Bid to beat floods with full force of the law

Published on Thursday 26 November 2009 21:40

NEW laws to tackle flooding in Scotland came into effect yesterday as much of the country was still drying out from recent downpours.

• A Hawick resident takes to his bike after the river Teviot burst its banks and flooded parts of the town. Picture: Neil Hanna

The measures were outlined by environment minister Roseanna Cunningham during a visit to Whitesands in Dumfries, which has been hit by severe flooding.

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act puts a duty on the Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), Scottish Water and local authorities to co-ordinate the assessment and management of flood risk.

A national assessment of flood risk will be carried out by Sepa to identify the most vulnerable areas.

Co-ordinated flood management plans will also be drawn up by Sepa and local authorities, looking at natural methods such as restoring flood plains, and improving flood warning service.

The Act will also streamline the process for building flood prevention and protection schemes. Scottish Government approval for schemes will no longer be needed if there is local consensus.

Ms Cunningham said: "I have seen for myself today the devastating impact that flooding can have. With climate change likely to increase the frequency of floods, we need to do what we can now to prevent flooding occurring as well as having procedures in place to protect communities when it does."

The moves were welcomed by Dr Richard Dixon, director of environmental charity WWF Scotland. He said: "This new legislation focuses on a catchment approach and aims to work with nature instead of just pouring ever more concrete.

"It will help us deal with the causes, not just the consequences of flooding. Climate change will result in our winters becoming wetter – bringing more of the kind of flooding misery we have seen in recent weeks."

But Russell Brown, the Dumfries and Galloway Labour MP, said the legislation offered nothing new and people affected by flooding would be disappointed. "These laws won't actually stop the Whitesands from flooding again and posing a continued threat to the homes and businesses which have been hit really hard in the last week."

Yesterday, as heavy rain continued in some areas, Sepa had eight flood warnings in place – two on the River Earn and others on the Oykel, Spey, Tay, Lyon, Isla and Tummel, as well as 15 flood watches.

Improved conditions meant that most Caledonian MacBrayne ferries were back running, although there was disruption to services to Gigha, Lochboisdale and Barra, Rothesay and between Uig and Tarbert and Lochmaddy.

Edinburgh Castle, which was forced to remain closed on Wednesday due to high winds, reopened yesterday.

Action plan set to assess risk and highlight danger areas

UNDER the act, Sepa will produce a national assessment of flood risk by 2011, new flood risk and hazard maps by 2013 and put in place Scotland's first national flood risk management plan by 2015.

The assessment will show areas where a flood has had significant effect on human health, the environment, cultural heritage or economic activity and a future flood is probable. It will take account of future developments including climate change.

The assessment must be updated by 2018 and be reviewed every six years.

Sepa must also identify potentially vulnerable areas and assess whether altering natural features could contribute to the management of flood risk. Scottish Water will assess flood risk from sewerage systems in potentially vulnerable areas. Local authorities will have to prepare maps of bodies of water and sustainable urban drainage systems to check if they pose a risk of flooding.