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ROSEANNA CALLS FOR COUNCIL REVIEW OF FLOODING RESPONSE

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Monday, 24 August 2020

Ms Roseanna Cunningham MSP has asked Perth & Kinross Council for their assessment of the resilience of current flood defence measures following the impact of the recent high rainfall on a number of areas in her constituency.

Ms Cunningham said:

“There is absolutely no doubt that the level of rainfall experienced here in Perthshire South & Kinross-shire was extreme, but that doesn’t take away from the difficulties and anguish experienced by those of my constituents whose properties were compromised by floodwaters and I have written to Perth & Kinross Council seeking their response to concerns that have been expressed to me.

“Firstly, I hope that there will be an acknowledgement that it is important to re-assess defences whenever an instance of this nature happens. With climate change, there is every chance that such extraordinary weather will become more frequent and we must ensure that flood management plans remain resilient.

“It would be extremely useful to know from the Council that all possible steps were taken to prevent flooding.  It has already been acknowledged that not all flood gates in Perth were shut early enough but we now need to know whether there were any other instances where the defences that are in place were not appropriately applied.

“A thorough review of the Council’s response is needed.

“Additionally, some Kinross residents have now suffered flooding twice in six months. I am aware that there are plans in place to introduce flood management measures but these constituents are understandably anxious to know whether the timescale for that work can be accelerated and, indeed, whether the works that are planned would have prevented the flooding that they have experienced.”