A plea has been made to the Scottish Government for financial assistance to prevent landslips at an Aberdeenshire tourist town.

Aberdeenshire Council has written to the Government with the preferred option for slope remediation at Bervie Braes, to the south of Stonehaven.

The land belongs to the Dewars Children Trust and the council does not believe it has a legal responsibility to fund the works, but wants to ensure a solution is found.

A thorough, detailed geotechnical report commissioned to determine the problems and possible solutions was recently completed and an Executive Summary has been sent with the request for financial assistance.

The preferred choice of the community and the geotechnical consultants is a soil nailing scheme at a preliminary estimated cost of £5.7m, which has been backed by Aberdeenshire Council.

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As well as the installation of soil nails, this includes local earthworks, drainage improvements and re-vegetation of the slopes.

Other options considered numerous factors including environmental impact, construction issues, residual risk, long term reliability and cost.

The options cost as much as £8.9m, but the preferred choice was made by looking for the best value, balancing risk and cost.

The Braes form the coastal slopes which back Stonehaven Harbour and adjacent parts of the old town on the south west side the town.

Local slippages on the slope have been occurring for many years and the section of concern, around 500 metres long, has a public road running along its slope.

The road, which leads from the popular and historic Dunnottar Castle, is currently restricted to one way single lane and around 70 houses are located immediately adjacent to the base of the Braes.

The retention of the road was regarded by the vast majority of the local community as essential, for the benefits it brings to the tourist trade in the town.

Next year is the earliest realistic time any work could start, dependent on funding.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, Peter Argyle, said: "The consultants have done a very thorough piece of work which has taken a little longer than expected, but we now have the information necessary to move forward to a solution.

"It is important that something is done and the recommendations are put in place as soon as possible."

Although the work required at Bervie Braes is more extensive than the project being carried out at Pennan, the council hopes that both will be treated the same.

(GK/JM)