City flood scheme gets go-ahead

Inverness has been hit by flooding in recent years

The first phase of a £10m scheme designed to protect Inverness from flooding could begin next spring.

Highland Council said the project, called the South-West Flood Relief Channel, had now "cleared all statutory hurdles".

This follows Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) withdrawing the last outstanding objection to the planning application for the works.

Tenders will be invited soon for the £4m first stage of the development.

The scheme will divert flood water from the south side of Inverness away from the residential housing in Hilton, Lochardil and Holm, picking up overflow water from the south side burns and leading this to the River Ness at Holm Mains.

Inverness has been hit by flooding in recent years.