Comrie’s major flood protection scheme has been hit with further delays.
The planned £28 million flood defence scheme - due to extend almost two miles - was approved following severe flooding in the area 10 years ago.
But a senior Perth and Kinross Council officer has revealed construction work has been further delayed leaving one local councillor “extremely disappointed”.
The defences are to run along the right bank of the Water of Ruchill and along both banks of the rivers Earn and Lednock through Comrie for approximately 2.8km.
At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s strategic policy and resources committee on February 2 SNP Strathearn councillor Stewart Donaldson asked if construction would begin in the spring at the start of the new financial year.
PKC’s head of environment and consumer services Mark Butterworth said: “Unfortunately we don’t think we are going to hit our current timescales. We’re looking - at the moment - to revise the programme.
“The main reason is around staffing. We’ve just lost our internal project manager. The external consultant - who was also recently supporting us on the project - has also recently left.
"We’ve got a significant staffing shortage in the flooding team which is unfortunately affecting all our projects, flood studies, etc.
“Unfortunately there will be some delays but unfortunately I can’t tell you what they are at the moment.”
He promised to advise councillors of the revised programme once it has been drawn up.
Cllr Donaldson said: “I’m really quite concerned about what I have just heard.”
He told the committee: “I’m extremely disappointed one of the main flagship projects - in terms of our capital programme - is subject to delay.
“I fully understand the pressures that exist upon our staff and the council in all areas but really it is vital on this major project that we get an update because I’m now not clear - given what was said - that construction work will even start in the autumn this year.”
He added: “I think for the local community if we can be advised of the new timetable - it’s important that the community knows.”
The Strathearn councillor also requested an update on works to the Shaky Bridge which he described as a “long-running saga”. The bridge over the River Lednock is unusually partially supported by a tree on the left bank. Safety concerns were raised due to the condition of the tree deteriorating. Works were - somewhat ironically - planned to stabilise the Shaky Bridge.
Mr Butterworth said that project had been delayed due to issues with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) having a cyber attack.
He promised to update councillors on the latest timelines as soon as possible.
Cllr Donaldson also requested a further update on plans for the Crieff to Comrie core path - “an even longer running saga”.
