Broxburn flood prevention scheme
Posted: Thursday 11th October 2007
Proposals to provide flood defences in Broxburn to protect properties in the area have been confirmed today by Minister for the Environment Michael Russell.
Mr Russell said: "I am pleased to announce confirmation of this scheme which means West Lothian Council will be able to go ahead with the flood prevention scheme for Broxburn.
"This scheme will provide businesses and residents in Broxburn with a high level of protection taking account of the likely impacts of climate change over the life of the scheme and will also be sympathetic to the environment, in particular the water environment, and will deliver value for money.
"The Scottish Government is committed to protecting vulnerable communities from the threat of flooding, by supporting local authorities' efforts to reduce flood risk."
The £5 million Broxburn scheme will consist of construction of a series of flood walls and embankments together with the replacement of road bridges in West Burnside and Burnside Village and two storage areas in the upper catchment of the Liggate Syke and new screens on the entrance to the culvert where it sinks below the Union Canal outside Broxburn.
Broxburn has a history of flooding from the Brox Burn and its tributaries, the Caw Burn and the Liggate Syke, a culverted watercourse. In recent years, two significant events occurred in April 2000 and July 2002. The new scheme would reduce the risk of flooding of 92 residential properties to less than one per cent, taking into account the likely impacts of climate change over the life of the scheme.
West Lothian Council promoted this scheme on May 2, 2007 and duly advertised it in accordance with the Act on May 10, 2007. No objections were made. It was submitted to the Scottish Government for confirmation under the Act on August 13, 2007.
(Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, works, other than maintenance or repair, can only be carried out as a flood prevention scheme, promoted by a council and confirmed by Scottish Ministers. Confirmed flood prevention schemes which meet the Government's technical, environmental and economic criteria are eligible for grant support at 80 per cent. The Scottish Government has made £42 million of grant funding available in 2007/08 to local authorities to support confirmed flood prevention and approved coast protection schemes.)
