Fife Council investing in flooding challenges

one of the council's new gulley tankers in action

AS climate change continues to have an impact on the Kingdom’s coast and waterways, Fife Council has committed to investing £19.5 million over the next ten years to help tackle the issue of flooding.

And an investment of £9m over the next three years will help replace the council’s aging fleet including essential gulley tankers that will keep roads and gulleys clear.

Environment spokesperson Cllr Jan Wincott welcomed the investment which will progress flooding schemes across Fife and design work on others so that the council is in the best position possible to bid for Scottish Government funding when it becomes available.

She added: “Millions of pounds are needed to tackle these problems which are often extremely complex because of land ownership and the different watercourses involved. However, we are working hard to try and alleviate problems in the worst hit areas, and we have invested in a number of flood studies to better understand local issues.

“That’s coupled with the fact that we are also a coastal authority and our coastal communities are also under pressure from erosion and flooding.”

In the last year the council's flooding team has progressed a range of flood and coastal improvements including:

  • Responding to 1905 road drainage enquiries/requests
  • Responding to 180 locations of flooding
  • Undertaking cleaning of 37,000 gullies
  • Responding to 2303 individual gully clearing issues
  • Clearing 30 km of ditches and 21,000 drainage offlets
  • Delivering 43 drainage improvement projects
  • Responding to five emergency/ storm events at Pittenweem, St Andrews Harbour, St Monans, Kinghorn Slipway and Leven Promenade
  • Progressing flood management studies/improvements at Cupar, Rosyth, Cardenden, Freuchie Mill, Ballingry and Kinnessburn

Gulley tankers play an important role in cleaning and clearing gullies, allowing water to drain freely. Two new gulley tankers have already been purchased as part of the council's fleet replacement programme to help improve reliability and performance. It's now planned to replace the two remaining vehicles thanks to new investment announced at the council's recent budget meeting.

Concluded Cllr Wincott: "We are committed to doing everything we can to mitigate the impact of flooding in Fife. However, with severe weather events becoming more common we have to work together with our communities to get better at planning for them and being prepared for when they happen."

A property flood resilience grant is available so that householders can apply for a funding contribution to help with the cost of installing property flood resilience measures for their homes.

In addition, an initiative set up between the Government and insurance companies called FloodRe provides insurance at a lower cost for properties affected by flooding https://www.floodre.co.uk

There’s also lots of useful advice and information on the council’s website so Fifers can make sure they're familiar with all the steps they can take to prepare and plan ahead: https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/readyfife/flooding-advice