MORAY COMMUNITIES FACED their first experience of flooding in the current crisis that has devastated neighbouring Aberdeenshire and many other parts of the country.
The B9015 between Kingston and Garmouth was closed yesterday as the River Spey burst its banks – a regular occurrence for hard-pressed villagers in the area close to the local golf club, which was once again largely under water last night.
Many residents well used to the threat already had sandbags in place to protect their homes, with water spilling from the lower Spey in the area around the Garmouth and Kingston village hall. A Police spokeswoman said: “The road was closed to traffic at around 11am on Monday when Moray Council contacted emergency services to say that the road had been flooded.”
Three years ago there was reassurances made to residents of Kingston and Garmouth that steps were being taken to reduce the risk of flooding in the area. Some remedial work was carried out in a bid to reduce the risk following meetings in the community that involved Moray’s MP, Angus Robertson, and MSP, Richard Lochhead, as well as local councillors and council officials.
As villagers braced themselves in Moray and Aberdeenshire last night the Met Office issued further warnings of more rain this week – although again it is Aberdeenshire that appears to be under the greater threat.
A spokesman said: “Further rain is expected on Tuesday and that will fall as snow at times over higher levels. There will be some respite on Wednesday but the rain looks set to return on Thursday.”