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Water of Leith flood prevention
31/10/2007
A grant of £4.4 million to the City of Edinburgh Council towards the preliminary costs of developing the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme was announced today.
The scheme aims to protect vulnerable residents and businesses from the threat of flooding, following severe flooding from the Water of Leith in 2000 which hit 500 properties in Edinburgh.
Environment Minister Michael Russell said
"The Scottish Government recognises that the development of major flood prevention schemes, such as this £30 million scheme for the Water of Leith, takes far too long. We are introducing a Flooding Bill next year to modernise the statutory process and consultation on this bill is due to start in the New Year.
"In the meantime, we are pleased to provide £4.4 million to the City of Edinburgh Council towards the development costs incurred from 2000 to the end of this financial year. This scheme is vital to protect vulnerable residents of Edinburgh from the risk of flooding from the Water of Leith.
"As shown by the floods of 2000, flooding can pose a real threat for residents and businesses along the Water of Leith and I hope this progress will help provide some reassurance for those affected and living in close proximity to the river. Climate change has seen flooding become an increasingly regular threat to communities around Scotland and the rest of the UK, and the Scottish Government is committed to helping local authorities tackling this growing danger."
Councillor Phil Wheeler, Edinburgh's Transport Convener, said:
"Flooding is a real threat which costs great anxiety for thousands of residents and business owners in Edinburgh who want peace of mind that their homes and premises are protected.
"This announcement is great news and my Committee will be giving urgent consideration to funding the Council's contribution for implementing this much needed scheme."
The Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme was proposed by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2003, following flooding in April 2000 when over 500 properties suffered flood damage.
The Report of the Public Local Inquiry, held between November 2 and December 10 2004 to consider some 30 objections to the scheme (as proposed), identified a number of shortcomings in the proposed Scheme and recommended modifications to the Scheme. On September 8 2005, Ministers consulted on those modifications which were being considered.
The scheme was confirmed under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 by Scottish Ministers in March 2007.
Ministers decided to confirm the Scheme with most of the modifications recommended in the Report. Accordingly, the City of Edinburgh Council are progressing the detailed design with a view, early next year, to invite tenders for construction.
Construction of confirmed schemes meeting required technical, environmental and economic criteria attracts 80 per cent grant funding from the Scottish Government. The £4.4 million grant is going towards 80 per cent of the Water of Leith preparatory costs which include feasibility studies, preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment, hydrological and hydraulic modelling and other special technical studies, and the detailed civil, mechanical and electrical engineering design costs.
The Scottish Government has made £42 million of grant funding available in 2007/08 to local authorities to support confirmed flood prevention and approved coast protection schemes.