Feature image by Carlo Williams
STONEHAVEN properties at risk of coastal flooding will be almost the lowest priority for planned action in Aberdeenshire Council’s proposed approach to dealing with climate change.
Across Scotland, local authorities are receiving funding and following guidance from the Scottish Government to prepare Coastal Change Adaptation Plans, CCAPs, to cope with the challenges of rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
The presumption that the sea should be held back with new built structures is no longer the accepted way forward – instead, communities are being encouraged to look at how best to adapt to the changing coastline.
CCAPs plans identify areas at risk, along with possible triggers to take action – and what those subsequent actions might be. This could include no intervention, replenishing natural defences, designing new defences, and making space by relocating assets to a safer distance from the coastline.
And, when they meet tomorrow, Tuesday, members of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee are asked to comment on Aberdeenshire Council’s Regional Plan before it goes before the Infrastructure Services Committee next month.
Stonehaven is at high risk of flooding – but other factors tip the scales
Much work has already been done.
The Region’s Local Flood Risk Management Plan for 2022-2028 highlighs Stonehaven as one of the eight communities most vulnerable to coastal flooding in Aberdeenshire.
The town clearly has the most vulnerable properties – so should Stonehaven be a Community Area, CA, seeing prompt planning for its adaption response ?
Apparently not. In looking to the delivery of CCAPs, the Council has used a prioritisation exercise with metrics including demographic and economic factors – such as the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation; whether the area is Identified in the Local Development Plan, LDP, as part of the regeneration priorities for the Council; and whether Identified in the LDP as land allocated for development opportunities.
This process produces the following ranking:
The metrics used are not standard between local authorities – Moray completed this exercise in 2023, and used a different set, including one focussing on economic impact via number of businesses affected by flooding.
Is Aberdeenshire looking for the low-hanging fruit?
Perhaps some problems are just too difficult – or expensive – for our local authority to competently deliver action.
In the report appendix it is stated: ”While letting the data talk in an unbiased way is important, it is more critical that the CAs taken forward for Local CCAPs in this stage also consider the motivations of Aberdeenshire Council to support tangible delivery of Actions during this Phase.” (emboldening as in report)
Thus, following the metrics and allocating one per coastal area, it is the following communities that are to have Adaptation Plans developed:
1) Invercairn and Fraserburgh
2) Gamrie Bay
3) Buchan East
4) Blackdog and Balmedie
5) Gourdon and Inverbervie
It is this recommendation that our councillors are asked to comment on.
The Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee meets on Tuesday May 20, at 9.30am in the Viewmount Chamber – members of the public are welcome to attend.