Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd has secured the tender to deliver a £3.5 million flood protection scheme (FPS) in Aberdeenshire.

Ground work on the Huntly FPS could start in October and the scheme is estimated to take up to a year to complete.

Features include delivering new embankments in the Meadows area and adjacent to the A920 at the Ittingstone Burn, as well as new culverts, piling, and various utility diversions. In addition, a new walkway will be created along some of the embankments.

The project has been designed to reduce the risk of flooding to residential, agricultural, community and business properties along the River Deveron, the Ittingstone Burn and the Meadow Burn.

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It features a number of individual projects, including creating storage for flood water to the west of the Meadows estate by constricting the flow in the Meadow Burn.

A Public Hearing was held in Huntly to consider outstanding objections to the scheme from landowners. However, a Scottish Government Reporter recommended the council progress its plans without modification following the hearing.

Chair of the council's Marr Area Committee, Moira Ingleby, said: "The imminent start of this work is excellent news for the people of Huntly who know the risk posed to the town by flooding, having suffered from it in the past.

"Implementing a Flood Protection Scheme is not a quick or easy process, but we have successfully got to the point where this will soon be a reality, recognising the benefits it will bring to the wider community, whilst also taking into account the views of objectors where possible."

(LM/MH)