Work to better protect Stonehaven from future flooding could be completed earlier than planned.
The River Carron has burst its banks twice in recent years, damaging scores of homes and businesses.
Following the 2012 floods, residents made repeated calls for a drain in the Arbuthnott area of the town to be reopened to help get rid of the excess water.
Aberdeenshire Council said it was considering the move to ease pressure on the system and stop water from gathering in the old town, but warned it could take up to 12 months.
Now the authority’s policy and resources committee is being asked to approve the £235,000 cost of the drain works.
The scheme would be carried out using a framework agreement put together by Balfour Beatty when it was dealing with Moray Council’s flood alleviation scheme, which means work could start and finish two months earlier than scheduled.
In a report to councillors, director of infrastructure services Stephen Archer says: “This smaller scale project will provide a level of flood relief to the old town, where none exist at present. Whilst it will not remove the risk of flooding in this area, it will allow flood waters to escape more quickly.
“Recent developments regarding the potential use of a framework contract means that works could commence sooner as the requirement to tender would be removed, thus saving two months and the construction of the works could be completed before the winter months.”
The project will involve building a large inlet chamber and 229ft culvert alongside buildings and through residential gardens leading to the mouth of the river.
In the meantime, the authority is still working to finalise its plans for the town’s flood prevention scheme.
A consultation was held late last year, when residents were able to view images showing the size and position of the propoflood walls.