The Scottish Government has launched a £235 million flood risk management plan to protect homes, businesses and communities from flooding - the first plan to protect Scotland against flood risk.
The 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.
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.
Launching the plan, Environment Minister Dr Aileen 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."
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.”
The Flood Risk Management Strategies were launched in Selkirk, which has the first major flood protection scheme to be approved under the new Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act.
Despite being only half completed, the project has already proved its worth in protecting the town during storms Desmond and Frank.
The plan contains 14 local strategies and 42 flood protection schemes for 2016-21. The Flood Risk Management Strategies will coordinate efforts to tackle flooding in Scotland and set the national direction of future flood risk management, helping to target investment and coordinate actions across public bodies.
The strategies explain what causes flooding in high risk areas as well as the impacts when flooding does occur. The information will be used as a basis for better decision-making across flood risk management organisations.
A strategy is available for each of the 14 Local Plan Districts in Scotland. They are approved by Scottish Government and published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as Scotland’s strategic flood risk management authority. SEPA has been working in collaboration with all 32 local authorities, Scottish Water and other organisations with a responsibility or interest in managing flooding.
Local Flood Risk Management Plans have been developed in parallel and will provide additional local detail on the funding and delivery timetable for actions between 2016-2021.
The publication date for Local Flood Risk Management Plans is June 2016. Local Flood Risk Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Strategies will be updated every six years.
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