Call for more flood funding to protect Fife village

In September the Scottish Government announced an extra £150 million for flood risk management across the whole of Scotland but with a massive demand for works across the country, MSP Willie Rennie is concerned the funding may not reach Freuchie.

SEPA reported that a total 105.6mm of rain was recorded in Fife, nearly as much as the official Met Office average August rainfall total for Scotland which is 116mm on August 11-12.

The result was that Freuchie Mill and other properties through the village were flooded.

Mr Rennie is calling on the Scottish Government to provide more money so Fife Council has the resources needed to protect local residents affected by flooding.

Mr Rennie is advocating a quicker solution to the Freuchie Mill problems which would involve building a new gully to by pass the development and also to build up the road entrance to divert surface water on the road away.

“There is a relatively quick solution to the problem that has haunted the residents for years,” he said. “Every time there is heavy rain they are on tenterhooks, anxious about the protection of their homes.

“If we can divert the water away from the development by building a new gully and sorting the road we may be able to prevent a future flood. But it will still need money and the fear is that £150million just won’t be enough for all the projects in Scotland.

“Earlier this year we saw we saw a months’ worth of rain fall in one night. It created a tidal wave of destruction with many residents still not back in their homes.

“These extreme weather events are becoming ever more frequent and we need investment to protect us against them.

“We need a solution to protect people’s homes and keep them safe but to make that happen we need government help.

“I have written to the Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham to make the case for more funds to help Freuchie.”