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Comhairle accused of “wasting time” with South Ford scheme

April 30, 2015

More than 50 people attended the meeting in Iochdar last night.

More than 50 people attended the meeting in Iochdar last night.

Plans to combat the risk of flooding in the South Ford area were dismissed as a “waste of time” last night, with local residents holding firm to their belief a new opening in South Ford causeway is the only effective solution.

Yesterday evening Comhairle nan Eilean Siar held a meeting in Iochdar to discuss a package of flood prevention measures which councillors approved two weeks ago.

Iain MacKinnon, Director of Technical Services, said he also wanted to explore with the community how best to make the case to the Scottish Government for a new span in the causeway.

Ever since the fatal storm of 11th January 2005, locals have consistently blamed the causeway for the extreme flooding experienced in Iochdar on that night.

Their views were supported by the South Ford Hydrodynamic Study – published late in 2012 – which said that a 250m opening in the causeway would have lowered water levels significantly during the storm of 2005.

Built in the early 1980s, the causeway is 1000m long and only has one 15m opening.

It was confirmed at the meeting last night that initially the causeway was to feature two 15m openings, the second eventually being removed from plans due to budget constraints.

However, it was pointed out that modelling work conducted for the South Ford Hydrodynamic Study showed that another 15m opening would have made next to no difference in 2005. At least a 250m opening would be required to mitigate the risk of flooding.

David Muir from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar explained the series of actions developed as part of the South Ford Flood Management Scheme which are now being put to SEPA and the Scottish Government for funding.

Under the scheme, three separate measures would be carried out to cut the risk of flooding:

A dune management scheme at Liniclate, which has seen significant erosion over many years. Survey work by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – conducted regularly since 1997 – has confirmed the problem is getting worse. Through the scheme, fencing would be used to trap windblown sand and marram grass would be planted to create a more robust dune system.

An embankment to stop water moving inland towards Sgoil Lionacleit and the Dark Island Hotel. It is not yet clear how this structure would be built, but it would include a floodgate to release water back to the sea of required.

A beach re-charge scheme for Gualan Island, a natural breakwater extending from Balgarva almost across to Liniclate. Over many decades, Gualan has been eroding, becoming progressively longer, but with significantly less height. As Gualan continues to extend northwards, displaced sand from the island is building up in the southern section of the South Ford basin, blocking the drainage system from Loch Bee. In order to re-charge the island, shingle would be taken from the newly extended north section of the island and piled on the mid-section. Sand built up in the south of the basin would be extracted and placed on top of the shingle.

However, locals greeted the plans, and in particular the scheme for Gualan Island, with broad scepticism.

They accused Comhairle nan Eilean Siar of “wasting time playing with nature” and said that “opening up the causeway would fix the effects of the tide on Gualan Island”.

Others criticised the fact it has taken ten years to reach this stage, and still nothing has been done for the area. One individual asked: “What has to happen before something is done?”

Iain MacKinnon responded that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is bound by the mechanisms and processes that exist.

He said that the package of three measures agreed by councillors would cost in the region of £2 million and should have a good chance of receiving funding.

By removing Gualan Island and adding repairs to the causeway to the package, the cost rockets to £20 million, said Mr MacKinnon.

He underlined that the council would be competing against schemes from all over Scotland, with only £46 million available for projects across the nation.

Mr MacKinnon underlined that the way funding for these projects is decided – by a cost-benefit ratio – is “particularly hard-nosed”.

When scored as the cost of the proposal against the cost of damage avoided, the agreed package of measures, including Gualan Island, has a good chance of being funded, he said. This would not be the case if the causeway was included in the package.

Mr MacKinnon then discussed how representations might be made to the Scottish Government for additional funding to fix the causeway. While conceding in his view that would be “an uphill struggle” he underlined that the need for the community to lead the push for more support.

He said a letter would be drafted and agreed by all local stakeholders as the first step in the process of engagement with the Scottish Government.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Causeway, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Flooding, Gualan Island, South Ford

Tonight – South Ford Public Meeting

April 29, 2015

causeway

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar is interested in hearing views from people about possible flood protection schemes appropriate for the South Ford.

As such, the Technical Services Department is to hold a consultation meeting about flood management at the South Ford area of Benbecula and South Uist.

The meeting will be at 7.30pm in Talla an Iochdair on Wednesday 29th April and all are welcome.

Filed Under: Local Government, News Tagged With: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Flooding, Meeting, South Ford

Comhairle to vote on asking Scottish Government for South Ford funding

April 22, 2015

southford

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will this afternoon consider making representations to the Scottish Government for funding to create a second opening in South Ford causeway.

At a meeting of the full council, due to begin at 5pm, members will be asked to vote for government support, given the “exceptional” situation at South Ford.

Last week, at a meeting of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee, members voted for a package of flood prevention measures for the area, including a beach-recharge scheme for Gualan Island, a natural breakwater forming one section of the South Ford basin.

However, an option to create an additional opening in the South Ford causeway – which the council estimates would cost £20 million – was declined.

On 11th January 2005, hurricane force winds, combined with a high tide, caused unprecedented flooding in the Iochdar region, which is bordered by the South Ford. Five members of the same family lost their lives during the storm.

The South Ford Hydrodynamic Study – commissioned in the wake of the tragedy – laid part of the blame for the severe flooding on the causeway.

It said that an additional deep opening of 250 metres would have likely meant lower water levels on 11th January 2005, and would reduce the risk of flooding in the future.

Locals have consistently demanded an additional opening in the causeway. Many were shocked by the news that an option to create a new span in the causeway had been declined last week.

However, a motion to be put before the full council today by Cllr Ronnie MacKinnon and Cllr Donnie Steele, looks to put the option of a new opening back on the table.

The motion, suggested as further recommendations to the report from last week’s meeting of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, reads and recommends:

(2)

It be delegated to the Director of Technical Services to meet with Stòras Uibhist and local community and other stakeholder groups prior to the application deadline of 4th May 2015 to discuss options associated with the South Ford Flood Risk Management Scheme;

 

(3)

It be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, the Convener, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Director of Technical Services, to make further separate representation to the Scottish Government regarding funding to enable the creation of a second opening in the South Ford causeway on the basis of it being an exceptional case.

 

Earlier today, Angus MacNeil, SNP candidate for the upcoming General Election, said that Crown Estate funds could be used to help fund work on the causeway.

Mr MacNeil said: “I know that the families and the community feel that money allocated to nearby Gualan Island on the west side of the South Ford is not a good use of money.

“Instead this should be allocated to provide the opening in the causeway, along with any monies that may come from the devolution of the Crown Estate to the islands.”

More on this later...

 

 

 

Filed Under: Local Government, News Tagged With: Causeway, Cllr Donnie Steele, Cllr Ronnie MacKinnon, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Flooding, January 2005, South Ford

Angus MacNeil backs calls for FAI on South Ford tragedy

April 16, 2015

southford
Angus MacNeil, SNP candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, today backed the calls of the families and the community affected by the storm of January 2005, in regard to issues surrounding the South Ford causeway.

Mr MacNeil said: “I share the families’ disappointment surrounding the Comhairle’s decision earlier this week, but it is now clearer than ever that a Fatal Accident Inquiry must occur to establish what role the blocking of the South Ford, by a causeway, effectively played in the tragic events of January 2005.

“David MacPherson, father, father-in-law and grandfather of the family involved, has shown me drawings dated 1981, of the plans for the construction of the South Ford causeway. In those plans there were two openings, one in the south end and one at the north end.  Anybody familiar with the causeway knows that there is an opening at the north end, with a span of 15 metres, but a similar opening at the south end which was on the original plan is not there.

“I would like to know why not, and I have sent a Freedom of Information request to the Comhairle for more information surrounding the construction.  However, I do wonder why there is only an opening at the north end but not at the south end.  I have been told that the kilometre long causeway, was constructed from north to south and I wonder whether it is significant that the second opening, at the south end, was missed because it was towards the end of the construction project and if so why?

Angus MacNeil.

Angus MacNeil.

“The decision of the Transportation Committee to refuse to accept the evidence of the hydrodynamic experts to open the causeway by 25% or 250 metres, seems to be done on cost grounds only.  While that might be understandable, the fact that experts have state that the causeway to be opened by 250 metres as opposed to 15 metres, by implication points the finger at the causeway for the tragedy of 2005 due to its role in closing the South Ford.  The families have told me that despite expert advice and different construction plans, they are not happy that the South Ford causeway remains as it has over the last ten years, and they feel most definitely that a Fatal Accident Inquiry has to occur.

“It seems that on the night in question, there was a significant difference in the height of the sea between the west side and the east side of the causeway of up to 7 feet.

“It is clear now that while people can have opinions and know certain facts, a Fatal Accident Inquiry is the only acceptable route for those concerned and to establish facts about this tragic incident in January 2005.  As it is the wish of the families to have a Fatal Accident Inquiry and while any politician is reluctant to pressure the judicial system publicly on a Fatal Accident Inquiry, I would be negligent in my responsibilities, if I wasn’t to support the families’ wishes and concerns regarding an FAI, lest such a tragic event happened again.”

Filed Under: Local Government, News, Weather Tagged With: Angus MacNeil, Benbecula, FAI, January 2005, South Ford, South Uist

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