there are actions that could and should be taken by the authorities which would reduce the risk of flooding without the risk of downstream negative impact.

“We must all do our best to influence them to do what can be done and do it as soon as possible.

“We have had a very fortunate winter so far. Our objective was to advise the village of where we were, so we are closing the group now because we have served our purpose.”

The group’s findings emphasised the flood event resulted from a “combination of exceptional and unusual” events which caused a volume of water which “vastly exceeded” the River Dee capacity.

The main factors were the high rainfall in November 2015, followed by the impact of Storm Eva and Storm Frank. Temperature inversions at the North Pole were also cited as causing “very rapid snowmelt on surrounding higher ground”.

Mr Cox argued it was difficult to be complimentary about the support the community had received from the council since the flood-

“Aberdeenshire flood team have been evasive at best”

ing. He said: “What I would say is that Sepa has been extremely co-operative, but the Aberdeenshire flood team have been evasive at best. The council’s legal department have been full of contradiction.

“Politically, it is very disappointing – two days after the flood, ministers visited, but since then, nobody has been here.”

Earlier this year, the group called on Aberdeenshire Council to consider redesigning the bund which proved inadequate at the village golf club during the floods.

Work is now under way on a 130ft like-for-like replacement of the defence.

A webcam, funded by the local authority has also been put in place at Ballater’s Royal Bridge to monitor water levels.

JOB DONE: Ballater Flood Group co-ordinator Tony Cox at the River Dee

The severe flooding in Ballater after Storm Frank