SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES £235 MILLION POUND FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN

A plan to protect homes, businesses and communities from flooding has been launched by Environment Minister Aileen McLeod today.

The Flood Risk Management plan contains 14 local strategies and proposals for 42 flood protection schemes or engineering works planned for 2016-21 and a range of other flood alleviation measures. This will be supported by investment over the first cycle of £235 million on measures to protect up to 10,000 properties.

Following recent flooding as a result of Storm Frank, the Minister said the plans show the Scottish Government is committed to helping communities recover and protecting communities against future risks.

This follows on from the £12 million investment announced by the First Minister over the weekend. The £12 million funding will be made available to help areas affected by severe weather across Scotland.

Speaking at the launch, Dr McLeod said:

“Having met with many people who have seen their homes and livelihoods damaged due to flooding over recent weeks, I am all too aware of the devastation that flooding can cause.

“This shows exactly why Scotland’s first national flood plan is an important and necessary step forward. Our plan is designed to improve the way we tackle the risk of flooding across the country – protecting more homes, businesses, communities and livelihoods.

“For the first time, we have a nationwide plan, informed by local communities to tackle flooding. This will be at the heart of our efforts to prevent flooding and there is no doubt it will make a lasting contribution to flood risk management in Scotland.

“This plan has been achieved through partnership working and a shared commitment to prevent flooding and I would like to thank all those involved for their efforts in bringing these strategies together.”

SEPA Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn said:

“Flooding has caused devastation and misery for many people across Scotland in recent weeks. In fact, December 2015 was the wettest on record with 50 of our gauging stations recording their highest ever levels.

“The Flood Risk Management Strategies have been developed to help reduce the damage which flooding can cause, and are more important than ever given the recent flooding. We have been working closely with local authorities to identify the most suitable actions to manage flood risk, and this is targeted towards areas where it will be most effective based on improved knowledge of the sources and impacts of flooding.

“The strategies coordinate the efforts of organisations that tackle flooding and concentrate this work to where the risk of flooding and the benefits of investment are greatest. Through this risk-based and plan-led approach the strategies aim to improve flood management for individuals, communities and businesses at risk in Scotland.”

Councillor David Parker, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said:

“It is fitting that Selkirk has been chosen for the launch of Scotland’s Flood Risk Management Strategies.

“Selkirk has the first major flood protection scheme to be approved under the new Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act, and the project has already proved its worth in protecting the town during storms Desmond and Frank, despite being only half completed.

“We have seen the devastating impact of flooding across Scotland in recent weeks and the publication of the Flood Risk Management Strategies will be a vital tool in helping the country make decisions on how to best protect vulnerable areas.”

NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie said:

“It was made crystal clear to us on our visits to flood hit farms in Perthshire yesterday that rainfall levels have been exceptional and flooding endured on farmland has gone far beyond what is normally expected.

“The damage seen on Scottish farms up and down the country has been extensive and the job of restoring flood banks and clearing up the debris will be costly and time consuming, However, that restoration work is absolutely necessary to restore flooded land to its productive capacity. The full picture will not be known until the waters recede but it goes without saying that, for a good number of farmers, the effects will be felt for much longer.

“The financial support to help to restore some of the damage is much appreciated and we will work with Government over the next few days to ensure that this money gets to where it most needed.

“We also look forward to holding talks with Scottish Government and our environment agency SEPA in the coming days on what measures can be taken to better protect houses, businesses and farmland from flooding in the future.

“Prevention is better than cure and measures that allow farmers to better manage their watercourses will be a critical part of the solution. All stakeholders need to learn lessons from these dreadful floods and work together to ensure greater resilience to such flooding events in the future.”