Council on the scrounge for Oban flood defence cash

The issue of flooding, which caused an estimated £1million worth of damage to businesses on Oban’s low-lying Lochavullin Industrial Estate during a storm last October, surfaced at question time at the Oban, Lorn and Isles Area Committee meeting on June 12. 

 

Oban Community Council convener Frank Roberts asked: "What steps are being taken to secure funding for the Oban Flood Prevention scheme, as outlined in the 2019 consultant’s report and in the current Flood Risk Management Plan?

 

"Secondly, the consultant’s report specifically highlights the council’s responsibilities for the proper maintenance of the Black Lynn (knotweed removal etc) and effective maintenance of the pumps in the Lochavullin Car Park. What is the council’s ongoing maintenance programme in regard to these?"

 

Lachie Strathern, owner of Lochavullin garage LMS Auto Services, also asked what progress the council was making towards flood defences.

 

Mr Strathern said his insurance claim after the October 7 flood was £55,000. Many of the affected businesses in Lochavullin are now uninsurable, he explained. If his yard goes underwater again, he said: "I cannot absorb the financial impact to this business, and nor should I".

An answer from Jim Smith, Argyll and Bute Council’s head of roads and infrastructure services, stated: "Some work will be carried out to clear the burn, however this on its own will not create sufficient capacity to cope with a significant flood event," Mr Smith said. "Work is under way to modify the pumps in Lochavullin car park to make them more resilient.

 

"However, it should be noted the pumps can only drain minor flood events down to surrounding levels. When the flood reaches a certain height, there is nowhere for the water to be pumped to."

 

A new report, due to go before the Environment, Development and Infrastructure committee on June 20, says preventing flooding in Oban will require “significant work” – but no funding is currently allocated to assist.

 

Councillors will be asked to endorse officers’ proposals to lobby for funding, and to explore other opportunities.

 

Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “Some of the properties in Oban which have been affected by the recent flooding are owned by the council and are leased to commercial tenants.

 

"These properties are located within the Lochavullin area where the council leases premises in Mill Lane, Millpark Road and Crannog Lane.

 

“A number of tenants have contacted the council to seek compensation or rent reductions to reflect the impact of the flooding on their businesses.

 

“However, there are also businesses in the same area who either own or privately lease their premises and it would not be fair if compensation or rent reductions were only offered to council tenants.

 

“Only a centralised support scheme made available through the Scottish Government would offer an equitable response to the impact of the recent flooding events.

 

"Additional survey work of the drainage systems around the Lochavullin area has been instructed by the estates section.

 

“This is to assess if there are any short-term measures which could be taken to make improvements to address specific issues some tenants are having.

 

“The drainage systems have been altered over the years by a number of tenants and understanding how this impacts on the wider network will assist to determine if any short-term measures will improve matters.

 

“These works will not address the larger scale flooding events which require a larger flood prevention scheme.

 

“There are also additional sites that have been prone to recent flooding that are not included in Scottish Government’s list of schemes, these include Ledaig car park at Tobermory and Kilmichael Glen."