| Members of the infrastructure services committee agreed the move at their meeting in Forfar after hearing a report from roads director Ronnie McNeil.
An engineering study, commissioned by the Scottish Executive, into the current level of protection of existing council-maintained flood prevention schemes in Scotland is due to be reported in September.
Mr McNeil told the committee the advance draft of the section on the Barry Burn scheme had revealed the need for remedial works.
The director recommended to the committee that they agree to upgrade the existing embankments from a capacity to contain a one in 100-year flood, to a one in 200-year flood.
The upgrade is necessary, in part, because of the proposed new school, which would be sited in the town’s Thomas Street.
Local councillor David Selfridge, who chairs the committee, said, “I welcome the flood prevention scheme — I was involved in it when I was at water services in 1981 and it’s lasted 24 years.
“There has been some settlement of the ground and it means it doesn’t meet the specifications of one-in-100.
“I’m delighted the council has taken the opportunity to raise it by four inches which will give it a one-in-200 protection.
“It’s going ahead this summer and I look forward to it being completed.”
|
