Community urged to shape plans to tackle coastal erosion

Council planners are battling to protect 120 miles of Moray coastline.

Residents have been urged to help shape a masterplan to tackle coastal erosion in Moray.

Public consultations are being held in two key areas already impacted – Findochty and Findhorn.

Council planners are battling to protect 120 miles of Moray coastline.

Marc Macrae, chairman of Moray Council’s infrastructure committee, has urged residents to attend the drop-in sessions and feed into the process.

Findochty Village Hall is hosting the first event, covering the Findochty to Portknockie plan, between 3pm and 6pm on Monday.

The second is at Findhorn Village Centre, covering the Culbin to Netherton plan, Kinloss to Hatton, Roseisle to Burghead South, Burghead to Cummingston and Hopeman to Covesea, between 2.30pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday.

Councillor Macrae said: “We’ve seen some of the footpaths disappear along the coast but, just in the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen an increasing number of storms attached to high tide and attached to flooding coming down our rivers.

“When we get a combination of all these it’s moving the shingle at quite an alarming rate. It’s taking away some of the beaches.”

Marc Macrae, chairman of Moray Council's infrastructure committee

He added: “It’s soul destroying to see the damage to property. If we can reduce that as best we can, by whatever means possible, it’s important we do so.

“That’s why the views of homeowners, landowners is important to take that forward.”

The council’s focus is erosion, sea-level rise, coastal flooding and the state of existing defences.

Cathy Low of the Findhorn Conservation Company said: “Financially, it’s a big job but we work closely with the council and with the community council. And the department that’s looking after this have been very supportive.

“We’ve sent them pictures and they’ve come back to us, and now they’re doing the consultation in the village, which is great.”

Moray Council has invested heavily in flood prevention projects in recent years at various locations across the region.

Councillors will consider the public input backed with data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency before seeking government funding.

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