Dates have been set for a public hearing to address objections over a £16.5 million flood protection scheme in Stonehaven.
Opponents to the plans will have a chance to put their case in front of a Scottish Government reporter who will then give his findings to Aberdeenshire Council.
The local authority took a preliminary decision to support the project a year ago.
Consultation saw 12 objections raised, four of which have been subsequently resolved. Among the objections are concerns about wall heights, the extent of the work and the removal of trees and garages.
Design work has been progressing on the project which extends from the Red Bridge on Low Wood Road downstream to the sea and works are also proposed on the nearby Glasslaw Burn.
Scottish ministers notified the council that they would not call in the scheme for a public inquiry, referring it back to the council to hold a hearing.
By law this hearing has to take place before work begins.
The hearing will be presided over by an independent Scottish Government reporter at St James Church Hall in Stonehaven from March 28 to 30.
Following the outcome of the hearing, the reporter will give his findings and Aberdeenshire Council must then decide how to proceed.
Among the flood protection work planned is the raising or replacement of existing pedestrian footbridges and also the erection of new walls from Red Bridge to the sea. There will be self-raising walls on various sections of the scheme.
Installation of culverts from White Bridge to the road bridge and on the Glasslaw Burn at Woodview Court are also part of the proposal.
Other work would include a new flood embankment to the rear of Carron Gardens, the removal of existing island downstream of the existing Green Bridge and the creation of a new footway from the road bridge to the beach boardwalk.
The Flood Protection Scheme (formal order) was promoted under the terms of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. This was considered necessary to deliver a scheme to protect the town quickly.
The order would provide the council with power to secure entry to the land required to build the scheme, it also provides the necessary consents, such as planning, listed building and conservation consents.
A licence for engineering works on and adjacent to the affected watercourses is also required to be issued by both SEPA and Marine Licence authority.
Hearing documents will be available from early March and can be viewed at Aberdeenshire Council’s offices at Woodhill House in Aberdeen and at Viewmount in Stonehaven.
Copies will also be available at Stonehaven Library on Evan Street.