Here is the latest update from Aberdeenshire Council on the flooding.

Flood warnings and alerts are in place for the Grampian region as heavy rain is expected over the weekend into Monday and police are advising the public to stay away from already flooded areas.

Due to the weather warnings in place, Aberdeen City Council has closed Duthie Park car park to vehicles.

As further flood warnings are in place we are urging the public to plan ahead and to be prepared, including by parking your vehicle away from areas close to rivers and on higher ground if possible.

SEPA is keeping a particular focus on Tayside, Angus and Aberdeenshire and particularly those communities that have already been affected by flooding. Should new flooding incidents occur, they are not expected to be on the same scale as those caused by Storm Frank.

There are concerns over the River Don and the North Esk, particularly around the Kintore and Inverurie areas, and this will continue to be monitored.

It was expected that the River Feugh would burst its banks this afternoon, and road closure notices were put in place on the B974 at Cairn O’ Mount and at the Feughside Inn.

The Strachan to Blairdryne road flooded, and the low section of the B974 south of Strachan Bridge was also expected to flood, which would result in the complete closure of the B974 Strachan to Fettercairn Road.

The A93 between Ballater and Braemar remains closed until repairs can be carried out. The Invercauld Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and this expected to be for some weeks.

The emergency services and other partner organisations continue to monitor the forecast weather to respond to any issues.

Aberdeenshire Council is leading the recovery response in Ballater following Storm Frank and work is ongoing to return residents to their homes.

Additionally, following the recent heavy rainfall police are urging people to think about their safety before going out on rivers.

Water levels remain high in many areas and it is likely that debris from the recent flooding is still within the water.

If you are going out on the water, make sure you have suitable safety equipment, including life jackets and a fully charged mobile phone or radio. Also ensure that you are suitably dressed for the conditions so you do not put yourself at risk.

Chief Inspector Richard Craig said: “We are continuing to work with other agencies following the impact of Storm Frank across the Grampian region, particularly in Ballater, Crathie and Braemar and are also preparing for further rain and potential flooding.

“Due to the warnings in place, we are asking people to stay away from rivers and already flooded areas so you don’t put yourself in danger or place further burden on communities that have been impacted by the flooding.

“Additionally, we are advising people to park their vehicles away from areas close to rivers and to park on higher ground where possible. We also ask that motorists do not ignore road closure signs and avoid driving through flood water as there will be unseen dangers, including lifted man-hole covers. The closures are there for a reason and are to protect your safety. By ignoring these closures you put yourself at risk as well as the emergency services.”

Aberdeenshire Council’s duty emergency response coordinator Ritchie Johnson said: “A concerted effort is taking place to respond to the weather situation in Deeside and across Aberdeenshire in light of warnings in place from SEPA and the Met Office and working closely with partners, colleagues and the community.

“There are access issues into Braemar and we are working with Police Scotland and neighbouring authorities to ensure access south remains in place with the aim of protecting the road.

“We are also working on remedial action across the area with sandbags and floodgates being issued to protect roads and properties as well as preparing responses to any rising river levels across Aberdeenshire.”

Improving weather conditions and falling water levels have seen a number of roads and bridges re-open across the Grampian area as flood relief efforts by a range of agencies continue. Here is an update from Aberdeenshire Council:

Weather conditions have steadily improved and while persistent rain is expected on Saturday and into Sunday, Sepa’s forecasting does not predict any significant risk of further flooding at this time.

Falling water levels have allowed teams to carry out inspections of various routes and structures. This has allowed a number of bridges and routes to be re-opened.

This included the re-opening in Banchory of the B993 Potarch Bridge, the B974 Dee Bridge (Dee Street, Banchory), and the C36K Feugh Bridge.

Ballater Bridge survived the worst of Storm Frank and reopened to traffic earlier today (Thursday) following an inspection by engineers.

The Maryculter Bridge has also reopened, albeit the South Deeside Road between Maryculter and Aberdeen remains closed.

Improving conditions and work on the route also allowed the A93 to re-open between Aberdeen and Ballater this afternoon.

As the Invercauld Bridge remains passable only to pedestrian traffic, Perth and Kinross Council has kindly agreed to grit the A93 from Glenshee to Ballater, given local access challenges.

In Ballater, a total of 96 people were accommodated in the Victoria Barracks last night (Wednesday). It is likely that a large number of these people will require accommodation for at least another night.

In the town itself, various agencies and community groups have been hard at work to assist the recovery effort and offers from volunteers are also being coordinated.

An appeal was made to council employees and members of the public to help support ongoing relief efforts over the coming days and weeks, and discussions are taking place with those who have been in touch.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has had around 100 employees in Ballater today, providing advice and support to the community as well as working to reconnect electricity supplies and providing food supplies.

NHS Grampian has been working to ensure those who need access to medicines are catered for, following flooding to Ballater’s pharmacy.

Earlier today, Deputy First Minister John Swinney visited Ballater and met Aberdeenshire Council leaders and the chief executive, among others. He was able to survey the damage caused by the storm and speak with those involved in the response.

HRH the Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles, also visited Ballater today in a personal capacity.

Both the local police and fire stations were affected by flooding and options are being considered for alternative space. In the meantime, police have been assisting with mapping and helping residents return to their properties where possible.

Aboyne

In Aboyne, residents of Bonty Court sheltered housing returned today (Thursday) as the flood risk to the area subsided.

Marykirk

Road sweepers were unable to reach the flooded part of the road at Marykirk today (Thursday) and will revisit the site to finish the tidy up.

Aberdeen City

The Bridge of Dee and Victoria Bridge were reopened in the early hours of today (Thursday), and Maryculter Bridge reopened in the afternoon. All routes in the city are now open.

Looking ahead, Aberdeenshire Council is looking to ensure appropriate resources are in place and maintaining an accurate log of spending.

Daily conferences will be held by Aberdeenshire Council over the next few days so that any urgent matters can be addressed during the holiday period.

Having done a significant amount clearing up the streets of Ballater and other affected areas, Aberdeenshire Council’s roads team will be taking a break tomorrow, but will be back in action on January 2 to continue the clear up.

Pitcaple Quarry is on standby to become operational, should materials be required to repair road surfaces ahead of the end of the holiday period.

Maria Walker, duty emergency response co-ordinator for Aberdeenshire Council, said: “As we enter a period of recovery for those communities affected there is still a great deal of work ahead of us, but improving conditions have allowed agencies to achieve a great deal today.

“The councils, emergency services and communities will continue to provide support in the days and weeks ahead of us but there are a number of infrastructure issues that will take some time to fully recover from.

“On behalf of all the agencies, I would like to thank everybody involved for their continuing efforts in such challenging circumstances.”

Scottish Water workmen restore water supplies by replacing a length of piping washed away beside the South Deeside Road near the Milltimber Bridge junction. The bridge is closed to traffic though plenty of pedestrians and cyclists having a look. The bridge structure is being checked for damage.

Two further updates. The first is from North Kincardine Rural Community Council.

Scottish Water are on site to repair the damaged main at Maryculter. About 8m of pipe has been damaged, at the junction of the South Deeside Road and Milltimber Brae. The water last night took down about 30m of dyke, the road verge and the pipe, which ran along the north side of the road was damaged as well.

This video shows the extent of the flooding – https://youtu.be/uq-4oHl83MI

Here is an update on the weather situation across Aberdeenshire, firstly from the council, secondly from the police, and finally from North Kincardine Rural Community Council.

FROM ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL:

The severe weather stemming from Storm Frank has had a significant impact on a number of communities in Aberdeenshire, particularly in the south and west.

Police Scotland is treating the situation across the north-east as a major incident, and has been leading the response for those areas worst affected by flooding.

We have had regular teleconferences with our partner agencies throughout the day as the situation has developed and conversations have continued into the evening.

Particular attention has been paid to residents of care homes and sheltered housing in affected communities.

Both Aboyne and Ballater faced flooding issues today. Aboyne Academy was used as a rest centre for those residents who were affected, all of whom have since found alternative accommodation.

In Ballater, around 120 households (more than 200 people) attended the rest centre at the Victoria and Albert Halls. This evening, around 50 remaining people have been relocating to the nearby barracks, and 20 to the local manse. Food is being provided by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and the local community.

In Braemar, around 100 people were affected by flooding at the town’s caravan park, although the rest centre has since stood down. Currently, the only access to the town is from Tayside.

Marykirk also experienced challenges, with seven people being evacuated and access to the village unavailable for a time.

Thankfully, there have been no major concerns in either Huntly or Stonehaven. In Stonehaven, the flood barriers were deployed as a precaution but will be removed in time for the town’s fireballs celebration.

There have also been significant issues along the A93, however, which is now effectively closed from the west of Banchory.

A number of structures and routes have been affected and will require inspection in the morning. There are some major issues that will take some time to address, including a partial collapse of the A93 at Micras, east of Crathie, and the collapse of a storm arch on the Invercauld Bridge.

Other issues include severe damage to The Cambus o’ May suspension bridge.

The impact of these and other issues means that access to Ballater is currently very limited.

Road closures and other issues will have an impact on the council’s ability to fully carry out winter maintenance on routes including the A93 and motorists are being urged to take extra caution if they plan to travel.

In terms of other weather-related matters, the council has been responding to reports of fallen trees across Aberdeenshire, and SSE has been addressing a number of power failures, with the Buchan area particularly badly affected. It is expected most faults, other than those in Ballater, will be fixed today.

Both SSE and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have offered support in Ballater tomorrow (Thursday) to carry out electrical checks and pumping duties respectively.

Weather conditions have generally been improving throughout the day, and peak river levels have now passed.

As it is expected that support for recovery will continue over the next few days, an appeal has gone out to council staff who are not currently on duty to ask if they can support ongoing efforts.

FROM THE POLICE:

Police Scotland continues to co-ordinate the response to flooding issues following Storm Frank.

Residents are now being evacuated from Riverside Drive in Aberdeen and moved to Norwood Hall which has been opened as a rest centre.

Police and partner agencies are urging the public to obey road closure signs and are also advising against walking in flood water.

High water levels are expected along the River Dee and flooding is expected as water moves down the course.

Chief Inspector Richard Craig said: “We are continuing to work with partner agencies to deal with flooding throughout the Grampian region.

“We would like to remind the public to avoid affected areas and to obey road closure signs. The roads are closed for a good reason and failure to obey these closures put you and emergency services at unnecessary risk.

“Members of the public should also avoid walking in flood water, no matter how shallow, as many man-hole covers have lifted and the water may be contaminated.

“Local authorities have sandbags available for residents whose properties are affected by flood water.”

We can advise of the following road closures at 8pm on Wednesday 30 December:

Inchgarth Drive, Aberdeen between Primrosebank Avenue and Shaken Brig
Riverside Drive, Aberdeen between Queen Elizabeth Bridge and George VI Bridge
A93 between Ballater and approximately 1.5 miles east of Balmoral/Crathie
A93 at Cambus O May
A93 between Crathie and Braemar
A93 at Potarch Bridge quarter of a mile east of Kincardine O’Neil
A93 Deeside Road in Aboyne
A937 Marykirk
B976 Dee Bridge on to South Deeside Road
B974 Banchory Bridge at Strachan
Bridge of Feugh at Banchory off the B974
Maryculter Bridge.

FROM NORTH KINCARDINE RURAL COMMUNITY COUNCIL:

Very sad to report the extensive flooding that has happened has badly affected the Corbie Hall and Old Mill Inn and the caravan park. The picture of the Corbie hall I took about 9pm tonight would suggest the hall and contents are beyond salvage. The Old Mill Inn is similarly flooded with water half way up the front door.

It was not possible to get near the Maryculter bridge but with two very loud bangs and tremendous noise like tearing steel in a space of five minutes whilst there I suspect the bridge has been badly damaged.

I can also report that the mains water is off across the Kirkton of Maryculter and Scottish Water suspect their main has ruptured on the South Deeside Road at Kintewline as there is 4 feet of water on the road there.

The Paul Lawrie golf centre is also flooded badly with water up at 1st floor level.

Changes afoot next month at Portlethen’s post office branch. According to the Post Office, the new opening hours will be 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, though some selected services will be available at the retail counter from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week.

The modernised branch will be ready for business in late January after closing for refurbishment. The Post Office said posters will be displayed in the branch to let customer know the exact dates and provide further detail.

The two letters I received from the Post Office gives two options while the Portlethen branch is closed for the upgrade. One is Loirston Road, Cove, which is fair enough. The other is George Street in Aberdeen! That’s daft! I’m sure people can work it out for themselves where the most convenient alternative will be.

New four and five coach trains from Aberdeen to Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Now that is a step in the right direction by ScotRail. The current three coaches just don’t have enough capacity. But much more needs to be done to improve our local rail network. Crossrail with its network of re-opened and local stations would ease the burden on our overstretched roads. But that hit the buffers in 2007.

Nonetheless passenger numbers have been increasing steadily in the North East, far more quickly than in the rest of the country. Laurencekirk has been an outstanding success. Even Portlethen sees more and more passengers, which is surprising given how few trains stop there.

Portlethen Primary School has been awarded £36,000 as a contribution towards a multi use games area, part of the playground improvements. This facility will also be available to the community as a whole so complies with the criteria for developer obligations, arising from planning approvals.