Flood plan could need public inquiry
Council bosses could end up having to participate in a public inquiry over a proposed flood protection scheme for Comrie if councillors choose to support it this week.
A paper seeking the full council’s permission to proceed with the £24 million project says two people who raised objections to it going ahead under its current guise during a recent consultation are refusing to back down.
The document adds Scottish ministers could demand local authority leaders justify the proposed flood defences at a public local inquiry if the duo do not drop their opposition to the scheme soon.
A separate paper says one objector is opposed to a section being built in a resident’s garden while the other is worried about construction workers damaging their property.
The paper says the second objector also fears the proposed defences along the Water of Ruchill, the River Earn and the River Lednock will actually increase the chances of their property being flooded.
A summary of their concerns says: “The first objection received was in relation to a part of the flood scheme proposed to be built in a resident’s garden.
“The resident’s main concern was the proposal for a disabled ramp and stairs to maintain access over the flood wall.”
The summary goes on: “The second objection received was on the grounds that the implications for the resident’s property remain unclear at this stage.
“Their objection notes that recent [flood] data provided to them was encouraging, although this differs to information provided previously.
“They note that this contradiction appears to be expedient for the scheme, highlighting a potential conflict of interest.”
However, PKC goes on to assert in the same paper: “The proposed flood scheme will not increase flood risk to the resident’s property.
“The council has provided the resident with data from the latest flood modelling exercise which has considered the level of flood risk to the property, both prior to and after construction of the proposed scheme.
“This modelling confirms that the level of flood risk to the property will not change due to the flood scheme and this remains the case even when future climate change is taken into account.”
The council’s main report on the progression of the scheme says: “It is proposed that the council makes a preliminary decision to confirm the proposed scheme without modification.
“Once the preliminary decision has been made, the council is required to notify those residents who submitted an objection and the Scottish ministers.
“Within 28 days, the Scottish ministers will advise the council if they will consider the proposed scheme. If this proves to be the case, then a public local inquiry will be held.
“If not, then the council will be required to hold a local authority hearing.
“This will either result in the Scottish ministers or the council taking a further final decision to either confirm the proposed scheme without modification, confirm the proposed scheme with modifications or reject the proposed scheme.”
The full council will be asked to consider both papers and confirm the proposed scheme during a virtual meeting being held tomorrow (Wednesday, June 24).