FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT throughout Moray is to be brought to community tables throughout the region over the next month.
Moray Council will lead a series of roadshows forming part of a national initiative to move away from reactive flood management to a new plan led and risk based approach under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) held an online consultation earlier this year – now they have taken responses into account in the flood risk management strategies that are expected to be approved by Scottish ministers.
Local authorities will now take the next step in developing plans that show how their strategies will be implemented through the next five years – and that will be informed in part by road shows that allow communities a chance to air their views.
Councillor George Alexander, who chaired Moray Council’s flood alleviation sub-committee, encouraged the public to attend the road shows and provide feedback on the plans, remembering that the night of June 30, 1997 is etched on the memories of many people flooded from their homes and business.
Since then five major flood schemes had been completed and thousands of homes and businesses saved from further flooding, with Councillor Alexander saying: “However, there is still work to do and the next community to benefit from the Moray Council investment in flood prevention will be Newmill.
“The council’s flood risk management strategies and plans, along with its surface water management plans, are clear indicators of Moray Council’s commitment to the protection of people and property from inundation by floodwater.”
The roadshow will visit:
ABERLOUR Fleming Hall on September 29 from 3.30pm to 7pm.
PORTGORDON Village Hall on September 30 from 3.30pm to 7pm.
ELGIN High Street on October 1 from 12noon to 4.30pm.
ELGIN Tesco car park on October 1 from 5pm to 7pm.
LOSSIEMOUTH Station Park on October 5 from 3.30pm to 7pm.
KEITH Tesco on October 6 from 3.30pm to 7pm.
FORRES Tesco on October 8 from 3.30pm to 7pm.
Members of the council’s flood team will be on hand to answer any queries and provide further information, along with representatives from partner organisations such as SEPA and Scottish Water.