Severe Weather
The next item of business is a statement by Rhona Brankin, on severe weather in the north of Scotland. The minister will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions.
The extreme weather conditions of Thursday 26 October resulted in damage and destruction throughout the north of the country, including in Orkney and Shetland. We also heard on Saturday of the tragic loss of the Fife fishing boat Meridian, which had been missing since Thursday. I am sure that the families of the four crew members are foremost in our thoughts at this most difficult time.
In the north, the worst of the weather was centred on the east coast from Dingwall to Thurso and on Orkney. I visited Dingwall and the surrounding area on Sunday to meet councillors and officials of the Highland Council and some residents who had been directly affected, so that I could see for myself the extent of the damage that had been caused by the severe weather. The weather there was exceptional, with persistent periods of heavy rain from late on Wednesday evening.
The Met Office recorded rainfall over the north of Scotland that day ranging from 30mm to 80mm. I will put the figures in perspective: the average rainfall for the whole of October in the north of Scotland is about 180mm. The recorded rainfall was in line with the Met Office's warnings of severe weather for the north of Scotland, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency tells me that several rivers in Caithness, Sutherland and the Black Isle had the highest flows in more than 30 years of records. Although the heavy rain eased during Thursday evening, it was followed later by strong winds, which exacerbated the conditions.
The sustained rainfall and winds had wide-ranging consequences over a large geographical area and on a wide range of services—it was clearly a major incident. Local authorities, the police, fire and rescue services, the utilities and transport companies worked well together to safeguard the public and to restore essential services in the affected areas. The Scottish Executive was in regular contact with responders throughout the events and remains so while recovery work continues. I thank everyone who was involved in responding to the events for the prompt and effective action that was taken. I am sure that it went a considerable way to avoiding further adverse consequences of the storm.
Fortunately, the high winds and heavy rains had abated by the weekend, although surface water remained on a number of routes and persisted for a few days. The impacts on flooded property, on the transport network and on electricity and water supplies were still being dealt with when I visited the area. No trunk roads are currently closed in the north-west as a result of last week's severe weather conditions, but a number of remedial operations are under way throughout the north-west. Incidents have moved to the recovery phase, and the clean-up operation continues.
The road into Scrabster harbour was closed for a period on Thursday last week due to a landslip. It reopened on Thursday evening, but is currently restricted to one lane as a precautionary measure and to allow constant monitoring of the slope. Geotechnical experts are carrying out further assessments with a view to proposing a permanent solution at the earliest possible date. The intention is to keep the road open, albeit that it will be with some disruption. Many local roads were also affected by landslips and flooding and there was major disruption to traffic. I saw on the small access road to Dingwall cemetery a landslip that was still not stable on Sunday afternoon and was being monitored by the council.
However, some disruptions remain to rail travel to and from Inverness. The main line between Inverness and Wick remains blocked north of Golspie so a temporary bus service is running to enable passengers to complete their journeys to and from Caithness. The line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh also remains closed and arrangements are in place to transfer passengers by bus until repairs are complete. It is not expected that the lines on those routes will be fully repaired before the end of the week.
It appears that only a small number of properties were flooded, but they were severely affected, with floodwater of up to 4ft deep in some cases. Despite the record flows on the major rivers, they do not appear to have caused properties to be flooded. Such flooding incidents appear to have been from smaller watercourses, such as the River Sgitheach at Evanton, from minor burns, from overwhelmed road drainage or from overland flow, by which I mean rainwater flowing down steep hillsides or along the road network and flooding properties on its route. As yet, there is no clear picture of the number of properties that have been affected, but residents who have sought help from the Highland Council and Orkney Islands Council have been found temporary accommodation. Of course, others will have been helped by their friends, relatives and insurance companies.
During the severe weather, a part of the 18in-diameter trunk main that serves more than 20,000 people in Dingwall and the Black Isle was swept away in a landslide. Water supplies were quickly rerouted through alternative pipes, which meant that only about 1,000 properties experienced an interruption—which lasted just minutes—and only two customers were left without water, their supply pipes having been washed away by another landslide. They were reconnected within hours by Scottish Water staff, who worked very hard in atrocious conditions to reconnect customers. Access to the site of the broken trunk main remains difficult because of flooding and muddy ground in the area. At one point, Scottish Water staff had to be rescued after becoming trapped by falling trees. Major construction work starts today to rebuild part of the hillside and to install a replacement trunk main. That work will take a number of weeks.
The water treatment works at Kirbister on Orkney flooded to a depth of 6ft during the severe weather. Scottish Water staff worked round the clock to dry out and repair the damaged electrics at the plant, and asked customers to conserve water while repairs were undertaken. They were able to announce yesterday that the works are back in normal operation and are producing clean drinking water. More severe weather has been predicted so, as a precaution, Scottish Water staff and Orkney Islands Council workers are sandbagging an area around the works to prevent a repeat of the flooding.
Another effect of the extreme weather was power cuts. At the worst point, approximately 4,800 residents in the northern region, many of them in the Dornoch area, were without electricity. Scottish and Southern Electricity, using extra staff, reconnected all supplies by Saturday and has confirmed today that there are no more problems.
Fortunately, although many schools had to close for a day or two because flooded roads made access to them difficult or because of power failures, only one primary school was directly affected by the weather. It was brought back into use with minimum delay after the effects of flooding were cleared up.
The Highland Council tells me that its main concern is the damage to its roads infrastructure—mainly to bridges, road drainage and surfacing and through landslips that have been caused by the flow of water. It will be a few weeks before the council will be in a position to assess the cost of repairing the damage, and I have asked it to keep ministers, including the Minister for Transport, informed. There are no imminent plans to activate the Bellwin scheme for the recent severe weather in the north of Scotland, but the position will be reconsidered in the light of the councils' costs in dealing with the incident.
Unfortunately, climate change means that, in future years, such severe weather incidents are likely to occur more often, which is why we are committed to reducing the flood risk that is posed to vulnerable communities. To that end, we have increased the funds that are available to local authorities—to £33 million this year and £42 million next year—for construction of flood prevention schemes that meet our criteria. That is coupled with an increase in the rate of support to 80 per cent of the eligible costs.
Flood prevention schemes will not address all the flood-prone areas of the country. We are keen to ensure that the public are aware of the flood risks in their areas. To that end, the Executive has funded SEPA by £2 million to produce indicative river and coastal flood risk maps, which I am pleased to let members know were, coincidentally, published on SEPA's website this morning. That latest measure further reinforces the steps that we are taking to strengthen flood risk management arrangements. It complements SEPA's floodline service, which is proving to be an invaluable source of information on the flood risks that are presented by heavy rainfall events.
Even if global emissions of greenhouse gases were to cease now, climate change for the next 30 to 40 years has already been determined by past and present emissions. The Executive is putting in place a framework to help to reduce Scotland's vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
The local councils are best placed to assess the local need for flood prevention schemes in the light of the events of last week. It is for the councils to assess their priorities and to decide which schemes to implement in the longer term. Should they suggest new schemes, we will carefully consider them for grant support in the light of the resources that are available at the time. In the meantime, Scottish ministers will continue to engage with councils in dealing with the immediate aftermath and the implications of the recent event.
The minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. I will allow until 16:59 for that process.
I welcome the minister's comments and I hope that others will support her in offering their sympathies, as I do, to the people who were affected by the severe flooding in the Highlands last week.
We have to accept that in the medium term changes in weather patterns—we hear in particular about global warming—will mean increased incidences of severe weather that will lead to flooding in many areas. I am sure that the minister shares my concern that if action is not taken, some homeowners in flood risk areas will find it increasingly difficult to get insurance for their properties and possessions.
Given the circumstances in the Highlands, will the minister consider increasing the amount of money that is available to the Highland Council and other local authorities to carry out studies into increased flood risks and to ensure that the necessary capital works are undertaken to control and contain flooding?
John Farquhar Munro is correct that the potential implications of climate change, which we have seen recently, are significant for all of us in Scotland. He asked about funding. In responding to changes in weather patterns and increased storm events, we must be able to keep emerging trends under review. John Farquhar Munro will be aware of the funding that has been made available to councils: some £89 million is available between 2005 and 2008 for councils that come forward with schemes. He will also be aware that, over time, the Highland Council and Orkney Islands Council will be examining what has taken place in their areas and assessing whether they need to seek further capital funding and what the implications are. Of course, we will continue to keep in close touch with the councils.
I thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement.
The Scottish National Party offers its fulsome praise for the tireless work of the emergency services and its sympathy to the householders and businesses that were so badly affected by the sudden and severe floods and gales and, in particular, to the families of the Meridian's crew.
Will there be a root-and-branch review of the Scottish Government's preparations, and will cash backing and expert advice be made available to address the disruption to communications, homes and businesses that results from severe weather events? Given that it takes months to make assessments, will the Government consider funds other than those that were earmarked under the flood prevention schemes that the minister mentioned? Given that the event cuts across the work of many Government departments, will the First Minister ensure that outstanding remedial work as a result of this and previous severe weather events does not drag on but is sorted out quickly?
Of course. We have in place contingency planning systems both at local government and Scottish Executive level. Members of the Scottish Executive continue to be in regular touch with the councils involved.
As I said, a range of options are available. At this stage, there is no indication from the Highland Council or Orkney Islands Council that they intend to activate the Bellwin scheme, but we remain in contact with them and they might decide to do that if the cost of dealing with the immediate emergency exceeds the trigger.
On the money that is available for flood prevention schemes, we need to ensure that we can reflect on that once the Highland Council and Orkney Islands Council have been able to assess the costs and whether some of the necessary measures can be incorporated in a major defence scheme. The councils can then make bids for funding. If other implications emerge, we will continue to talk to the councils; indeed, if there are implications for funding and a need to review the kind of funding that we have in place, we will look at that.
I thank the deputy minister for taking the time at the weekend to visit Dingwall and Maryburgh. It was much appreciated by Highland councillors and by the people who suffered the awful effects of the flooding. I add my sympathy for those who were affected and for the families of the fishermen who were lost.
Will the deputy minister consider how we can plan for and prevent situations such as those that she saw in Maryburgh? People there are asking who is responsible for management of the burn that burst its banks. Is it Scottish Natural Heritage, which manages the loch that the burn flows from, or is it the estate that it flows through? Furthermore, with regard to the back gardens that it flows past and which it devastated, there was confusion about who the riparian owners are.
How can we develop a strategy for dealing with small watercourses that can, in spate, devastate communities and which have cumulatively devastated the coastline from the Cromarty firth to Thurso? We should remember that some of those householders have already coped with two floods this year and can look forward to similar weather patterns causing more floods in the future. As John Farquhar Munro said, that will have an impact on the availability of insurance to those families.
It was certainly made clear to me when I met householders who had been flooded—not for the first time—that action needs to be taken. Of course, I am sure that the Highland Council will as a matter of urgency review the specific incident relating to Maryburgh and the Ussie burn and that it will come forward with plans as part of a broader flood defence scheme or consider implementing other measures to deal with that particular problem.
Maureen Macmillan is right to say that many of the problems were to do with relatively small watercourses. As she will be aware, the Highland Council is considering four major flood prevention schemes—two relating to Inverness, one relating to Caol and Fort William and one relating to Wick. Indeed, one of the schemes affecting Inverness is with the Executive at the moment.
In the light of the recent events, the Highland Council will have either to put in place plans for new major capital works or to consider the implications for its contingency funds. Of course, as we do not yet know the implications, we will continue to keep in close touch with the council as the situation becomes clearer.
I associate my party with the minister's kind and generous words of sympathy for the families of the crew of the Meridian, which was lost last week.
The minister has made it clear that the Executive is well aware of the growing problem that can be caused by storms such as those that we are discussing. Does the Executive consider that it is necessary to reassess the timescale for proposed sea defence and flood prevention improvements, and will it be necessary to consider funding measures? Will the reduction in European structural funds, which we have discussed at some length this afternoon, impact on delivery of sea defence and flood prevention measures?
We are conscious that it takes a number of years to bring capital flood prevention works to fruition. The process that is involved is complex and many schemes are being considered. The flooding issues advisory committee is considering the timescales and the process for bringing such schemes to fruition and whether we need to amend existing legislation.
I have to hand no information on the structural funds issue, but I will be happy to furnish the member with such information. The money that the Executive has made available has increased hugely in recent years since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, as I said. At the moment, £89 million is available for the three years between 2005 and 2008.
The member may be interested to note that we are considering whether to include sustainable flood management measures in land management contracts and in rural stewardship schemes.
I warmly welcome the minister's statement and the comments that she made at the beginning of her statement, which we echo. Does she agree that having to find even 20 per cent of the cost of flood prevention schemes in areas that are afflicted by flooding problems is an unfair burden, given that such money does not have to be found in areas that have no flooding problems? Often, cash has to be diverted from other council budgets, which is an unfair burden on council tax payers and on other budgets, such as education budgets. Could the pace at which flood prevention schemes are produced be influenced by the fact that local authorities must find that 20 per cent contribution, which can in many cases amount to millions of pounds? That is another serious matter that must be addressed if we want such schemes to be produced sooner rather than later.
The member will be aware that the Scottish Executive has raised its contribution from 50 per cent to 80 per cent in recent years. I repeat that we have hugely increased the amount of money that is available for flood prevention schemes. I know that the member's constituency has considerable flooding problems and that Moray Council has produced schemes and is working hard on other schemes.
Suffice it to say that schemes are being produced and have been put in place. If significant issues emerge, we will continue to liaise with councils. Essentially, we all want the same thing: we need to protect people from serious flooding events. The funding that we have put in place should mean that by 2008 more than 4,000 people will be protected from the 1 per cent risk of a serious flooding event.
I thank the minister for her statement and I join members who have expressed sympathy to the people who have been affected by the floods, and members who have paid tribute to the work of the emergency services.
I will pick up on the minister's point about Kirbister water treatment works in Orkney. On Friday morning, the scale of the damage and the consequences seemed dire, so to get the works functioning by yesterday was no small feat.
I have discussed with the minister a bridge on the island of Hoy that experienced severe structural damage. How might that bridge be secured?
Reference has been made to exceptionally severe weather. Even the best drainage scheme would have been challenged to cope with the extent of the rainfall in my constituency last Thursday. If we are to have a repeat of such events, should we add to the agenda several other matters that relate to climate change and severe weather? I understand that the drainage system and pipe sizes are geared to what might be the most extreme event in 30 years, but if the whole climate is changing, we should engage with the industry to obtain the necessary statistics that would allow us to consider whether we need to examine the fundamentals of drainage schemes.
A problem exists with the bridge to the island of Hoy, which was damaged by the extreme weather. As the member knows, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic, but I understand that a Bailey bridge has been sourced and is to be installed on Monday 6 November. That will act as a temporary measure that will allow vehicles to travel to and from the island.
Mr Wallace made an important point about what we can do to adapt to the reality of climate change, which is becoming clear. An adaptation strategy is in place. Bodies such as local authorities and Scottish Water are being asked to consider how they can plan for the future, and Scottish Water has been asked about the size of its pipes and the capacity and ability of its infrastructure to deal with the increasing likelihood of storms.
I, too, thank the minister for providing an advance copy of her statement, and I associate myself and my party with her expressions of sympathy to everyone who has been affected by the severe weather.
It has been said that some people who were affected by the flooding had been affected by such weather previously. However, some areas had not previously been affected by flooding—houses in my village, for example. Relatively speaking, the weather conditions in those areas appeared out of the blue.
What system exists for analysing each flooding incident? For example, concerns have been expressed in the Dingwall area about drains, to which Jim Wallace referred. In other areas, there are clearly issues to do with burns and surface water, so is there a system for pooling the knowledge that has been gained from all the events that have occurred so that people will avoid building in such a way as to exacerbate the effects of flooding, and avoid covering with tarmac areas that are needed to drain water away? How can we learn from what has happened so that other people will not be similarly affected by severe weather? As the minister said, such weather will become more frequent.
The member raised several important points.
It is clear that the Highland Council and Orkney Islands Council will take several weeks—possibly months—to come up with a full plan. In trying to get things back to normal, our contingency planning people will continue to work with them to find out what can be done to avoid things happening in the future that have happened in the past.
SEPA is a key agency. It has been developing awareness-raising initiatives and has put in place a 24-hour floodline. In addition, we are considering a strategy for adaptation, as I have said.
We must do various things: we must ensure that support is provided to councils so that they can learn the lessons that can be learned and the Executive also needs to know what lessons can be learned and about possible future actions by SEPA.
Again, I want to put on record my thanks for the Executive's appropriate response to the awful storms of January 2005 and to reflect the gratitude of my constituents for that response. The Minister for Justice and the First Minister saw for themselves the consequences of those storms. It was right that funding was forthcoming to help to secure causeways, to reconstruct a harbour in Eriskay and to build escape routes for low-lying villages in South Uist. Funding was also provided for a new primary school on Benbecula.
However, as the minister knows, there is one outstanding issue—the shingle bank on South Uist. There will be serious consequences for South Uist if it is compromised. Can the minister update me on the progress of the application for funding to augment what the local authority is already doing?
I am grateful for the member's comments.
The Executive stepped in with assistance following the appalling events in South Uist. I do not have with me the information that the member is seeking, but I will be more than happy to provide him later with an update on the South Uist shingle bank.
Two other members want to ask questions. I would be grateful to the minister if she gave fairly short responses so that both questions will be answered.
The minister mentioned SEPA's indicative flood risk maps. Are there any plans to use those maps with Scottish Water and other stakeholders in order to implement further flood prevention measures and thereby to reduce the risks that are posed by flooding, and to help to organise future responses?
As I said, the flood risk maps were published this morning. SEPA and other agencies will look at those maps and provide important information to local authorities and householders—although they will not work at household level—about areas that are prone to flooding. That is important.
I thank the minister for providing an early copy of her statement and I express our sympathies to everyone who has been affected by the severe weather.
Does the minister agree that regular maintenance of carriageway drainage—including offlets, ditches and culverts—is of paramount importance if we want to mitigate flooding risks? One has only to witness the general neglect of such roadside activities—which is clearly illustrated by standing water and the regular obstruction of crucial road signage by overgrown vegetation—to realise that vital routine maintenance of our highways is not being given the priority that it deserves.
It will be a matter of time before the councils can draw conclusions about the exact causes of the incidents in the Highlands and in Orkney and Shetland. I agree that regular maintenance is important. Local authorities have had increased funding in recent years to ensure that it can happen.