The Highland Council has awarded a contract to AECOM to carry out comprehensive flood protection studies for two Highland coastal towns.
Thurso, on the north coast, and Golspie, on the east coast, have both suffered from flooding incidents over the years that has affected domestic and business properties and resulted in both towns being identified as Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) in the Highland and Argyll Local Flood Risk Management Plan, the council said.
In Thurso, a tidal surge during a winter storm in January 2005 combined with a high river level resulted in the river’s flood defenses being breached and widespread flooding occurring within the town center.
In Golspie, the sea wall that runs along the front to protect the town is often overtopped by waves during high tides when combined with storm events resulting in flooding of properties along the front and into the town center.
The results from these models will enable the Council to assess the most sustainable solution to effectively mitigate the flood risk in each area for the mid to long-term.
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