- Computer simulation showing how Bank Street and Huntly Street will look once the first phase of the flood scheme is completed.
- For further information on the RNFAS please contact The Highland Council's Representative Sally Cooper:
Tel: 07557 744442 Email: RiverNessFAS@highland.gov.uk
RNFAS Public Exhibition, Phase 2 Lower Section
A Public Exhibition was staged on Thursday 16th May 2013 at Trinity Church Hall, Gilbert Street, Inverness. The Highland Council invited residents, business owners and stakeholders to visit and learn more about the scheme with the opportunity to discuss any concerns.
The scheme proposes to raise the existing flood defences along both banks of the river in the form of low walls and embankments and is designed to protect 800 residential properties and 200 non-residential properties from a 1 in 100 year return period flood (including allowances for climate change and freeboard).
Locally based engineering consultant Mott Macdonald Ltd, who were appointed by the Council in 2012 to progress the detailed design, displayed the outline plans including the flood wall details.
The ‘Tidal Section’ has been divided into two sections for design and construction:
- Phase 1 (both left and right banks from Ness Bridge to Friars Bridge) and
- Phase 2 (both left and right banks from Friars Bridge to the mouth of the river).
Construction of Phase 1 is planned to commence in July 2013 for a period of 18 months. A number of exhibitions have already taken place, residents and businesses within Phase 1 were invited to view the proposals that will affect them.
Another public exhibition will be held in July 2013 prior to starting Phase 1 construction, in order to introduce the contractor and display the detailed plans for discussion. The date for this will be on this site once it is confirmed.
Construction of Phase 2 is anticipated to commence towards the end of this year with completion by March 2015. A number of meetings have already been held with landowners and other stakeholders who are directly affected by the scheme.
The District Valuer has been appointed by The Highland Council to liaise with landowners and businesses that are directly affected by the scheme. If you would like to raise a concern with the District Valuer please contact them on 03000 506298.
Completion of Enabling Works
The first stage of the £24.75 million River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, Inverness, which started on Monday 29th October 2012 is progressing well and the enabling works were completed as scheduled on April 18th 2013. Huntly Street is fully open again to traffic and Pay and Display parking is back in operation.
Coffey Construction Ltd were awarded the Enabling Works contract which has seen the diversion of gas, water, electricity and telecommunication services to accommodate the construction of flood defences on both sides of the river between the Ness Bridge and Friars Bridge. The Council has worked with Coffey and minimised disruptions by keeping those businesses and residents directly affected well-informed with regular updates. The Council would like to thank businesses, residents and the public for their patience and co-operation throughout this first stage.
Background to the Scheme
In December 2011 The Highland Council applied to Scottish Government for funding towards the above scheme.
The Tidal Section (between Ness Bridge and the mouth of the river) was promoted for funding as it had previously obtained a Flood Prevention Order in 2008 under the 1961 Flood Prevention Act and Planning Permission in 2008/9. The scheme proposed to raise the existing flood defences along both banks of the river in the form of short walls and embankments. This scheme is designed to protect properties from a 1:100 return period flood (including allowances for climate change and freeboard) and has an overall benefit to cost ratio of 3.5.
The River Ness has burst its banks numerous times throughout history, often with devastating consequences. The most disruptive event occurred in 1989 when the railway viaduct was swept away with the floods. A pre-feasibility study for a flood alleviation scheme was undertaken in 2005, which included the production of indicative flood extents. These extents identified that a flood alleviation scheme would provide significant benefits in the lower section (north of Ness Bridge). Following this study, a wide range of flood alleviation options were examined as part of technical options review.
Consideration was given to the technical, economic, environmental and social aspects of each potential solution. A key stakeholder's workshop was then held in November 2005 to discuss all the potential flood alleviation options for Inverness. The preferred option to protect Inverness from both tidal and fluvial (river) flooding was some form of riverbank defence.
Following consultations with affected landowners, outline designs for ‘The River Ness (Tidal Section) Flood Prevention Scheme’ and ‘The River Ness (Non-Tidal Section) Flood Prevention Scheme’ were submitted to Scottish Government under the 1961 Flood Prevention Act. Both schemes received ministerial confirmation in March 2009 (copies of the Flood Prevention Order can be downloaded from ‘current documents’).
Planning Permission for both sections were then sought in September 2009. Due to the number of objections the Non-Tidal Section (south of Ness Bridge) received, this application was withdrawn. The Tidal Section received Planning Permission in December 2009.
The Non-Tidal Section which includes areas to the south of Ness Bridge is included in the Highland Councils’ Flood Alleviation Capital Programme and will be reviewed in the future.
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