Pennan landslide funds deferred

Hundreds of tonnes of mud and rock swept onto Pennan

A decision on an additional �100,000 of funding to protect Pennan from further landslides has been deferred by Aberdeenshire councillors.

The village was hit by hundreds of tonnes of mud and rock in August 2007.

The Scottish Government agreed to pay �500,000 towards the cost of shoring up the cliff face.

It is now estimated a further �100,000, which would have to be met by Aberdeenshire Council, may be needed. A decision was deferred until Thursday.

The work is due to start this year.

Serious damage

Although the local authority does not own the cliffs above Pennan, it promised to carry out the repair work.

No-one was injured in the landslide but it caused serious damage to homes and the village hall.

Local people have said they want to try to ensure there would not be a repeat, so that Pennan could retain its picturesque charm.

Pennan, and its red phone box, found fame thanks to Bill Forsyth's 1983 film Local Hero, starring Burt Lancaster.

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