Rhona Brankin views Hawick flooding damage
Monday, October 24 2005
Rhona Brankin MSP, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, visited Hawick on Thursday 13 October to view the damage caused by the recent floods.
Scottish Borders Councillors Andrew Farquhar and David Paterson escorted Ms Brankin on a tour of some of the worst affected streets along the banks of the River Teviot. They introduced her to members of the Police and Fire & Rescue Services and to SBC Technical Services staff who had worked through the night to supply sandbags and help in the salvage operations.
Ms Brankin visited a number of properties which had been flooded, including the Health Centre on Teviot Road, the Post Office on Sandbed and Hawick Rugby Football Club, which has sustained flood damage estimated at £1.25 million. She also inspected the effects of flood water on classrooms and grounds at Hawick High School, which closed to all but fifth and sixth year pupils during the clear-up phase.
Following her visit, the Deputy Minister said, "Flooding causes distress and suffering, and I have every sympathy for the people of Hawick and other areas affected by Tuesday night's heavy rainfall and flooding. The risk of flooding is likely to increase in future years due to climate change. For that reason we are committed to better protecting vulnerable communities."
She added that the Scottish Executive is increasing funding available to local authorities for flood prevention schemes to £89 million over three years, and increased the rate of grant from 50 per cent to 80 per cent of overall cost.
Councillor Farquhar said, "We were extremely pleased that Ms Brankin came to visit Hawick to see for herself the flood damage in the town. Despite the Executive's generous grant support, we still have concerns about how we will be able to meet even our minority share of the costs (20% at present), given that investments of tens of millions of pounds may be necessary. It is heartbreaking to see an internationally famous club like Hawick saddled with what now seem insurmountable problems, particularly after overcoming a smaller flood earlier in the year. We are considering what we can do as a Council to help the club."
Callum Hay, SBC's Director of Technical Services, added, "Work is already in hand to identify schemes that will go towards
alleviating, or eliminating, the risk of similar floods happening in Hawick in the foreseeable future, together with schemes
for other areas known to be at risk in the Borders, including Newcastleton, Jedburgh, Peebles, Stow and Galashiels. To this
end, we are bringing forward proposals for a long-term flood prevention programme next year."
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