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Forres flood scheme approved
10/03/2011
Approval has been given for Moray Council's proposed Forres (Findhorn and Pilmuir) Flood Prevention Scheme which will help protect homes and businesses in the town from the risk of flooding from the River Findhorn.
Roseanna Cunningham, The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, announced today that the scheme has been confirmed without modifications as recommended in the report of the public inquiry.
She said:
"I'm pleased to announce the confirmation of this scheme for Forres. It is designed to protect more than 900 homes and 76 businesses in the town from flooding from the River Findhorn.
"Forres has fallen victim to flooding 16 times in the last 300 years and this new scheme will help provide reassurance for the town's residents as well as protect the transport infrastructure and the wider environment.
"This scheme was submitted for approval after the current funding arrangements were put in place in 2007. The Scottish Government is keen to ensure swift progress is made on implementing this scheme. That's why the Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed to hold discussions around capital support for funding future flood schemes and this Forres scheme will be considered in that context."
The Scheme was made by the Council in terms of section 4 of the Act on 26 March 2008 and was submitted to the Scottish Ministers for confirmation in April 2008. Four objections to confirmation of the Scheme which were made and not withdrawn were considered at a public local Inquiry ("the Inquiry"), held in Forres on 15 -16 June 2010 by Mr Timothy P W Brian BA(Hons) DipURP MRTPI ("the Reporter") who submitted his Report of the inquiry on 29 September 2010.