Council offers ‘total commitment’ to flood hit residents
East Ayrshire Council’s Leader, Provost and Chief Executive have visited New Cumnock, badly affected by flooding on 30 December 2015.
The flood caused by Storm Frank, came exactly two years to the day after a similar severe weather event in 2013, which also caused flooding and significant road and rail disruption.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “The damage I have seen is truly shocking and I am grateful to residents for taking the time to meet with me and for showing me how they have been affected. “Hearing peoples’ experiences first-hand was moving and heartbreaking and I have assured every resident that we will offer every support to get them and the local community back on its feet as soon as possible.
“Seeing the damage caused, it is clear that the ferocity, speed and scale of the flooding is extraordinary and it makes me more determined to find a long-term solution for our residents.
“After the floods of December 2013 we worked with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to develop flood prevention plans for Leggate and New Cumnock.
“In planning these measures, SEPA established the likelihood of such an event re-occurring was once in 115 years – consistent with weather patterns at that time. “It’s tragic that just 24 months later we have had a second unprecedented severe weather event, especially as our flood prevention programme for the Leggate area is due for completion this summer.”
Funding for the Leggate prevention measures (£600,000) was agreed by the Council in the budget of December 2014 along with an agreement todevelop similar measures for New Cumnock - ready for implementation when Scottish Government funding became available. Designs for the New Cumnock flood prevention programme are also due for completion in mid 2016. Detail from this work was included in the National Flood Risk Management Strategy – published by the Scottish Government just before Christmas.
Councillor Reid continued: “We are seeing a rapidly changing pattern in our weather system – and the scale and impact of these events is virtually unpredictable. “Even other areas of the UK, with new flood prevention systems, installed just a few years ago, were also left flooded by the magnitude of Storm Frank. New Cumnock, along with many other areas of East Ayrshire, Scotland and Britain have been hard hit and we now need funding to get our flood defences built. “It will be of little comfort to those badly affected by the December flooding, but I am proud of how the community responded to this adversity.
“It was both inspiring and humbling with people leaving the comfort of their own homes to help their neighbours, friends and others cope with the devastation these flood waters brought – with so many going over and beyond the call of duty to look out for others.
“People and local businesses opened their homes and work premises to offer a helping hand and to make sure people were safe and secure.
“Without the combined efforts of our local residents, our Community Planning Partners, and Council staff the situation could have been much worse.
“Yesterday, I wrote to the First Minister, briefing her on what had happened in New Cumnock.
“I have highlighted that that our flood prevention programme is one of the projects presently awaiting funding approval by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform as part of the National Flood Risk Management Strategy.
“Our schemes are “shovel ready” and these measures can only have a beneficial impact on flood management in the River Nith Basin and a positive effect on communities downstream in Dumfries and Galloway, who I also feel for at this time.
“I give my absolute commitment to the residents of New Cumnock that the flood prevention programme will start work immediately that any funding is agreed.
“I will also oversee developments personally to make sure the project is in place at the earliest possible opportunity, helping to mitigate against any further flooding in the town and the wider region.”