This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Initial funding for Western Isles storm recovery
28/07/2005
A significant package of financial support is being
provided to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles
Council) following the storm which hit the area in
January.
The Comhairle will receive an initial £5 million from
the Executive:
- £4.5 million for roads infrastructure
- around £410,000 under the Bellwin Scheme
- £80,000 of civil contingency funding
In addition, the Executive has accepted the case for
rebuilding Balivanich Primary School on a new site further
back from the shore. Discussions are continuing with the
Comhairle on the likely cost and how the government will
contribute to this.
Minister for Finance and Public Services Tom McCabe
said:
"There is no doubt that the storms which hit the Western
Isles in January had a devastating effect on the area. When
the First Minister visited South Uist and Benbecula to see
the damage first-hand and meet local people, he pledged
that we would contribute to the repair bill.
"This initial funding package - which amounts to around
£5 million - is the Executive honouring that pledge.
"The major element of this funding will enable work to
go ahead on immediate repair work, and improvements to cope
with future storms, to the Eriskay Breakwater and the North
Ford Causeway which are two vital parts of the local roads
and transport infrastructure.
"It will also enable the purchase of a new mobile
command vehicle and mobile communication equipment which
the Comhairle had identified as a priority area for its
emergency planning.
"The funding provided under the Bellwin Scheme will
reimburse the Comhairle for the considerable repair costs
it incurred in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
"The Comhairle know best what the specific and localised
needs of the community are following the storm. This
significant funding package will allow the Comhairle to
progress much of the work it has identified as necessary
and to make an immediate start this year.
"While I know that the local community in South Uist and
Benbecula has been anxious to get as much as possible done
before the coming winter, it was important to plan properly
for the work and to assess its impact.
"We will, of course, continue to keep in touch with the
Comhairle. Discussions will continue about the new
Balivanich Primary School and I hope to visit the Western
Isles in the near future."
While the repair to the local roads and transport
infrastructure is normally the responsibility of the
council (including damage caused by storms and adverse
weather), the Executive is aware of the exceptionally
severe nature of the January storms and the consequent
damage to strategic important transport links in the
Western Isles. In view of this, it has exceptionally
committed substantial additional funding of £4.5 million to
meet the expected costs of the improvement of the North
Ford Causeway, the repair of the breakwater at Ceann a
Gharaidh on Eriskay to improve these links, as well as
contributing to a number of related projects.
The Bellwin Scheme exists to give special financial
assistance to authorities who would otherwise be faced with
an undue financial burden as a result of providing relief
and carrying out immediate work due to large-scale
emergencies. Under the terms of the Scheme, the Comhairle
will receive an initial amount of £368,000 with the balance
(expected to be around £40,000) due at the end of the year
once the Comhairle has submitted a finally audited
claim.
The civil contingencies division of the Executive is
contributing £80,000 towards a mobile command vehicle and
mobile communications equipment. The storms in the Western
Isles in January highlighted the vulnerability of the
Comhairle's emergency communications equipment. The
collapse of a mobile mast early in the storm hampered the
emergency response. Emergency communications was
highlighted by the Comhairle as a priority area for
improvement across the emergency planning community.