Moray Council to discuss building £75k shingle bank to prevent erosion at Kingston

Councillors will be asked tomorrow to give the go-ahead for coastal protection work at Kingston.

Kingston is on the west bank of the River Spey, and sits behind a small tidal lagoon.

The proposed work will see £75,000 spent on building a shingle ridge along the edge of the coastline.

This will run from the Lein car park, which stands on the west side of the village, and connect to the main ridge at the lagoon.

An application has been made to the Scottish Government for funding.

If that is unsuccessful, cash has been set aside from the council's own funds.

Will Burnish, a senior council engineer, has written a report for the economic development committee which meets tomorrow.

In it he states: "If the works are not undertaken there is a risk of rapid erosion along the identified area with the possible loss of the Lein Car Park.

"The council could be in breach of both environmental and health and safety legislation if this work is not undertaken."

Over the past 15 years Innes Community Council and the former Garmouth and Kingston Amenities Association have been complaining regularly to Moray Council about flooding as well as coastal erosion.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's meeting, Jim Mackie, a leading light in both organisations, said: "The community is very fearful that if hard engineering of any kind is carried out then it could have massive consequences by inducing more and faster erosion west and east of the proposed work.

"That would expose Kingston to the excesses of the sea in high tides and storms."

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