Flood defences - 'This essential scheme could help save lives'

ANYONE who remembers the floods that hit Edinburgh a decade ago will be worried by signs the Scottish Government may be about to renege on promises to fund a scheme to help stop it happening again.

Then, in April 2000, 36 hours of rain collapsed walls along the Water of Leith. More than 600 properties were affected and some 25 million worth of damage caused.

Stockbridge, Bonnington, Canonmills, Roseburn and Murrayfield were all badly affected, and when the Braid Burn flooded parts of Liberton, Peffermill and Duddingston were hit too.

This may have been rare devastation - they were the worst floods in 80 years - but there has been sporadic damage at other times, before and since. What's more, climate experts predict in future our weather will be milder but wetter.

That is why people whose homes and businesses line the Water of Leith put faith in plans for a 9.5m protection scheme in 2001. Hopes were still high when it was finally approved in 2007, despite a 47m price tag. But there are real fears that the SNP, having delayed the start of work by changing funding mechanisms, is retreating from the plan, which could now cost 80m.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead is right to warn in his letter to MSPs that in these tough times funding is tighter than ever. However, it would be a false economy not to move forward with this essential scheme, which could save lives as well as protect businesses.

Failure to do so will not be easily forgotten, and nor will Lochhead's bizarre call to locals to play their own part in flood prevention. Those who have kept sandbags to hand for the last ten years as they wait for government action need no reminding.

Top cops

WE usually know when a member of our emergency services does something heroic - telling you about it is part of the News' job, after all.

But tales of derring-do can sometimes mask the vital everyday work that goes on with little fanfare: blaze prevention advice by firemen; the ferrying of patients back and forth by ambulance staff.

The News is delighted to be able to work with Lothian and Borders Police to highlight another important job - that done by community coppers across the area.

We invite you, our readers, to help by nominating your neighbourhood favourite.