Homework done ahead of works

SIR, – I would like to reassure Ann Robson (letters, April 22) that the drainage measures due to be undertaken at Port Elphinstone, which is mainly the insertion of a non-return valve to a large storm water drain, could only be carried out after detailed investigations.

The bund and lade behind Ms Robson’s house is on private land, so not under the control of Aberdeenshire Council, and anything that is done there is at the discretion of the landowner. I note that bund held during Storm Frank.

Any works affecting watercourses must be approved by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, and I am optimistic that more work will be carried out at the lade after the spawning season. I met Port Elphinstone residents’ flooding representatives last Monday, when this was all discussed. The reconstructed bund at Keithhall Road is on Scottish Water land and that work was done by them. We are still looking, additionally, at the feasibility of providing for a temporary flood barrier there when the new treatment plant is built.

Any new flood defences must not impact on other property downstream, so before these can be designed extensive surveying and modelling has to be carried out. In addition to the drainage improvements, £300,000 of expenditure was approved at the recent meeting of the Garioch Area Committee for this work to be done for Inverurie and Insch. Development of surface water management plans for towns throughout Aberdeenshire was also agreed. Cllr Bryan Stuart (SNP), Inverurie & District,

Pitmachie, Insch

So Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not form an opposition alliance with the SNP because they are not ‘progressive' . That must be the under statement of the century!