Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged £12m of funding to help combat areas devastated by floods.
Speaking as she visited areas hit by the recent floods, including Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, £1,500 of which she announced would go to any household, business or charity directly affected by floodwaters.
"We do not yet have confirmation of consequentials coming from UK Government flood funds - however, now that the picture of those who need support is clearer, the Scottish Government is acting now to make sure that the people who need help get it," she said.
The Flood Risk Management plan contains 14 local strategies and proposals for 42 flood protection schemes or engineering works planned for 2016-21 and a range of other flood alleviation measures. This will be supported by investment over the first cycle of £235 million on measures to protect up to 10,000 properties.
Following recent flooding as a result of Storm Frank, the Minister said the plans show the Scottish Government is committed to helping communities recover and protecting communities against future risks.
“Having met with many people who have seen their homes and livelihoods damaged due to flooding over recent weeks, I am all too aware of the devastation that flooding can cause," said Environment Minister Aileen McLeod.
“This shows exactly why Scotland’s first national flood plan is an important and necessary step forward. Our plan is designed to improve the way we tackle the risk of flooding across the country – protecting more homes, businesses, communities and livelihoods.
“For the first time, we have a nationwide plan, informed by local communities to tackle flooding. This will be at the heart of our efforts to prevent flooding and there is no doubt it will make a lasting contribution to flood risk management in Scotland.
“This plan has been achieved through partnership working and a shared commitment to prevent flooding and I would like to thank all those involved for their efforts in bringing these strategies together.”
SEPA Chief Executive, Terry A'Hearn said: “Flooding has caused devastation and misery for many people across Scotland in recent weeks. In fact, December 2015 was the wettest on record with 50 of our gauging stations recording their highest ever levels.
“The Flood Risk Management Strategies have been developed to help reduce the damage which flooding can cause, and are more important than ever given the recent flooding. We have been working closely with local authorities to identify the most suitable actions to manage flood risk, and this is targeted towards areas where it will be most effective based on improved knowledge of the sources and impacts of flooding.
“The strategies coordinate the efforts of organisations that tackle flooding and concentrate this work to where the risk of flooding and the benefits of investment are greatest. Through this risk-based and plan-led approach the strategies aim to improve flood management for individuals, communities and businesses at risk in Scotland.”
Councillor David Parker, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “It is fitting that Selkirk has been chosen for the launch of Scotland’s Flood Risk Management Strategies.
“Selkirk has the first major flood protection scheme to be approved under the new Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act, and the project has already proved its worth in protecting the town during storms Desmond and Frank, despite being only half completed.
“We have seen the devastating impact of flooding across Scotland in recent weeks and the publication of the Flood Risk Management Strategies will be a vital tool in helping the country make decisions on how to best protect vulnerable areas.”
Wales
Funding has been allocated for the next financial year in the Draft Budget 2016/17 to complete important flood defence schemes at Boverton in the Vale of Glamorgan and Porthcawl.
This is in addition to the £3million announced in December for work at St Asaph which will also commence in the next financial year.
Boverton is a £1.96 million scheme in an area that has suffered frequent flooding in recent years. It will reduce risk to around 17 homes and businesses and also provide amenity improvements. The scheme will be built alongside and complement an existing project nearby in Llanmaes reducing risk to the wider catchment.
Porthcawl Town Beach will see £2.25 million of improvements to replace the deteriorating coastal defences along the Esplanade Road seafront. The existing defences are nearing the end of their residual life, with any failure here putting over 260 properties at risk along the seafront and main town.
The project will not only build resilience to coastal flooding and climate change but also provide better access to the foreshore and aesthetic improvements to what is a popular tourist destination.
Carl Sargeant said the investment highlights how the Welsh Government is recognising the implications and risks posed by the changing climate and is taking action to address this.
The Minister said: “We have recently witnessed the wettest December on record and flooding across Wales. This is why flood and coastal risk management remains a key priority. At the end of December I committed £1 million for local authorities to carry out immediate repairs and maintenance work to river and drainage schemes. This was boosted by the announcement from the First Minister last week of an additional £2.3million for flood risk management.
“Over the lifetime of this Government we have invested over £240 million into flood risk management which has been supported by a further £47 million from Europe. This has allowed for significant investment across Wales including schemes at Beaumaris, Rhyl, Dolgellau, Swansea, Colwyn Bay and Cardiff and Pontaddulais. This investment has provided reduced flood and coastal erosion risk to over 12,000 properties across Wales to date, including over 10,700 homes.”
The Minister also thanked those who were involved in responding to the recent floods, who he said, have worked tirelessly since Boxing Day and continue to do so.
“Local authorities and NRW are continuing to work to assess the full extent of the damages and impacts,” he said. “However we are already aware of flooding in the local authorities of Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Caerphilly and Pembrokeshire. It is currently estimated that over 150 properties across Wales over the whole of the month of December have flooded with numerous near misses.”
Carl Sargeant added that sustained Welsh Government investment in flood defences, awareness raising as well as forecast and warning systems over the last few decades is having an impact in making communities more resilient to flooding.
