Flood protection in Newton Stewart will be on the agenda at the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee next Tuesday. This is in reaction to flooding particularly in November 2012 which saw the River Cree with the highest flow since records began in April 1963.

A study investigating the various options to combat flooding both on the River Cree and Penkiln Burn has been taking place. The study discounted upstream storage as a flood risk management option and determined that the removal of the gravel island would have very little benefit. However the study recommended two actions, the construction of walls and raising Sparling footbridge.

The next steps are to develop these options into deliverable solutions and determine the availability of funding for the works. This could cost in the region of £3.4 million and Scottish Government help would be required to take this large scale project forward. In the meantime Councillors will be asked to agree to spend £20,000 for these investigations and to consider lower-cost early intervention measures. Furthermore an additional £10,000 is being sought to install equipment to support SEPA in developing a flood warning system similar to that operated on the Whitesands, Dumfries, offering a 3 hour warning of flooding.

Another option being considered by Councillors is the development of a mini flood pod which would be based in Newton Stewart. This mobile version of the larger flood pod has much of the equipment, but it is on a trailer and can be deployed at various locations more easily. The pod carries equipment such as barriers, absorbent sandbags etc. that can used to protect property.

Councillor Colin Smyth, Chair of the Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee said:
“I believe it’s vital that we do all we possibly can to mitigate flooding in the region and that’s why I want to see measures agreed for Newton Stewart. It could take significant money to build defensive walls to create a full flood prevention scheme for the town and that will be subject to securing Scottish Government funding. However, in the short term an early warning system and flood pod could prove invaluable. If agreement is given to a flood warning scheme, locals who sign up will receive texts and emails alerting them to predicted flooding. This has proved beneficial in other parts of Dumfries and Galloway.”

The flood line alert service can be found at http://floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup