Moray village of Kingston in 'danger of being left an island' by flooding
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Fears have been expressed that flooding could soon turn Kingston into an island several times every year.
A vast new lagoon now stands upon the edge of the village after hundreds of thousands of litres of seawater poured inland at the weekend.
This followed Saturday's spring tide which caused the Moray Firth to break through a shingle bank.
Concern is being expressed that the next such tide will see the floodwater reach the Drainer Burn, leaving the village surrounded.
Jim Mackie, a nearby resident, is a long-time campaigner on the issue of flooding.
He said: "The Moray Firth has come 30 yards nearer to Kingston in just the last five or six years.
"Kingston is in danger of becoming an island whenever there's a spring tide.
"If that were to happen, how would the emergency services cope? What would happen the price of people's homes?
"I know a lot of people are really concerned."
Moray Council agreed last week to spend £74,000 on building up the shingle bank by 18 inches along another part of the coastline.
The work would extend 150 metres east of the Lein car park, which the council owns.
Mr Mackie argues that such a move ignores the wider threat that also lies to the west of the car park.
He said: "I have doubts that what the council are proposing will work, but if it does it risks making the problem worse by causing more erosion elsewhere."
His alternative proposal is for a concrete wall to be built along half a kilometre stretch of coastline, with a cost he estimates at approximately £400,000, plus labour.
Mr Mackie said: "The area is a SSSI [a Site of Special Scientific Interest] which means there are loads of rules about regulations about what can and can't be built here.
"However the legislation allows for exceptions when there's a danger to property.
"I would argue it's pretty clear that this now qualifies as an exception."
Mr Mackie is also involved with campaigning for anti-flooding measures to protect from the nearby River Spey.
Parts of Garmouth, the neighbouring village to Kingston, has been subjected to flooding from the fast-flowing river on numerous occasions over recent years.
