RPS Consulting Services has been appointed to carry out a flood study in Ballater, Aberdeenshire.

The environmental consultant will work with the council, other stakeholders and the community to develop measures to reduce the flood risk from the River Dee.

The town was severely affected by flooding last year when the river burst it's banks due to Storm Frank.

The study will include topographical surveys, hydrological and morphological studies of the River Dee, River Gairn and River Muick. RPS will develop a hydrological model to appraise sustainable options for the mitigation of the flooding of properties within Ballater. In the town, approximately 200 residential and 40 non-residential properties are at risk of flooding.

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The scheme will allow the council to make an informed decision on the appropriate level of flood risk mitigation that could be put in place to reduce flood risk.

If considered feasible, the output from the study, such as a preferred Flood Protection Scheme, will then be considered in the national prioritisation process for Scottish Government funding, for construction as an action in the 2022 – 2027 Local Flood Risk Management Plan.

Cllr Peter Argyle said: "There is no doubt Ballater was one of the Scottish communities most affected by Storm Frank, which it has to be said was an exceptional weather event.

"While the Local Flood Risk Management Plan for the North East Region did not identify Ballater as the most at risk community, it is hard to ignore the consequences of what happened during Storm Frank and it was right to prioritise the town, given it is still recovering from flooding today.

"I'm sure the local community will welcome this significant step towards putting physical measures in place which will help prevent a repeat of the terrible flooding at the start of last year."

(LM/MH)