Councillor gives update on Kintore flooding remedial action
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Garioch councillor Glen Reid has given residents in Kintore an in-depth update on efforts to see remedial action carried out to address flooding issues in the town.
Mr Reid explained in a statement -
Flooding is horrendous, but the fear of flooding is almost as bad.
I know that the anxiety caused every time that there is bad weather predicted can be devastating to residents mental health.
I have been working with our senior flood engineer for the last couple of years on the issue of the Lochburn.
He thinks there is a solution or an improvement at least to the current situation.
It involves the culverts at the railway line and requires the permission of Network Rail.
It has been extremely problematic getting Network Rail to come to the table and authorise works.
However, after I applied pressure to their senior management last year, their project team did begin meetings with Aberdeenshire Councils Flood Team.
I initially sat in on these meetings, but as they are operational matters, I left it to the two teams to progress.
However, in October, when I heard there was to be bad weather, I chased it up to find that our team had made little progress with Network Rail.
I immediately wrote to the senior management at Network Rail and asked for another meeting asap to iron out any issues and progress this so that some improvement can be found for the residents affected on Northern Road.
That meeting was arranged for last Friday, and I asked to be present to push things forward.
In advance of the meeting, I wrote to Network Rails senior communication manager, whom I had been dealing with and who had been the most effective person at pushing the project team into action and, with permission, shared affected residents stories to humanise this situation. It worked and elicited his commitment to, “push for progress.”
I also wrote to Richard Thomson MP, gave him a full brief on the situation and timescales so far. I thought that it might add extra pressure if he became involved and he wrote to Network Rail.
I attended the meeting with our senior flood engineer and three members of the Network Rail team and it was productive. Our engineer and I both spoke at length, outlining the situation from an engineers perspective and from the affected Kintore residents perspective.
Network Rail first and foremost apologised for the delay and length of time that it had taken to get to this point. They agreed that action must be taken as soon as is practically possible.
Network Rail have agreed to procure an Options Study via a framework contractor to assess the best option for intervention at the railway culverts. It is anticipated this work, including surveys, would take approximately three months to conclude. This work should provide an approved solution.
We have arranged a follow up meeting for February where they will provide Aberdeenshire Council with an update on the progress of the Options Study.
Network Rail have agreed to increase their funding contribution to undertake the Options Study and contribute towards a solution over this and the next financial year.
Network Rail have agreed a single point of contact for communication for residents later and have agreed to advise when any surveys are scheduled to be undertaken on site, so that progress will be monitored.
In brief, an options survey will be undertaken by Network Rail and concluded by mid-March.
They will then meet and brief Aberdeenshire Council, before then making it publicly available. After the study is concluded, the solution will be costed, and if it is within budget then implementation will be progressed.
I know that there is a question mark over the budget/cost, but I’m sure you will understand that until it is costed, nothing can be committed to. However, both Aberdeenshire Council and Network Rail were positive about this progressing.
The initial survey cost, which Network Rail had mentioned at the last meeting, has been reduced by over 50 per cent by changing contractor.
I know that residents may feel frustrated by the mention of March/April, and Network Rail will endeavour to carry the work out quicker if possible, but there are access issues and some complicated logistics involved.
Although I cannot guarantee anything, this is the biggest step forward, and the most positive that I have felt re this horrendous situation, since I began campaigning for a solution over two years ago.
