This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding to prevent flooding around Clyde
24/03/2003
Funding to help develop flood prevention measures in
Glasgow and surrounding areas was announced today.
Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson visited Glasgow
to announce funding of £160,000 to Glasgow City Council to
commission a LIDAR survey of the River Clyde corridor.
The Light Induced Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) survey
will help in developing a catchment-wide feasibility study
to identify and consider options for addressing flood risk
posed to communities around the River Clyde.
The announcement comes on the same day as Glasgow City
Council leader Charles Gordon announced the appointment of
consultants to conduct the feasibility study on measures to
reduce the threat of flooding posed to communities around
the River Clyde.
Two partner consultants, Halcrow and Fairhurst, will
carry out the study, for which the Scottish Executive has
provided an allocation of £1 million.
Mr Wilson said:
"This further funding highlights our continuing
commitment to dealing with flooding across Scotland.
"Today's funding will allow Glasgow City Council's
consultants to carry out a far-reaching and comprehsensive
study on the River Clyde, and help ensure that the risk of
flooding is reduced for households and businesses in and
around Glasgow.
"Recently we have seen the distress and misery caused by
flooding. I am under no illusions that these cause serious
problems to many communities in Scotland, which is why we
are investing significant sums to help overcome this
problem.
"In addition to today's funding announcement, we have
trebled our investment since 1999 to £40 million over the
next three years to further reduce flood risk in some of
Scotland's most at risk communities.
Mr Gordon said:
"As recent events have shown, flooding has become a real
threat to life and property in Glasgow. Our experts tell us
that climate change is increasing this threat to a level
that we can no longer ignore. This is borne out by
increasing public concern and the support we are receiving
from the Scottish Executive to address the issue.
"The City Council has a role to play in protecting the
city from flooding. In launching this commission, we will
take the lead in developing a flood management strategy for
the River Clyde. It will not only provide a significant
increased level of protection from flooding but will allow
regeneration to continue along the river.
"Glasgow is already working closely with local
authorities and other bodies in the river catchment area to
draw on the wealth of information available from earlier
studies and to produce a sustainable strategy for the whole
river."
The funding for the £1 million feasibility study was
announced last November. Details of this can be found
at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2002/11/SEen248.aspx
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys are
undertaken from a low-flying aircraft and enable ground
levels to be mapped to around 10cm accuracy, both rapidly
and over wide areas. Subsequent manipulation of the data
allows contour and 3D maps to be produced at a similar
level of accuracy for flood risk analysis. When combined
with aerial photography, as in this case, considerable
information can be obtained regarding buildings, habitat
and linkages to morphology and landform.
LIDAR works by sending a laser pulse from a carrier
aircraft to the ground and measuring the speed and
intensity of the returning signal. The main benefit of
LIDAR is that it allows you to see the effect of rising sea
or river levels - showing visually what would suffer
flooding as a result of a particular water level rise.
The survey planned by Glasgow City Council will extend
over the full length of the River Clyde and will help the
consultants Glasgow is appointing to consider options for
addressing flood risk in Glasgow and surrounding areas. The
Scottish Executive and SEPA will be included in the
licensing agreement so the data can be used for SEPA's
flood risk/flood warning initiatives.
The Scottish Executive recently launched the National
Flooding Framework.
Details of this can be accessed at: h
ttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2003/03/SEEN373.aspx