Sandbags

Sandbags can help in some flooding situations but they should be seen as a last resort in protecting properties from flooding. We would advise that there are better options for flood protection products that are more effective.

Property owners are responsible for protecting their own premises. If flooding happens regularly where you live or work, please consider preparing in advance by buying flood protection products.

When sandbags are available

During SEPA flood warnings or Met Office Amber and Red rain alerts, we will place two pallets of sandbags at our main roads depots. These are free to collect during the event, but supplies are limited and will not be replenished.

We have also worked with various community councils to have their own emergency sandbag storage as part of local resilience planning. For further details contact your local community council.

The council doesn't have a legal duty to stop flooding, but we will support residents and communities where we can. During widespread flooding, our operational staff will be busy with emergency work. If you need sandbags during these times, you should go directly to one of the main depots and collect them yourself.

Road depots

List of main roads depots where sandbags can be collected from:

Alford
Roads Depot, Alford AB33 8NW

Banchory
Roads Depot, North Deeside Road, Banchory, AB31 5YR

Ellon
Roads Depot, Hospital Road, Ellon, AB41 9AW

Fraserburgh
West Shore Industrial Estate, Anderson Place, Fraserburgh, AB43 9LG

Inverurie
Unit 15, Harlaw Way, Harlaw Industrial Estate, Inverurie, AB51 4SG

Macduff
Roads Depot, Old Gamrie Road, Macduff, AB44 1AB

Stonehaven
Spurryhillock Depot, Spurryhillock Industrial Estate, Kirkton Road, Stonehaven, AB39 2NQ

Strichen
Council Depot, Strichen, Fraserburgh, AB43 6RB

Turriff
Markethill Depot, Markethill Road, Turriff, AB53 4AG

How to store sandbags

When you have finished using the sandbags, please keep hessian sandbags indoors and polypropylene sandbags out of sunlight to maximise their life for future use.

The council will only uplift sandbags in cases where there is no storage space or if they are causing a litter nuisance.