Aboyne and Tarland Community Flooding Update Tuesday 5th January 2016
Useful Phone Numbers and Contacts
Aberdeenshire Council numbers :
Housing assistance - 03456 081203 – to let them know you are in need of temporary accommodation
(open 24hrs), or email marr@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
To offer accommodation: 0161 774 1995
To offer your volunteering services : 0161 774 1995
Council tax: 013456 081201 (from Tues 5th January)
Benefits: 03456 081200 (from Tues 5th January)
Social Care line: 03456 081206 (24 hours)
Roads: 03456 081205 (from Tues 5th January)
Waste: 03456 081207 (from Tues 5th January)
Environmental Health: 03457 081207 (24 hrs)
General Enquiries : 03456 081208 or 01975 564801
Scottish Flood Forum, Paul Hendy, tel: 07747 702299, email paul@scottishfloodforum.org. He is very
approachable and able to advise on a whole manner of things.
BT - To let them know you have been flooded out and cannot return to your home phone 0800 800 150 When you get the automated response you need to say 'Customer Options Team'. That department is open
from 8am – 9pm Monday to Friday.
For those who are at home but have problems with their line the number is 0800 800 151 / 0800 443311
For BT Business Customers: 0800 800 154
Charitable Chiels Emergency Flooding Fund: 07807518538
Drinking water - Scottish Water : 0800 0778 778
Floodline: 0345 988 1188
Loss Adjuster: Paul Patrick 013397 755770
Pharmacy: there is a pharmacy in Aboyne and one in Tarland.
Police: 101
Scottish Flood Forum, Paul Hendy, tel: 07747 702299, email paul@scottishfloodforum.org. He is very
approachable and able to advise on a whole manner of things.
Scottish Hydro: 0800 300 999
Scottish Power: 0800 092 9290
Scottish Water : 0800 0778 778
SKY - 0800 0158 693 - you can contact them and they will put your contract on hold until needed
Weekend medical cover : phone NHS 111
BITS AND PIECES:
The food bank and clothing centre is still running at the centre at the Scout Hut in Aboyne,– if you need
food or clothing, please pop-in there. There is also a centre at the Barracks in Ballater, and a centre at the
Kirk in Crathie. This is available for all in the local area, not just those flooded out. It has been a stressful
and tiring time for all, and not having to worry about finance or having to go to the shops is important.
The Scottish Flood Forum representative is in the area and is contactable 24 hours by email or mobile. His
name is Paul Hendy, tel: 07747 702299, email paul@scottishfloodforum.org. He is very approachable and
able to advise on a whole manner of things.
General cleaning up - please check with your insurance company if they are happy for you to start cleaning
up or whether you need to wait for them to see it first. Also, the advice is to take lots of photos of the
damage in case of queries.
Contaminated waste: if you have been clearing up and have stuff contaminated by heating oil which you
need to get rid, please let the council know - we are told it will need to be disposed of separately, and they
can arrange it.
If you are worried about your post going astray or being delivered to flooded houses, please contact the
Post Office - they should be able to hold it for you for you to collect.
Loss Adjuster – Paul Patrick, 013397 55770, is willing to help local people out with their insurance claims
and advice.
Buses – Details attached of Braemar to Invercauld and Invercauld to Ballater shuttles if you are heading up
the valley. The buses will travel as far as the old bridge where you will have to walk to the other side; there
will be a bus to take you to Ballater to meet the service buses. (Thank you to Charlie Denny for the
information!). We have been informed that all other buses will be running on Wednesday as normal as long
as the roads are open.
Bonty Court Sheltered Housing and Allachburn Care Home
Residents who were evacuated from Bonty Court Sheltered Housing and Allachburn Care Home yesterday
were found alternative accommodation either staying with relatives or at other care homes. Although flood
damage was limited the decision has been taken not to allow residents back to Allachburn for the moment.
There is a risk of further flooding later in the week and we want to avoid having to evacuate them again.
Similarly Bonty Court has been evacuated more than once and we want to make sure there is not a risk of
them being evacuated again before moving residents back in. The Aberdeenshire roads team are working
with housing and property on flood defences for both homes.
Aboyne Academy The school will be open on Wednesday. Please check in the morning for transport
updates. Rest assured that all staff will work together to support pupils who have been affected by the
recent flooding. A text will be sent out to pupils who travel on the Braemar bus as soon as we receive
information.
Citizens Advice Bureau: the South West Aberdeenshire Citizens Advice Bureau who cover the Deeside area
have permanent offices in both Westhill and Banchory but also outreaches in Aboyne, Tarland, Alford,
Strathdon, Ballater and Braemar. They will be open from Wednesday – you can contact them on 01224
747714.
The Prince’s Business Emergency Resilience Group will be holding a general meeting for all community
members in the Aboyne-Dinnet Church on Thursday 7th Janaury from 1pm – 3pm. All are welcome.
The Aboyne and Upper Deeside Rotary Club have set up the Ballater and Deeside Flood Relief Fund. To
contribute, click on http:/crowdfunding.justgiving.com/ribi
Roads A93 Update:
A93 at Auchallater: Small section of washout to the embankment. In the interest of safety the carriageway
was reduced to one lane. Due to limited access from the east, Perth and Kinross Council have kindly offered
to carry out the necessary stabilisation works at this location. The works will start on site Tuesday. The
initial assessment of the damage indicated that the stabilisation works should be completed by the end of
this week. Access along the A93 will be maintained during these works.
A93 Invercauld Bridge
A plan to repair the damage to the relief arch has now been agreed, and a contractor will start work on site
today (Tuesday). The works will take a number of days to complete (at this stage expected to be complete in
around 14 days). Until that time vehicular access to Braemar will continue to be via the A93 from the south.
Agreement has been secured, from landowners and appropriate agencies, for the old Dee Bridge to be
taken back into service. This route is now available for general pedestrian traffic. The route is also lit around
the bridge to help during the hours of darkness. It is also advisable for pedestrians using the route during
hours of darkness to ensure they have a suitable torch and take additional care. Work has also been done to
improve the paths which access this bridge to allow the route to be used by the Emergency Services, should
the need arise. Unfortunately, the route is not suitable for general traffic, and cannot be made available for
that purpose. (There is now a shuttle-bus in place for this route – see under 'Buses' below).
A93 @ Micras
A large section of the A93 has been completely washed out at Micras, east of Balmoral. This section of road
is not passable and the road is therefore closed to all traffic. Signed diversions are in place. One requires use
of the B979 South Deeside road, while the second is via the A939 and B976 via Gairnshiel. Both these
routes are narrow in sections, effectively single carriageway with passing places, and are therefore
considerably different in nature to the A93 . Additional care should be taken, and extra time allowed, when
using these routes. In addition the north route is exposed and can be significantly affected during periods of
wintry weather. Agreement has been reached with the local landowner to construct a localised temporary
diversion on site at Micras. Design work has already started on this, and works on site are due to start today
(Tuesday). Weather permitting it is anticipated that the local diversion route will be open to traffic within
the next 7 – 10 days.
Wildlife – due to the flooding, many small animals such as hedgehogs are struggling to find food and clean
water. If you do see them wandering about the garden, they can be fed with cat food and clean water –
please do not feed them bread and milk as it can make them ill
Police Notices: the police have asked me to pass on the following a) if your car is parked near a river or
watercourse, please move it to higher ground b) please if a road has a closed sign, don't risk it, just turn
around and go back c) flood water can be dangerous and have obstructions you can't see - please don't go
in there. Stay safe.
Also, the following roads information: Please double check this with the North East Police FB page if you are
intending to travel or #ABZTravel.
We are currently advising motorists to travel with extra caution.
CLOSED:
B977 Fintray-Kintore, the road is completely submerged
B974 Banchory-Fettercairn, flooding on the low section south of Strachan Bridge
A937 Laurencekirk-Montrose, flooding on the south side of Marykirk
B976 Ballater-Banchory, South Deeside Road at Inchmarnoch, due to damage at Inchmarnock (or
Ballaterach) Bridge. The road is closed between the B968 junction from Aboyne west to Ballater
B976 between Dinnet Bridge and Aboyne Bridge, due to flooding
B979 between Hatton of Fintray and Blackburn, due to flooding
B993 between Inverurie and Blackburn, due to flooding
B9005 Methlick-Ellon, due to flooding
A939 Cockbridge-Lecht Ski Centre (snow gate 17) due to snow
A939 Lecht Ski Centre-Tomintoul (snow gate 18) due to snow
I think that's all the information I was meant to pass on! Vittoria