A NEW £1 million scheme will help protect Deeside communities from flooding, members of Banchory Community Council were told this week.
SEPA's flood warning duty officer Ian Forbes, who gave a presentation at the group's monthly meeting, said the new system that covers the North-east of Scotland will help prevent loss of life and reduce the economic damage caused by floods.
Th
e scheme, which uses state of the art technology to provide early flood warnings, was officially launched by Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP earlier this month.
Mr Forbes said: "In Banchory the area most at threat from flooding is the Invercannie Water Works. Although Banchory is not at a particular threat from the River Dee, flooding doesn't always come from a river.
In summer we can get big thunderstorms which can cause problems if the drainage systems get overloaded.
"The fact that Banchory is on a hillside can also lead to problems with a build-up of water in certain areas."
Mr Forbes said SEPA has recorded more instances of flooding since 2000 than it had during any other decade since records began 50 years ago.
He added: "The last 10 years have been particularly aggressive. In October last year we measured 265mm of rain in the final two weeks of the month at Durris. That rainfall was what led to the bad events in Stonehaven.
"SEPA are trying to be on the ball and if we receive advanced weather warnings we will put out flood warnings straight away."
The 24-hour Floodline is available on 0845 988 1188 and the flood warnings for across the North-east, which include the River Dee and River Don, can be viewed at www.sepa.org.uk/flooding
Banchory Community Council Round Up Community members also discussed the need for an additional pedestrian crossing on the High Street and a bypass around Banchory with a traffic assessment for the Deeside town expected to be published later this month.
Chairman Keith White said there had been little support for an extra crossing on the High Street.
"We have decided against this idea in the past on the basis that there is already one another 70 to 80 yards down the road and it would mean we would lose around 11 parking spaces," he said.
A possible bypass around Banchory also drew little support.
Community council member Rob Sadler said: "Why do we want people to bypass Banchory? You want people to come and enjoy their days out here."
However member Lorna Barker was in favour, adding: "Even Ballater has a bypass!"
Members were also told that plans to build a multi-use community centre and sports pitch with five supporting houses at a Banchory park had not stalled.
Jean Henretty, of the King George V Park Community Project, said the group were waiting for a date for their planning application to go before the Marr Area Committee but said that "things are happening in the background."
Ms Henretty, also a member of Banchory and District Initiative, added that a town forum meeting to discuss a master plan for Banchory drawn up by Robert Gordon University students would take place on April 15, although a time and venue is yet to be confirmed.
