The path along the Auldearn Burn beside the field below the cemetery flooded with the volume of water over the weekend and the first part of the week. Thanks to Murray MacRae for image.
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There has been flooding here and along Granny Barbour's Road at Balmakeith Park a few times this year. Hence the flood plain on the fields of Househill.
ReplyDeleteFlood prevention has - supposedly - been a local authority priority for many years.
ReplyDeleteSEPA drew up an overall strategy in 2012 which set out the timeline for completion of studies, preparation of plans and final publication by 2016. This was not met.
In 2015 SEPA issued a further strategy document. This identified the risks and impacts of flooding for each potentially vulnerable area (PVA). In the case of Nairn, there are three such areas (Nairn East & Auldearn, Nairn Central, and Nairn West & Ardersier) Highland Council is the lead authority responsible for action.
Nothing has happened. Studies, supposedly to be completed by 2019, have been pushed back to after 2024. Any actual prevention and protection work required is unlikely to begin until sometime between 2025 and 2030 at the earliest.
Meanwhile Highland Council has - by contrast - completed major flood prevention works along the River Ness over the past couple of years. Moray has delivered massive flood protection-schemes on this side of Forres and up the Mosset Burn; and on the far side of Elgin.
The subject has been repeatedly raised by Nairn's Community Councils. Perhaps our local Councillors - who seem to have plenty of time to pursue other matters - need to explain the apparent lack of urgency and absence of action to deal with the flooding issues in Nairn?