A £2.9million flood protection plan for a north-east town will be sent to the Scottish Government for approval.
Aberdeenshire councillors agreed to progress the Huntly Flood Alleviation Scheme at a meeting of the authority’s Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) yesterday, despite objections from landowners.
Families and residents of the Meadows Care Home were forced to flee after a month’s worth of rain fell in a 24 hour period in November 2009, causing the River Deveron and adjoining burn to burst its banks.
Flooding plans, which involve building new embankments, strengthening and raising existing ones and building new culverts to divert the water, were approved in 2012.
However, the council needs to purchase land to progress the project.
Scottish ministers will now decide to approve the scheme, with or without changes, or to throw it out.
If approved, a public inquiry will be held, unless all the objections are withdrawn.
A total of four objections were received as part of a consultation, although two have since been resolved.
Committee chairman Peter Argyle welcomed the decision to progress the scheme and said the authority would continue to try to resolve landowners’ complaints.
He said: “This is the right scheme that will address a serious flooding issue in Huntly and has been through all the processes within the council.
“Officers will continue negotiations and would be really happy if outstanding issues could be resolved this way.
“At the end of the day, we have an over-riding duty to protect a number of properties, including the Meadows Care Home.”