Executive admits new approach to beat flooding may be needed

Mar 29 2007

MID-SCOTLAND and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell has welcomed a long-awaited admission from the Executive that a more strategic approach to managing flood risk, including new thinking on using natural features to manage flood waters, is needed.

Deputy Environment Minister Sarah Boyack, responding to Mr Ruskell’s question which highlighted the work of WWF Scotland in the catchment for the River Devon, conceded that current procedures and much of the legislation covering flooding may be out of date.

Commenting on the Minister’s response to his question, Mr Ruskell said: “The existing flooding legislation from 1961 locks us into building expensive hard defences, which as we have seen recently with the Milnathort flood are not always effective.

“I am pleased that the Minister has recognised the value of using natural features like wetlands to absorb flood waters and that a consultation will take place.

“Based on work done by WWF Scotland in the Ochils, there is clearly an urgent need to put in place incentives for landowners, managers and councils to work together to manage river catchments to address the increased risks of flash flooding which we face as a result of climate change.

“There are currently very few ways to fund the restoration of natural features that can reduce flooding risk.

“Ultimately these features can also reduce the need for costly, hard flood defences further downstream because they reduce the risk.”