{"id":351,"date":"2010-11-08T14:10:00","date_gmt":"2010-11-08T13:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/?p=351"},"modified":"2010-11-16T18:14:16","modified_gmt":"2010-11-16T17:14:16","slug":"fears-angus-and-mearns-will-lose-out-due-to-snp-flooding-policy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/2010\/11\/fears-angus-and-mearns-will-lose-out-due-to-snp-flooding-policy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Fears Angus and Mearns will lose out due to SNP Flooding policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Worries have emerged as part of a recent consultation response to Scottish Government plans, which will shape the nation\u2019s future flood management response, with Angus Lib Dem Cllr David May claiming rural areas such as Angus and Mearns look certain to lose out.<\/p>\n

The SNP government\u2019s Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 has been described as a \u201cbig step forward \u2026 providing a unique opportunity to shape new ways of working and creating a modern, sustainable approach to flood management fit for the 21st century.\u201d<\/p>\n

A number of Angus communities have suffered flood misery in recent years and, at a time when major financial challenges face councils, Angus infrastructure services convener David May has attacked the way money is dished out for flood schemes. \u00a0Presently under this government, funding depends on the number of properties directly affected.<\/p>\n

Mr May said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe funding formula means that urban areas \u2014 by their very nature more densely populated \u2014 are going to be advantaged and areas such as Angus and Mearns will lose out.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving in the past year regularly visited areas affected by flooding, I call on the Scottish government to reconsider their policy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven financial pressures facing councils, so it is more important than ever to make sure we receive adequate funding and do not lose out just because of our location and population.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Highlighting the specific across Angus, Mr May continued,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIn March this year Angus Council agreed some short term measures to improve the Barry Burn Flood Protection Scheme. However, although these short term measures have been met from the council\u2019s roads budget it is unlikely the Council will be able to fund the potential longer term solutions under investigation for Carnoustie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA similar situation exists in Arbroath, which experienced significant flooding beyond the usual risk areas. The removal of the dedicated government grant scheme has thrown plans for flood protection schemes into complete disarray. \u00a0Added to this, is the confusion created by the phased introduction of the new Flood Risk Management Act (2009) which changes local authorities\u2019 responsibilities and powers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are doing what we can locally \u2013 today we will be discussing the latest report on the Brechin Flood Protection Scheme. Although this is a relatively modest scheme by national standards, it still comes with a price tag of \u00a313m. Flooding needs to be considered at a national level, as the resources required to properly address it are clearly beyond the financial means of local government.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sanjay Samani, Liberal Democrat North East Regional Candidate added his support for Mr May\u2019s comments, saying:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBy funding the new flood prevention schemes for the new act based on population, the SNP Government is being too simplistic. \u00a0They have announced funding for a new Flood Forecasting Service. \u00a0The information from this service must be used to target central government funding for flood prevention.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

PHOTO: Sanjay Samani and Cllr David May visit the site of flooding in Brechin with Provost Ruth Leslie Melville:<\/strong>
\n\"Sanjay<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The SNP’s proposed funding of the Flood Risk Management Act us based on a simplistic count of properties. Instead the Flood Forecasting Service should be used to target resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[19],"tags":[194,207,204,123,211,113,197,106,114],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1VHxS-5F","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":352,"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351\/revisions\/352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sanjaysamani.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}