Severe weather alert - archived

A helpline has been set up for the public to use tonight from 6pm onwards. It is 0800 838 009.

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Emergency reception centres now open at Dingwall Academy and the Jubilee Hall, Evanton for those who are stranded or cannot access their properties.  Any citizen who has been flooded and their home is uninhabitable or those who are stranded/vulnerable should make their way to the above where help will be provided.

Police are updating information every half half hour on the flooding situation. 
Phone 01463 720398 (8 lines) for the recorded message. 
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Police are advising motorists that a number of roads within the Highlands have been affected by flooding and landslides due to heavy rain overnight.

The Council will assist by providing sandbags, however due to the extent of the flooding we will have to prioritise our resources.  We will respond as soon as possible.

At present all roads are severely affected by water, Police say most are passable with care, although they are recommending people go home and do not travel unless absolutely necessary. A diversion is in operation on the A882 at Haster (diverted from Milton).  The B876 is deep at Bower and Hastigrow, around 1.5 feet water crossing road. Many more properties are affected/becoming concerned, and we are getting numerous requests for help.  We have issued all our filled sandbags and are currently filling another 500 using ground maintenance staff.

Roads closed:

Roads closed:

Other areas badly affected:- Portmahomack, Balnabruach, Kildary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Council Meeting:  A meeting of The Highland Council went ahead as scheduled today (Thursday).  However, due to objectors being unable to travel to Inverness from Sutherland, the Council agreed to postpone consideration of a notice of amendment to rescind the decision at the Planning Development Europe and Tourism Committee to approve a planning application for 23 wind turbines at Beinn Rosail, Strath Oykel, Invercassley, Sutherland.  The notice of amendment, signed by eight councillors, including the Sutherland Area Committee, urged the Council to refuse the application in line with the recommendation of the planning director.

Due to the adverse weather, the Council also agreed to defer consideration of the future education provision at Brae Lochaber. The Council had been asked to amalgamate Roy Bridge Primary School with Spean Bridge Primary School with effect from August 2007. 

The Council has postponed a Special Meeting of the  Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee to be held in the Aros Centre, Viewfield Road, Portree, on Friday, 27 October 2006 at 9.15 a.m., to determine an application for planning permission for the erection of a wind farm development at Edinbane, Isle of Skye.

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27 Oct 2006