In accordance with the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 Dumfries and Galloway Council have today Friday January the 22nd 2021 given notice of the Scottish Ministers’ decision to confirm the Whitesands Project without modifications.
A Council spokesperson stated “A scheme to provide flood protection and regeneration for the Whitesands area of Dumfries was agreed in November 2015. The project will transform the Whitesands, greatly improving an under utilised area of the town.”
Scottish Government Decision and Notification
On 17 March 2020, The Scottish Government wrote to Dumfries and Galloway Council advising them of Scottish Ministers’ decision to confirm the Scheme without modification and grant deemed planning permission. A copy of the decision letter can be seen below.
The Council will give notice on Friday 22 January 2021 of the final decision by Scottish Government in accordance with paragraph 10(2) of schedule 2 of the Act which will then give any person affected by the confirmed Scheme a 6 week period to make an appeal.
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Agreed design
The Whitesands scheme is based on a ‘raised walkway’ concept with a combination of walls, glass panels and flood gates providing flood protection.
The proposed new physical defences (either walls/glass/raised walkway combinations) would begin next to the Dumfries and Galloway Standard offices and end just past the Pizzeria in Dock Park. There would also be defences over the river at Welldale and Kenmure Terrace.
The key design features are:
- The walkway would be a maximum of 1.4m high. This reduced height greatly improves the views of Whitesands.
- Use of glass panels along the walkway would provide a permanent 1 in 25 year return period standard of protection
- Use of demountable walling above the glass panels would provide the additional height for 1 in 75 year return period standard of protection
- Gentler gradients would allow full use of the grassed slopes as an open space
- Where there is insufficient room to accommodate the raised walkway there will be a combination of walls, glass panels and flood gates.
- The revised raised walkway has a smaller footprint meaning the 4 bus stop interchange can be accommodated without changes to the existing road alignment
- All parking on the shop side of the Whitesands would be retained
- A focal point and viewing area would be created at the Sandy Opening
Further information
We have prepared some answers to frequently asked questions about the project:
- project timeline
- project costs and funding
- parking
- height of defences and views of the river
- dredging and removal of gravel islands
- Devorgilla Bridge
- demountable panels
- alternative schemes
- maintenance of defences
- sewer improvements
- The Greensands
- impact on water levels elsewhere
- natural flood management
- Dock Park
- buses, toilets and fairs
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