Aberdeenshire Council awarded £2m for storm repairs

The Scottish government has awarded an extra £2 million to the Aberdeenshire Council to help meet the cost of repairs carried out as a result of the damage caused by Storm Frank.

The funding comes as part of the Bellwin Scheme, which exists to provide special financial assistance to local authorities facing extra costs due to disasters or emergencies.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay commented: “There’s no doubt that Aberdeenshire was among the areas hit the hardest by last year’s flooding which is why this £2 million of funding will be welcome news to the council and communities affected by Storm Frank.

“This support through the Bellwin scheme will help Aberdeenshire Council meet some of the immediate and unforeseen costs of the flood damage.

“The Scottish Government is committed to working to reduce flood risk across Scotland and has committed £420 million over the next 10 years to protect homes in many of our most flood-prone areas.

“We also recently commissioned research into the long-term impacts of flooding on communities such as Ballater, which will identify what more can be done to help people recover from flooding in the future.

Richard Thomson, co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said “The effects of Storm Frank continue to be felt in Aberdeenshire more than a year after the event, with much work still to be done locally.

“To date, we’ve spent somewhere in the region of £12 million to help communities recover, from assisting families returning to their homes, to businesses re-opening their doors, and repairing the damage to our roads and bridges.

“The money we will receive through the Bellwin Scheme will certainly be a big help in recouping some of the costs that the council have incurred.”