Aberdeenshire Council faces a £6.5 million overspend and may cut flood protection support, raising concerns about community safety and disaster preparedness.
Last year, they allocated £630,500 for flood management. Now, they might reduce this as they try to balance their budget in three weeks.
In October, they asked residents for input on potential savings. Surprisingly, 46% said cutting flood assistance wouldn’t affect them. However, the council plans to keep some support available.
They have floodgates, vent guards, and floodsaxs for sale. If a serious flood is expected, residents can collect sandbags from council depots. But this service may end soon.
Alan Turner, the infrastructure services committee chairman, mentioned that sandbags are not a legal requirement. Other councils don’t provide them either. They’re reviewing this, but no decisions have been made yet.
Feedback from the community shows many still value flood support. One resident called cutting help a “recipe for disaster.” Another said it was “very backwards thinking.”
Many believe the flooding budget should increase, not decrease. With climate change, the demand for support will only grow.
