Flood protection plan for 10,000 homes

The scheme will aim to deliver 40 new flood protection projects over the next decade and follows an agreement reached between the government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

The £42 million-per-year plan will also support local flood risk management plans and over 130 flood protection studies will be carried out to find potential solutions for 26,000 residential properties currently at risk.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Earlier this year I saw first-hand the devastating effects of mother nature as storms battered our communities.

“This agreement will give local authorities the certainty they need to deliver the actions set out in their Local Flood Risk Management Plans to help protect individuals, business and communities from the danger of flooding.”

COSLA’s spokesperson for development, economy and sustainability, Councillor Stephen Hagan, added: “Protecting communities is at the heart of what local government does and is the reason why local government has committed this substantial resource for flood protection. Climate change, and the associated increase in flooding events, poses a significant national risk.

“This is why investment in flood protection schemes and associated infrastructure is critical to protecting vulnerable householders, businesses and communities, and why the strong working relationship between local and Scottish Government is so important.”

Charity Friends of the Earth Scotland has welcomed the investment but warned that ten times as many households could be under threat if the effects of climate change are not mitigated against.

Director Dr Richard Dixon said: “(This) announcement will be welcome relief to thousands of people across Scotland who are witnessing first-hand the local weather changes brought about by global climate change.

“Flooding has a devastating impact on people, communities and businesses. Increasing damage from floods is the most obvious sign of the impact of climate change and the UK Committee on Climate Change warned only last week that governments need to do more.”

Dr Dixon said government figures showed more than 100,000 homes were currently at risk of flooding.

He added: “Unlike the UK government, the Scottish Government has kept up consistent funding for flood schemes. However, the scale of the flooding challenge is massive and increasing as more climate change brings higher seas, more storms and more extreme rainfall.

“The pace of investment will need to increase significantly if people are to be properly protected from the misery of being flooded.”

Citizens Advice Scotland said the government’s anti-flood strategy must address high cost of insurance.

CAS policy manager Keith Dryburgh said: “We are doing some research into this issue at the moment, to understand the needs of people affected by floods. Our research will be published later in the year, but one of the issues we are already finding is that the cost of insurance for flooded homes and businesses is often un-affordable.

“Indeed, many people have told us that they are actually priced out of insurance because the premiums are so high, so they choose not to get insured at all, while others struggle with their finances due to high insurance payments.

“So while the announcement of more funding for flood mitigation is very welcome, it is equally important that consumers are able to access affordable insurance for when something goes wrong.”