MSP welcomes Angus access to flood resilience funding
News that communities in Angus could benefit from a new £15 million to boost flood resilience has been welcomed by one of the county’s MSPs.
The new £15 million fund set up by the Scottish Government will be allocated to local groups, communities and local authorities across the country.
It will support sustainable drainage, including natural features such as green spaces and planting, to reduce flood risk and future-proof existing flooding infrastructure.
Coastal communities receive support for innovative coastal resilience projects to replenish sand dunes and reduce flood risk in towns such as Montrose.
Additional support will be available for communities recovering from the impact of flooding, while Public Health Scotland will develop a new interactive tool combining flood risk and population and demographic data to help identify communities and groups most at risk in the future.
A new Flood Advisory Service will help local authorities to deliver major flood protection schemes more efficiently, reducing delays and improving value for public money.
Dawn Blac k, Angus North and Mearns MSP, said: “Many communities across my constituency know all too well the devastating impact flooding can have on homes, businesses and local services. That is why I am delighted to see those that have been devastated by flooding will be able to access this much-needed support to better protect themselves .
“Coastal erosion in Montrose remains a significant challenge. We must act now to protect our coastline and ensure that communities are safeguarded from the long-term consequences of erosion and rising flood risk.”
Ms Black added: “The impact of Storm Babet on Brechin is still fresh in the minds of many local people. The damage caused and the tragic loss of life demonstrated the importance of investing in flood prevention and resilience measures to reduce the risk of similar events in the future.
“This funding has the potential to make a real difference. I have sought a meeting with the Climate Action and Rural Affairs Secretary seeking details on how this will be allocated and how communities can benefit from this welcome investment.”