Call for Executive Action on Flooding: MSP

The MSP made his call after extensively touring areas of Highland Perthshire that have been severely affected by recent flooding. He also made it clear he would be advancing his call in a letter to Environment Minister, Ross Finnie.

“Battering by severe storms and flooding has had a major impact on individual communities. Having toured extensively the areas affected before and after Christmas, and seeing at first hand the scale of the damage that has been done by the flooding, I believe there is a need for this issue to be considered at a strategic level by the Scottish Executive.

Destruction

“In a variety of areas in my constituency, homes have been flooded, flood banks destroyed, roads damaged and the main rail line to Inverness weakened. The areas affected have included Glen Lyon, Weem, Aberfeldy, Logierait, Dalguise, Birnam and Dunkeld, Meikleour to mention just a number. The damage to floodbanks will result in a colossal repair bill and I am deeply concerned about how this will be met and the repairs carried out. Due to the scale of the damage involved I believe the Executive must give greater support to Perth and Kinross Council in identifying how best to respond to the danger of flooding in the future.

Plan Needed

“Work has been carried out on a community by community basis when flooding problems have taken place in the past, and the Executive is prepared to meet 80% of the costs of a flood prevention scheme if an economic case is made by a local authority. This type of community by community initiative has been welcome, and there are a number of steps being taken by Perth and Kinross Council to address the situation in a number of communities including Dalguise, Birnam and Weem.

“But I think the problem is now so widespread there is a need to look at this problem right across the Tay catchment area. Countless communities are affected and we need to devise a plan that addresses all of the different components of an increased level of persistent rainfall.

“I will be writing to the Minister for the Environment to set out my concern and make this suggestion and I hope the Minister will be prepared to consider this approach to build confidence in Perthshire that tackling this serious problem is a priority for the Scottish Executive.”