Funding for beach protection move

The scheme will help protect Aberdeen Bay's £53m of assets

An operation to defend Aberdeen beach from the ravages of the North Sea has been backed by the Scottish Executive.

Ministers said they were funding the move to protect more than 400 homes and businesses in the city with almost £2m.

Thousands of tonnes of sand is being transported from Montrose and pumped onto the beach by a huge dredger ship.

However the move has caused some consternation in the Angus town, with local golfers expressing worry that it will erode their course.

Coastline protection

Environment Minister Rhona Brankin said the £1.875m of executive funding for the protection scheme would reduce the rate of damaging erosion to the seawall.

"This beautiful beach is prized by Aberdeen residents and is also well known to many others from visits to the city," she said.

"This scheme will protect the coastline and give the people of Aberdeen their beach back before it disappears."

The minister said Aberdeen beach would be shored up by re-using sand dredgings from Montrose which would otherwise be dumped at sea.