'We need action and we need it quickly': Golspie Flood Group to hold open meeting to discuss flood management plan
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The next meeting of Golspie Flood Group on March 4 will be open to the public, its coordinator has said.
The voluntary group decided to make the meeting public after the village was hit by severe flooding a fortnight ago – the third flooding event in four months.
Coordinator Henrietta Marriott said: “Our aim is to formulate a village-wide strategic flood management plan with timescales, which will be agreed and then implemented. It will involve all community and statutory organisations.
"The purpose of this meeting is to explain where the flood project has got to so far, to get the views of anyone who is concerned about or affected by flooding and to start a discussion about flood resilience and a management strategy."
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And Mrs Marriott has added her voice to that of ward councillor Richard Gale who last week said a proposed bank and berm flood defence scheme and a plan to raise the sea wall must be taken forward sooner rather than later.
“We cannot wait until 2025 for the Scottish Government to decide on a funding bid for Highland Council’s preferred option of raising the sea wall. We’re asking all politicians to support us in getting a quicker decision,” she said.
“We urgently need a multi-agency round table meeting with all stakeholders (Highland Council, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Transport Scotland, Scottish Water, Sutherland Estates) to work out a flood management strategy.
“As volunteers we can’t do this alone – we need our MSPs, MP and councillors to campaign on our behalf to organise this."
And she added: “This coastline has been studied and surveyed many times over the last 20 years by a number of professional and academic bodies, but nothing has been done. This football has been kicked down the street by successive administrations. We need action and we need it quickly. The sea will not wait for humans to get their act together.
The meeting on Monday, March 4, will take place at Golspie Golf Club from noon. The flood group hope to arrange an evening session later in the month, with the date to be confirmed.
