Consultation Launch

This article appeared during the Consultation Period : 13 February 2008 - 25 April 2008

The First Minister announced on September 5 2007 that the Scottish Government would introduce a Flooding Bill in 2008 to modernise the flood risk management system in Scotland.

As part of this process the Consultation Document "The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland " was published on February 13 2008, and responses to the specific questions in this Consultation are welcomed, as are any other general comments. The closing date for responses is April 23 2008.

The Scottish Government has one, clear purpose: to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. It is extremely important, therefore, to manage the risks associated with flooding, which can devastate lives, communities, property and the environment.

The proposals we have set out in this consultation paper are designed to establish a framework within which sustainable flood risk management in Scotland will operate more effectively than at present. They will ensure that there is no duplication of effort, and that the flood risk management process is simplified and better co-ordinated. Local authorities, who are accountable to local communities, and best able to judge the needs of their areas, will continue to be responsible for implementing flood alleviation measures. However, individual local authorities cannot operate in isolation. Our proposals will establish a way of co-ordinating catchment flood management planning to ensure a national approach, delivered locally.

We welcome your views on these proposals and hope that you will take this opportunity to consider what is best for the future of flood risk management in Scotland.

A live link for the Consultation was given at the end of this article.

Broxburn Flood Protection Scheme Confirmed , September 25 2007

Proposals to provide flood defences in Broxburn to protect properties in the area were confirmed on September 25, 2007, by Minister for the Environment Michael Russell.

Mr Russell said: "I am pleased to announce confirmation of this scheme which means West Lothian Council will be able to go ahead with the flood prevention scheme for Broxburn."

"This scheme will provide businesses and residents in Broxburn with a high level of protection taking account of the likely impacts of climate change over the life of the scheme and will also be sympathetic to the environment, in particular the water environment, and will deliver value for money.

"The Scottish Government is committed to protecting vulnerable communities from the threat of flooding, by supporting local authorities' efforts to reduce flood risk."

Flooding Bill

The Bill will introduce new measures to reform the current legislation, the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, transpose the planned EC Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks and provide a portfolio of responses for managing flood risk. Further information on the Flooding Bill is available on the Scottish Government's site.

Flooding Issues Advisory Committee Final Report Publication, September 20 2007

The final report of the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee (FIAC)

calls for key organisations to work together to ensure communities are fully equipped to tackle the increased threat from flooding.

Commenting on the report ahead of a Parliamentary debate on flooding, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:

"I would like to thank the members of FIAC and its sub-committees for their work in producing this report. FIAC was an excellent example of stakeholders working together to reach consensus on difficult issues such as tackling flooding.

"Scotland cannot ignore the threat which climate change brings in increasing the occurrence of wet, stormy weather and we must act now to protect ourselves from that threat. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling this growing danger.

"The flooding summit held in Perth last week demonstrated unanimous support for a fresh approach to flood management. Key to this is de-cluttering the process and establishing a framework to enable all organisations to work together effectively to deliver flood risk management for the 21st century.

"Some of the suggestions in the FIAC report, such as developing a more sustainable approach to flood management, have already been adopted by the Scottish Government whilst other recommendations will require further discussion.

"I will consider the report's findings along with Ministerial colleagues during the course of today's Parliamentary debate and in developing a new Flooding Bill for Scotland."

The report calls for stakeholders to work together to ensure that a more strategic, catchment level approach is taken when considering flood alleviation options.

It also made a number of specific recommendations including:

• Setting up a forum in Scotland to help people and communities become more proactive through better awareness of flood risk and preparedness for flooding;
• The Scottish Government should pursue the possibility of an individual property grant scheme in Scotland;
• Further detailed work to link catchment strategic planning and the River Basin Management Planning process should be carried out and the outcomes addressed in a public consultation on new flooding legislation;
• Reducing the risk of flood damage should be an objective of rural policy in Scotland and the Scottish Government should seek to promote rural land use solutions as part of its strategy for flood risk management and;
• A forum, similar to FIAC, should be set up to continue to advise the Scottish Government on flooding matters.

The FIAC final report gives information on the work of the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee.

The Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database

Detailed information and data on the 72 Flood Prevention Schemes constructed since the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 is now available via the web with the launch of the Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database Flood prevention practitioners and other professionals engaged in flood mitigation and prevention now have a resource that:

• Provides an electronic database of river and coastal flood prevention schemes and provides a GIS interface to this data.
• Surveys and details in outline the main dimensions and form of the defences used in each flood prevention scheme.
• Records the condition of the defences
• Shows the area benefiting from defences
• Defines defended and un-defended areas to a design standard of 100 years
• Establishes the current standard of protection

A detailed report outlining the methods employed to construct SFDAD and the main findings are available, as is a detailed user manual. These contain specific information on schemes with full detail contained in the database. Public access to details on a specific flood prevention schemes, are available by contacting the local authority responsible for the area where the scheme is located.

Impact of Flooding in Scotland

Following the publication of the SEPA Indicative River and Coastal Flood Map (2006) and The Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database, the data to undertake an update of the properties at a 0.5% risk of flooding for rivers and the coast in Scotland, was available. This analysis would be more robust and enable greater accuracy than previous estimates based upon a first approximation of this figure. A report and maps which outline the findings is available and illustrates that of the estimated 2.5 million properties in Scotland, 2.9% are located within a flood zone at risk of flooding 1 in 200 years or 0.5% probability. This represents some 73,000 properties at risk of fluvial flooding and 26,000 properties in the coastal flood zone: a total of 99,000 properties.

This information will greatly assist local authorities in presenting the picture of flood risk in their areas to residents, and is likely to form the basis of subsequent geographic studies into infrastructure at risk and other specific population groups.

Flooding Summit, September 10 2007

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, invited local authorities and other stakeholders to a Flooding Summit held on September 10 2007 at the Queen's Hotel in Perth. The event was also attended by the Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, and the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson.

The Summit enabled an open discussion of the challenges facing Scotland as it moves towards a more sustainable approach to flood risk management. It signaled the start of a wide ranging consultation process on the Executive's proposals for amending the current flooding legislation, which is widely acknowledged to be outdated and inflexible.

The Flooding Summit Papers including the presentations from speakers such as SEPA, the Association of British Insurers, Scottish Water and the Forestry Commission Scotland are now available.

Bo'ness Foreshore Flood Prevention Scheme 2006

On August 13, 2007, Michael Russell (Minister for Environment) announced that the Bo'ness Foreshore Flood Prevention Scheme 2006 had been confirmed with modifications. The modifications address legal uncertainties in relation to the incorporation into the Scheme, as originally drafted by Falkirk Council, of the provisions of the First Schedule to the Act. There is no change to the flood prevention operations described in the Scheme or to any plans referred to in the Scheme. The Scheme was promoted by the Falkirk Council to reduce the risk of tidal flooding of industrial developments and some 269 residential properties to less than 1% annual probability. It is now for the Falkirk Council to take forward the Scheme to construction.

Forres (Burn of Mosset) Flood Prevention Scheme 2005

On July 30, 2007, Michael Russell (Minister for Environment) announced that the Forres (Burn of Mosset) Flood Prevention Scheme 2005 had been confirmed with modifications. The modifications were detailed on 12 March 2007 by the then Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development when she published the Report of the Public Inquiry and the consultation on the modifications under consideration. The Scottish Ministers have set out their reasons in full in their decision letter. The Scheme was promoted by the Moray Council to reduce the risk of flooding to some 800 properties in Forres and Rafford to less than one per cent annual probability. It is now for the Moray Council to take forward the Scheme to construction.

• Forres (Burn of Mosset) Public Inquiry Report
• Technical drawings referred to in the terms of the modification:
• Modification plan 0060
• Modification plan 0061

Saltcoats Flood Prevention Scheme 2006

On May 30, 2007, the Saltcoats Flood Prevention Scheme 2006 was confirmed by the Scottish Ministers without modification. The Scheme was promoted by North Ayrshire Council to mitigate tidal flooding of the town centre and sea front. The Scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to some 345 properties to less than 1% annual probability. It is now for North Ayrshire Council to take forward the Scheme to construction.

Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme

On March 16, 2007, Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development announced confirmation of the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme with the modifications labelled A, B, C, D, E, F2, H (other than those modifications to replace the demountable defences at Avondale Place and Glenogle Terrace with glass panels) and I4. These modifications were detailed on September 8 2005, by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development when she announced the report of the Public Local Inquiry and the consultation on the modifications which were being considered. The Scottish Ministers have carefully considered all of the issues raised in the representations made. Details of their consideration and their conclusions are set out in full in the Scottish Ministers' decision letter.