Flood prevention plans go on show

Flooding at Ladies Walk, Inverness, last December

The public has been invited to attend an exhibition when options for a major flood alleviation scheme for the centre of Inverness will be unveiled.

River bank defences have been identified as the most effective and economic preventive measure.

Both banks of the River Ness will require defences according to Mott MacDonald, consultant engineers appointed by Highland Council.

The proposals will be displayed at Merkinch Community Centre on Thursday.

The options are centred around the construction of river bank defences consisting of both walls and embankments of varying height, but generally one metre high.

They would extend 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.

Climate change

Highland council's director of transport, environmental and community services, Neil Gillies, said such a scheme would have economic and environmental impacts and it was important to give everyone the opportunity to see what was planned.

Earlier this year, the local authority said it must adapt its services and budget because of climate change.

Flooding, which has badly affected the Highlands in recent years, was identified as one of the major impacts of global warming.