A multimillion-pound flood prevention scheme has been proposed for Aberdeen in the wake of last month’s weather destruction.
Scores of people were evacuated from their homes during weeks of heavy rain and flooding which caused both the rivers Don and Dee to burst their banks.
Now councillors have outlined a £5million flood prevention scheme to help protect the Granite City from similar devastation in the future.
Four projects have been put forward, which the Press and Journal understands will target some of the city’s worst-hit areas, such as Riverside Drive, Ruthrieston Court, Inchgarth Road, and Millside in Peterculter.
According to the council’s general funding report for 2015/16, the scheme will be included in the capital programme for the upcoming year which will be discussed at the budget meeting later this month.
Last night, Ross Thomson, finance vice-convener, said the fund would provide reassurance to those who had been forced out of their homes.
He said: “I know there were some communities who were really badly-affected in the city and some people were evacuated from their homes.
“I would hope that the Scottish Government could support us, at the moment all they have done is pass on UK Government funding, and we have tried to get that in the pocket of those in need as soon as possible.
“There’s been no new or additional funding provided as yet which is why we’ve tried to grab the bull by the horns.”
The Scottish Government has made grants available of £1,500 to householders and £3,000 to businesses who fell victim.
Finance convener Willie Young has also been critical of the government’s response to the flooding and claimed ministers have “forgotten about Aberdeen once more”.
But last night, the Scottish Government dismissed both councillors’ claims and said it had distributed cash across the country.
A spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government has put in place a funding package of over £16 million to support households and business properties affected by flooding throughout the country, including Aberdeen city.
“This is in addition to the funding that will be provided via the Local Authority Capital Settlement to enable local authorities to invest in flood protection schemes, and which will be distributed to local authorities according to the priorities set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategies.”