£100,000 to tackle floods
HOMES in Kirkcaldy at risk of flooding could be in line to benefit from new protection measures.
Around £100,000 is being spent on a series of flood mitigation projects at various locations, including Rosyth, Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy and Dura Den.
And another £200,000 will be used to purchase ‘PODS’, which look like green grit bins but contain a stock of 24 doors seals sufficient for 12 ‘at risk’ properties.
These will be located in and around all sites identified as ‘priority one’ at risk in the Flood Alleviation Plan 2009, such as beside East Burn and Tiel Burn in Kirkcaldy.
Target areas
And they are also expected to be placed in areas which have suffered flooding since 2009, such as Middle Burn in Kirkcaldy, where several houses next to the water were flooded in September this year.
Councillor Pat Callaghan, executive member for transportation and environment, said: “We have really improved our existing high levels of preparedness and have stringent policies in place for regular inspections of watercourses and known at risk flooding locations, along with significant emergency stores provision and improved communications and incident management.
“We will continue to work closely with our area committees to identify medium term priorities and, along with The Scottish Flood Forum, maintain an ‘at risk’ register and manage the deployment of the PODS to the most ‘at risk’ locations throughout Fife.”
Fife Council believes it is now one of the leading local authorities in Scotland when it comes to flood protection and dealing with the effects of flooding.
Provisions
Its emergency provisions for dealing with flooding events include three pumps, 8000 filled sandbags and another 15,000 unfilled bags together with 40 tonnes of sand, and 300 road signs warning of flooding, road closures and diversions.
Cllr Callaghan said: “Every effort is being made to ensure that Fife is well prepared for any flooding incidents.”
Responsibility
However, while the Council will respond and provide assistance during and following flooding incidents, it is not solely responsible for dealing the such events.
Angus Carmichael, the Council’s network management service manager, said: “Individual owners have the primary responsibility for the prevention of flooding to their property.
“In the case of rented housing, this will rest with the Council, housing association or private landlord.”
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North east
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