Breakthrough made in protecting Stonehaven from flooding

A “breakthrough” has been made in protecting Stonehaven from the risk of future flooding, it has been claimed.

Stonehaven and District Community Council has had its first success in convincing a developer to carry out an independent flood survey of its proposals.

The Sluie Estate Trust, which is behind plans for a supermarket and petrol station at the New Mains of Ury, has agreed to fund the analysis of its site.

The community council has long been calling for independent flood evaluations on major planning applications around the town to give a greater degree of confidence to locals.

Stonehaven was hit by severe floods in 2009 and 2012 after the River Carron burst its banks.

Planning spokesman Phil Mills-Bishop said if others followed suit, the community council could “hold developers to account” on flooding matters.

Mr Mills-Bishop said mistakes could be made by developers and that it was “the residents in the town, that pay the cost of the mistakes”.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said the onus on providing accurate and correct information to accompany any planning application sits firmly with the applicant.