Exclusive Report

Plans to stabilise dangerous North-east braes have been thrown into further doubt after the Scottish Government refused to provide additional funding for works.

It is understood remediation measures at Stonehaven’s Bervie Braes will cost around £5.5million - £2.5million more than Transport Scotland engineers estimated – and Aberdeenshire Council may now have to scale back its plans to secure the slopes in order to make the work affordable.

The Scottish Government had pledged £2million towards the scheme while the council said it would provide another £1million but, after tenders for the work were returned, it became apparent that the government agency’s estimate was well short of the actual cost and council officials wrote to Finance Secretary John Swinney, who has refused to provide additional funding, for further guidance.

STV Local revealed earlier this month that there is now no prospect of the stabilisation works being completed this year and it is likely residents living beneath them will have to endure another winter of worry.

Kincardine and Mearns area committee chairman Paul Melling said: “The council is looking to have a meeting to discuss a variety of options and that’s as much as I know. They are going to speak to the government and see what options are open to them.

“The scheme they have with the government is £5.5m, so they will have to re-examine the scope of work and see what options they have got.

“It is a concern because I don’t see that they will be starting work this year, but we can live in hope. On the face of it I would be thinking by the time they have discussions and see what they can and can’t do I don’t suppose it will get started this year.”

A spokeswoman from the council said: “Aberdeenshire Council has been advised that the Scottish Government is unable to provide additional funding over their initial £2 million contribution to help meet the costs of slope stabilisation works at Bervie Braes.

“Whilst this is disappointing news, council officers are arranging to meet engineers from Transport Scotland at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for the project.”

A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: "While Transport Scotland engineering experts commented on this work to stabilise the slopes at Bervie Braes, it was ultimately taken forward by Aberdeenshire Council employing a specification and cost estimate determined by the Council's consultants.

"The Scottish Government's contribution of £2million to assist with engineering works necessary was a one-off special contribution, in a tight financial climate, with any shortfall made up by Aberdeenshire Council."

The future of the project was already in doubt before the extra cost was revealed, as some residents are refusing to return liability waivers to allow it to go ahead.

The documents state that the council would have no responsibility for the slopes after completion of the work.

The council has said it is not responsible for the Bervie Braes at present and the paperwork simply made it clear that this would continue to be the case afterwards.