This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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£1m for flood prevention measures
23/09/2002
A flood prevention project in West Lothian was given the green light today with an award of more than £1 million.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Allan Wilson said homes around the Mains Burn in Linlithgow - which has burst its banks three times since 1998 - will be saved from the threat of flooding.
Mr Wilson, who was visiting the site of the project, said that the provision of funding "reflected the Executive's commitment" to reduce the risk of flooding in communities.
Mr Wilson added:
"Over the last few weeks all of us have seen the distress, misery and devastation of flash flooding. There can be few things more miserable than finding water suddenly pouring into the fabric of a home or business.
"The Executive is under no illusions that these cause serious problems to many communities in Scotland.
"We have made clear that if local councils came forward with flood prevention schemes then the Scottish Executive would help fund them. I believe the funding today for West Lothian Council clearly demonstrates the commitment of the Scottish Executive to support councils in their efforts to build a better Scotland by protecting communities from flooding."
Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, Councils are required to obtain the confirmation by Scottish Ministers of Flood Prevention Schemes before proceeding to construction. Confirmed Schemes attract grant at 50%.
West Lothian Council obtained confirmation of the Mains Burn, Linlithgow Flood Prevention Scheme earlier this year. The Council intend to invite tenders shortly so that construction to commence early next year. With the £1.1million supplementary capital allocation over the period 2002-04 announced today, the Council will be able to proceed with this scheme.
West Lothian Council made the Scheme to protect areas of Linlithgow adjacent to the Mains Burn which has frequently suffered from flash floods. The scheme utilises storage capacity in an existing reservoir at Cockelroy and a further storage facility on recreation grounds to temporarily store flows joining the burn downstream together with measures to augment the channel capacity of the burn. The scheme will reduce the flood risk to properties to less than 1% annual risk and are designed so that storage can be increased in the future should climate change significantly increase the risk of greater floods occurring.