Flood defence projects a perfect example of SNP’s inability to deliver 

Scottish Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesperson Beatrice Wishart has today said that communities risk being washed away as she revealed that out of the 42 flood defence projects the Scottish Government announced would be built by 2021, just half have been completed and only seven were finished on time. Meanwhile some projects will now cost more than ten times as much as initially budgeted.

Only 21 of the 42 flood programmes originally due to be delivered between 2015 and 2021 have been finished.

Among the completed schemes, the Broughty Ferry scheme came in at £16.3m up from a projected £10m, the Caol and Lochyside scheme came in at £15.2m up from £8.4m, Millport Coastal came in at £48.6m up from £12.1m while Hawick came in at £78.6m, up from £37.4m.

Among the schemes which are still to be completed, the cost of the Musselburgh flood protection scheme has increased from £8.9m to £106m. The cost of the Comrie scheme has increased from £15.7m to £40.8m, the Dumfries-Whitesands scheme from £18.9m to £68.6m and the Newton Stewart scheme from £7.5m to £35.7m.

According to SEPA, an estimated 284,000 homes, businesses and services are at risk of flooding, with the number projected to increase by around 110,000 by the 2080s.

Beatrice Wishart MSP said:

“These flood defence projects are a perfect example of how the SNP promise the earth but never ever deliver. Just half of the projects that they said would be done by 2021 are finished now. Meanwhile costs are overrunning in almost every project.

“Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to explain how they will tackle increased flooding events across the country.

“People who have been flooded out have seen their lives torn apart and this is only going to get worse as our climate changes.

“I want to see ministers getting serious about this. That starts by getting a handle on these projects so they are not delivered years late and millions over budget.

“For too many it feels like our country simply isn’t working. Scotland deserves better than this.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would fix our vital infrastructure and get our country going again. That starts with getting major projects complete on time and on budget, creating river catchment plans in partnership with landowners and farmers to manage the risk of flooding and reviewing the Bellwin compensation scheme so it is fit for purpose when flooding occurs."