
A MORAY COUNCILLOR has slammed Scottish Water over their last-minute representation on Phase 2 of the Newmill flood protection scheme as simply “not good enough”.
SNP councillor for Keith and Cullen, Gary Coull, hit out at the national water company, saying that the people of Newmill deserved to be treated much better than they had been.
The Flood Protection Order (FPO) for the Newmill scheme was agreed at a meeting of The Moray Council on Wednesday – however, councillors were informed that Scottish Water had advised the Council of potential water main diversions.
These had the potential to increase the cost of the flood scheme by up to £84,000 as well as bring about a delay in its construction. Moray Council had written to Scottish Water about the scheme in August last year, but no response was received until advertisements for the FPO were run from May 8 to June 5 this year.
Councillor Coull said: “I am delighted that Moray Council has agreed to go ahead and that the Flood Prevention Order received no objections and can now be progressed.
“However, it beggars belief that Scottish Water has come to the Council at this very, very late stage with changes when they were approached back in August. It is simply not good enough for them to operate in this manner.
“The Newmill community and Council officers have put a lot of work in to developing the second phase of this scheme and it really is not good enough that this work is being delayed because of Scottish Water’s inability to respond earlier.
“I hope that any issues can be ironed out quickly from this point on but really the people of Newmill who will benefit from this scheme deserve to be treated much better by Scottish Water.”