Moray Council leaders insisted an £86million flood prevention scheme in Elgin has already “paid for itself” after staving off potential disaster for hundreds of homes yesterday.
Rain pounded down on Moray’s largest town for more than 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, causing the River Lossie to reach levels unseen for years.
In the past, such weather would normally have led to scores of homes becoming flooded and residents having to be evacuated.
But residents around the river escaped unscathed yesterday, as the rising water level was kept to manageable proportions by a series of measures installed over the last decade.
Local authority leader, George Alexander, said he dreaded to think of the consequences if the new system had not been created.
Cllr Alexander, who previously chaired the authority’s flood alleviation sub-committee, said he retains a keen interest in the Elgin programme.
He added: “The first thing I did when I got into Elgin was visit the Mansion House Hotel, which I worry might have flooded if not for the scheme.
“From there, I was able to get a good overview of how the scheme had been handling the pressure put on it.
“We had council staff monitoring our alleviation projects all over Moray throughout the day, making sure they were doing their job.
“They have certainly proved their worth, and I believe the Elgin scheme has paid for itself already because of the damage it has prevented.”
Elgin’s flood alleviation programme, which officially opened in March, is Scotland’s largest one to date.
Flooding problems in the town date back 250 years, with the most recent severe incidents happening in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2009.
As the water level rose in 2002, more than 200 households were evacuated and 10 people had to be airlifted to safety.
After a decade of planning, construction on the flood alleviation scheme started in April 2011 – and it was prematurely put through its paces in August 2014 when it was only partially completed.
During freak storms, caused by Hurricane Bertha, the equivalent of 60 days of rain hit Moray in just 24 hours.
But the fledgling works managed to withstand the worst of the barrage and an estimated 270 homes and 75 businesses which may otherwise have suffered a deluge were protected.
Mr Alexander also praised the £44million flood prevention scheme in Forres for similarly protecting properties there yesterday.