Aberdeenshire Council undertook a number of flood studies from 2005 – 2007 to assess the flood risk to several Aberdeenshire communities. On completion of these the Council agreed in September 2007 a prioritised programme for delivery of flood schemes in Aberdeenshire. Delivery of this programme has been on-going since this time: contractors have been appointed in late 2018 for the Stonehaven Flood Protection [Prevention Scheme and Huntly Flood Protection Scheme was completed in July 2017.
How is flood risk managed now?
The inception of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 changed the way in which flood risk is managed. The Act aims to prioritise national spending on flood mitigation using technical analysis to assess flood risk across Scotland. This approach has led to the development of the Flood Risk Management Strategies by SEPA and the Local Flood Risk Management Plans by Aberdeenshire Council.
In 2015, as part of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, SEPA’s Flood Risk Management Strategy (FRMS) and the local authorities’ Local Flood Risk Management Plan (LFRMP) identified a number of Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVA) across Aberdeenshire. Within these PVA’s a number of recommendations were made to undertake site specific detailed flood protection studies (amongst other flood risk management activities) to better inform the current flood risk to these communities and to investigate options for mitigation.
How will flood schemes be prioritised in the future?
The current and next stage is to prioritise nationally where funding should be allocated for flood protection schemes and to prioritise which areas of Scotland need further analysis through flood studies to inform the future management of flood risk. Formal delivery of these schemes and studies along with other flood risk management actions is detailed in the North East Local Flood Risk Management Plan.
What does the Ballater Flood Protection study entail?
Based on SEPA’s Flood Risk Management Strategy and the North East Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Plan Ballater was selected for further assessment. Aberdeenshire Council have been working collaboratively with RPS Consulting Services to assess flood risk and to develop options to manage flood risk.