By Mark Mackay

NEW FLOOD defences are being considered in a bid to protect residents in rural Perthshire.

The move comes in the wake of the failure of £500,000 flood defences in the Kinross-shire village of Milnathort in December 2006.

Those floods left dozens of shocked residents homeless and businesses shattered.

Most had believed their defences would save them, but months later they are still coming to terms with what happened.

Perth and Kinross Council is considering new flood prevention measures in the hope of saving other communities from such hardship.

A host of initial investigations have already been carried out across the area to determine whether flood mitigation schemes might be justified.

The local authority hopes that government cash will be available to fund schemes in the most needy areas.

The communities of Birnam, Bankfoot, Scone (Annaty Burn), Greenloaning, Coupar Angus and Comrie could be among the first to benefit.

However, while some communities could qualify for funding, other locations will be ruled out as they do not meet UK Treasury criteria.

The grants are only available where defences would work out cheaper than repairing any potential damage.

Schemes at Alyth, Burrelton, Scone (Barrel Drain), Inchyra, Longforgan, Invergowrie and Dalguise have already been ruled out.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee will be asked to approve plans to pursue flood mitigation schemes, subject to finance.

In addition to the identified sites, further investigations must be carried out at Dunkeld and at three Pitlochry sites—Easthaugh of Ballyoukan, Altrory Burn and Middlehaugh of Dalshian—to see if the criteria can be met.

Flood studies will also be commissioned at Kinross, Aberfeldy and Logierait.

Committee convener Councillor John Kellas said, “Retrospective grant on such schemes is available from the Scottish Government.

“This normally includes the cost of employing consultants, preparing the design and supervising the construction.

“The work we have done so far will allow us to move forward if the finance becomes available.

“We will also continue working to see whether flood mitigation schemes are justified in other locations around Perth and Kinross.”

Mr Kellas warned such schemes could not eliminate the risk of flooding.