River Ness Flood Alleviation Options exhibition gets one-day extension

The public is being extended another opportunity to attend an exhibition where options for a major flood alleviation scheme for the centre of Inverness will be on view.

Proposals for the River Ness scheme will be displayed at Ness Bank Church on Thursday 7th February from 11am to 6pm.

The Highland Council has appointed consulting engineers Mott MacDonald to develop the scheme that will protect the areas of the city under threat. Council and
Mott MacDonald staff will be on hand to answer any questions and receive feedback on the proposals.

The scheme has been taken forward through a feasibility stage, and riverbank defences have been identified as the most effective and economic way to reduce the risk of flooding in Inverness City Centre.

The proposed scheme will require the construction of riverbank defences consisting of both walls and embankments of varying height, generally 1metre high. Both banks of the River Ness will need defending - extending on the west side from the river mouth at South Kessock to Eden Court and on the east side of the river from the Harbour to the Ness Islands.

Neil Gilles, Director of The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services, said: "Such a scheme will have both economic and environmental impacts, which are being carefully considered as part of the overall development. The scheme will affect the riverbank so it is important to give everyone the opportunity to see what is planned. Last December, we held a public exhibition of the plans in Merkinch to give people the chance to look at the proposals and we have arranged for another one-day exhibition at Ness Bank Church to give more people the chance to view the proposed scheme."