Twenty objections have been submitted to Falkirk Council against the proposals for Grangemouth’s Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS).
The £450 million scheme, which was identified by SEPA and the Scottish Government as the top priority for flood protection schemes in Scotland, aims to provide flood resilience for 2760 residential properties and 1200 commercial buildings in Grangemouth and surrounding communities. Being located near three local rivers and on the Forth Estuary, these areas are at an escalating risk of a major flood event, with severe flooding becoming increasingly likely.
Key objections include:
- Environmental impact: RSPB Scotland operate a reserve near Skinflats, and criticise that there is insufficient consideration of environmental impacts, lack of natural solutions, and inadequate engagement.
- Business impact: Local businesses have expressed concerns about operational disruptions and potential impacts on future development. Forth Ports, one of the area’s biggest employers, indicates that the route of the flood defence wall will impact on its operations as well as potentially impacting on future projects that will be part of the Green Freeport.
- Resident concerns: Residents object to the visual impact and potential disruption to their properties and the environment, calling it intrusive and expensive.
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The report going to Falkirk Council’s Executive next week notes that the 20 objections represent only 0.2% of those who will be affected, and recommends that that the Council proceed to the next stage as "it is considered that no new issues have arisen which have not already been addressed by the GFPS project team as far as reasonably practicable".
The report also states that it is unlikely that work will commence on the entire project – estimated to cost between £450m and £625m to build – simultaneously. Instead, the project will be divided into smaller packages of between £5m and £50m.
If Councillors approve the scheme without modification, the presence of relevant objections will require the Council to notify Scottish Ministers of the decision.
The Ministers will then determine whether to call in the proposed scheme and hold either a Public Local Inquiry or Local Hearing.
Falkirk Council’s Executive will consider the report at its meeting on Thursday, 23rd January, in Grangemouth Community Education Unit, Abbots Road, Grangemouth, from 10 am. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Council’s YouTube channel.
[Image credit: shutterstock.com/dvlcom]