The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Dedicated fund ‘needed to help victims of landslips’
Westminster debate hears plea for support from Conservative MPs
A north-east politician has called for a dedicated fund to help communities hit by landslips in Scotland.
Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid spoke out at a Westminster debate highlighting the need for cash to be made available to help carry out repairs in areas affected by coastal erosion.
The Scottish Conservative MP listed areas within his constituency such as Gardenstown, Crovie, Pennan and Rosehearty, which have been affected by landslips in the past.
Mr Duguid said: “In
“Therehavebeen majorissuesalong theBanffand Buchancoast”
England, there is a dedicated scheme that local authorities can bid into for funding to combat coastal erosion.
“In Scotland, however, there is no such dedicated funding and local authorities must decide how to fund such works from within the overall funding they receive from the Scottish Government.”
Kirstene Hair, Conservative MP for Angus, agreed there should be cooperation between the UK Government and devolved administrations.
She said the fund should include a ring-fenced compensation scheme for people who lose property in a landslip.
George Eustice, the Minister of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said that, as this is a devolved matter, parts of the UK could learn from one another.
Harbour Road in Gardenstown was closed for several months after a landslip blocked in residents. Repairs to the public land will cost the local council £2 million.
Speaking after the debate, Mr Duguid said: “There have been major issues along the Banff and Buchan coast in recent months, not least at Gardenstown, where local residents in the lower part of the village were cut off for a lengthy period.
“Coastal communities affected should have access to a central fund to help with repairs and maintenance of landslips, or prevention work.
“Unfortunately, our councils are being starved of funding by the SNP Government in Edinburgh.
“In the case of Gardenstown, Scottish ministers have already refused calls to help fund the remedial work at Harbour Road.”
Deputy council leader Peter Argyle wrote to the Scottish Government to ask for assistance but has not received a reply.
Mr Argyle said: “As a council we have a real issue with landslips in our area and this won’t go away.
“Repair work is expensive and resources are limited.”