Retired geologist suggests creating 'dolos' reef as flood protection scheme for Golspie
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A RETIRED geologist has suggested that flood defences known as dolos could be part of the answer to Golspie’s flooding problems.
Maurits van den Berg, who has a caravan on the flood-prone Golspie Links caravan site, floated the idea at a public meeting of Golspie Flood Group earlier this month.
Dolos are wave-dissipating tetrapod concrete blocks weighing up to 80 tonnes. The blocks can be interlocked.
Mr Van den Berg said: “Rock armour does not seem to be the answer. The sea is so powerful that it moves two to three tonnes of rock like as if they were pebbles.”
READ ALSO:
Golspie Flood Group leader warns of 'esistential threat to village' if no action is taken
He told the meeting that dolos were invented in South Africa as a sea defence and have been used at Dunbeath harbour and in Orkney.
“They work well and could be used to create an artificial reef beneath the surface across the bay. That will help with a lot of the major flooding but it will be expensive," he said.
Mr Van den Berg said a number of caravans on the caravan site were on a flood plain and suggested either moving them if possible or raising the ground level by a metre and a half.
Two flood defence schemes are currently on the table for Golspie. Highland Council is seeking £1.3 million funding to raise the level of the sea wall by 90cm while Go Golspie Development Trust is hoping to progress a £5 million bank and berm scheme running from Seaforth House to the pier.
