Findings from the ongoing investigations into flooding in Oban, along with possible solutions to address flood risks, will be shared with the local community at an informal drop in session between 1 and 3 pm on 20 June in the Corran Halls.
There will also be a talk followed by open discussion session in the evening between 7pm and 9pm.
The project team is keen to share these findings with the local community including businesses affected by the recent flooding. Feedback will be sought to ensure that the options being developed are right for Oban.
Technical assessments have been guided by the experiences and suggestions shared by the local community at previous consultation events and through investigations following the October 2018 flood.
Flood models have been developed to simulate flooding of the Black Lynn and its tributaries, as well as Oban Bay. Flood maps have been produced, highlighting properties and public assets at risk under current and future climate change scenarios, which indicates that, by the year 2050, the predicted effects of climate change will increase property damage due to flooding in Oban.
A wide range of options aimed at reducing flood risk have been explored and a number of priority measures have been identified. These include temporary flood storage areas, increasing the capacity of the Black Lynn, flood defences and drainage improvements.
Solutions identified in the flood study may be awarded an 80% Scottish Government grant. All councils across Scotland will be bidding for a share of this funding, which is available from 2022.
Future flood prevention plans are likely to include a strong emphasis on adaptation and resilience over the long term. To support this, in response to the October flooding, a flood monitoring and alert system has recently been installed on the Black Lynn.
Councillor Roddy McCuish, Policy Lead for Roads and Amenity Services, said: “Thanks to everyone who attended events and consultations and shared their experiences and views with us during the flood study. This has been of great value. I would encourage as many people as possible to come along to the open day to listen to the findings of the study in more detail because you still have a role to play in finding the right solution for Oban.”