Work is to begin next week on the second phase of a flood protection scheme for Newmill.

Work is to begin next week on the second phase of a flood protection scheme for Newmill.

The £1.85million scheme consists of a network of ditches and culverts in the fields north of the village, a cascade at the west end of the village and flood walls and a replacement bridge at Low Road.

Main contractor for the scheme, the first phase of which has been operational since 2012, is Balfour Beatty.

The work which is about to get under way is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

SNP Councillor for Keith & Cullen, Gary Coull, has welcomed the news that the second phase of the Newmill Flood Scheme is to start at the beginning of May.

Commenting on the start of construction Councillor Gary Coull said:

“This is wonderful news that Phase 2 of the Newmill Flood Scheme is about to start. It has taken a long time to get to this stage however the Keith councillors committed to making sure we got the second phase done and I am delighted that, by the end of this year, we will see it completed.

“A huge amount of work has been done by Council officers, the community and those who work the land in the area to get us to this stage. This will now mean that the area to the west of Hill Street will now be protected as well as the east of the village.

“The flood events that happened in Newmill were devastating for all those affected so it is great that Phase 2 is now happening to ensure that those folk can sleep a bit easier at night when there is a big down pour.”