Golspie Flood Group leader warns of 'existential threat to village' if no action is taken
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The leader of Golspie Flood Group has warned that flooding poses a potential “existential threat” to the village unless action is taken.
Henrietta Marriott was speaking at a public meeting held by the flood group at Golspie Golf Club on Monday.
Also present was Sutherland MSP Maree Todd, Highland Council’s head of infrastructure capital projects Gary Smith, and local councillors.
Several floods in recent months have caused damage in the village, particularly to the golf club, the North of Scotland Kart Club track and the Golden Sands Links caravan park.
Two flood protection schemes in the pipeline involve raising the sea wall by 90cm and creating a £5 million bank and berm running roughly from Seaforth House to the pier.
However these schemes would not protect the businesses most at risk from flooding and there are also concerns about the length of time it takes for funding applications to be decided.
At Monday’s meeting Mrs Marriott said Golspie needed to make its voice heard, especially as the A9 runs through the village, which is also home to the only bank and hospital in the county and one of the few remaining post office sorting offices.
“This problem is not going to go away. we could ostrich it but it (flooding) is going to happen and those who plan ahead and have a strategy will be better prepared when it does,” she said.
Mrs Marriott said a “big picture approach” was needed and it was intended to bring together a steering group of stakeholders and agencies to help the flood group develop and implement a wider flood strategy for the village to be implemented by 2035.
“We need to know what residents’ priorities are for flood management, she said. “What assets must be protected. What assets we would we like to protect and what must be relocated or repurposed.”
Maree Todd told the meeting: “I am more than happy to put my weight and experience behind this to get things moving. I agree with you that we cannot wait... The funding is one of the challenges but not the only one and it is not going to be particularly fast.”
It was agreed that the flood group would arrange for sandbags to be provided to protect against high spring tides expected from Sunday to Wednesday.
New signs will also be put up on flood gates to remind people to close them and life rings replaced along the shore front. Pressure will be put on Highland Council to repair damage to the promenade, walkways and beach access.
The flood group is to hold another public meeting at the YMCA next Thursday, March 14. For more information click here.
