Flood prevention is top priority for Borders
Tuesday, February 7 2006
Scottish Borders Council has roundly condemned allegations made by MSP Christine Grahame that it is not doing enough to protect residents from flooding.
"It is outrageous to suggest that we are putting the welfare of people in the Borders at risk because we have not applied for funding for flood prevention schemes this year," said Councillor Gordon Edgar, Executive Spokesman for Technical Services.
"The Scottish Executive's £89 million funding for flood prevention schemes is available for three years. One of our many schemes is already on its way to the Executive for preliminary evaluation. The remaining scheme reports, due back from our consultants in the next few weeks, will follow," Councillor Edgar explained.
"There is no question of Scottish Borders Council 'missing the boat' on flood prevention funding, as Ms Grahame claims in
her press release today.
Councillor Edgar added, "It is well known that this process has been running for several months and is now reaching its conclusion,
as planned. We would be happy to discuss the outline programme with Ms Graham, if she would find that helpful. In fact, if
she had approached us first instead of simply putting out a news release, she would have had a clearer grasp of the situation.
As it is, she has simply worried the people of the Borders with needless scare stories.
"We have engaged some of the best specialists in the UK to help us put together a sound, robust and comprehensive set of proposals for flood prevention schemes in Stow, Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels, Jedburgh and Peebles. This is essential to ensure that we can secure national funding for these important projects.
"Once the preliminary assessments are complete, and we are confident that we have the best proposals we can to ensure grant support, the Council will consider which schemes should receive priority. The project is running on target to deliver a report to Council for consideration in April."
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