By Graham Brown

REMOVING A shingle bank in the River South Esk could ease Brechin flooding fears but at an unacceptable environmental cost.

Angus Council chiefs have ruled out removing the gravel bank above the bridge at River Street because of the impact on the habitat of species including the salmonid population and fresh-water mussels.

Residents must pin their hopes on temporary measures keeping flood waters at bay before the scheduled completion of an £8.1m prevention scheme in 2011.

Question marks still hang over funding of the long-awaited project, and the local authority is pursuing a case for Government money to upgrade the sewage outfalls as part of the scheme.

However, Angus Council leader Bob Myles said he was at least encouraged that work is on the way.

With the initial designs almost complete, the council infrastructure services committee was updated on the projected works programme.

Engineers raised issues about the effectiveness of pumps, which require further investigation.

The council is also trying to persuade Holyrood to fund the sewage outfall work as an integral part of the prevention scheme, not simply an upgrade to the infrastructure.

Final designs are due for completion at the end of next year, with the two-year construction phase planned to start in 2009.

“I am pleased to see this in front of us because there is a perception in Brechin that it’s all talk and nothing is being done,” Mr Myles said.

“But I am very disappointed that there is still an uncertainty over the funding and the question of the sewage outflows.

“They are an integral part of the scheme and should be funded accordingly, and the Scottish Executive must take that into account.”

Angus head of roads Jeff Green said, “I share the councillor’s concerns about the gestation period of this scheme, and major flood prevention schemes in general.

“We have investigated and employed a series of proprietary devices that can be deployed in a flood warning situation, and we have flood warning provision for the River South Esk from SEPA (the Scottish Environment Protection Agency).

“Since having them in place we have deployed them twice, but fortunately they haven’t been needed.

The official said hydrological study indicated removal of the shingle bank could reduce flooding risk, but its environmental impact was considered unacceptable.

The suggestion came from a local businessman this summer, but Mr Green said it was unlikely to happen. Agencies such as SEPA and Scottish Natural Heritage had serious concerns about the effect on the habitat the bank provides.