Union puts forward proposed sites for riverbank protection in effort to manage flooding

Officeholders drive forward flooding action plan
Officeholders drive forward flooding action plan

Flood-hit farms in Scotland are to be proposed for sites of riverbank protection and watercourse management.

NFU Scotland’s officeholders have visited 15 flood-hit farms in recent days as it moves forward with proposals to minimise future flood risk to businesses, homes and farmland.

In a 1200-mile road trip, the Union visited farms in the North East, East Central, Highlands, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway and Borders last week. Further visits are planned for Forth & Clyde Region.

On the premises visited, some of damage inflicted during the storms and subsequent floods at the start of this year included:

• One farm which had a metre of water flowing through its cattle sheds

• One farm lost a metre of topsoil from approximately 40 percent of a 50-acre field

• One farm lost two acres of land overnight in the floods

As a result of the visits, eight locations have been put forward to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) as potential demonstration sites for new river bank protection techniques.

In addition, three very large gravel bars in rivers, locally identified as having been responsible for flooding that caused significant damage to land and property, have also been put to SEPA for scientific assessment of the flood risk they pose.

'Desperately need help and support'

NFU Scotland Vice President Rob Livesey, who participated in the inspections said: "All farmers visited desperately need help and support.

"They are living with the fear that their problems with flooding are only going to get worse in the future.

"We thank those that we met for their time and their valuable input.

"As a result, eight river systems with complex and inter-related problems of flooding, erosion and gravel bars, have been put to SEPA as potential areas where NFU Scotland, SEPA and local land managers can work together to tackle the problems in an effective and sustainable way.

"NFU Scotland next meets SEPA later this month to discuss flooding measures, the roll-out of demonstration sites for river bank protection, gravel bar assessments, catchment groups, and guidance for land managers.

"It is clear, from speaking to flood-hit farmers this week, that the extent and gravity of the flooding damage last winter means that we must use these drier summer months to take action now, that will reduce the risk of erosion and serious flooding in the likelihood of further heavy rainfall this winter."