A new report, due to go before the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Thursday next week, says lessons have been learned from this summer's floods in Edinburgh.
The worst affected areas were the Stockbridge Colonies and Warriston when Biblical downpours drenched the capital on 7 July (Breaking news, 8.7.12; 10.7.12). These were along sections of the Water of Leith where permanent flood defences were still being constructed (and temporary defences were inadequate).
Lagan Construction Ltd (the main contractor on Phase 1) have now 'reviewed their procedures and robustness of temporary flood defences,' claims the report. Highly trained civil engineers have come up with a fiendishly clever solution: 'ensuring that vulnerable points where water could escape from the river in flood conditions are adequately closed by temporary defences, and that an inspection/monitoring regime is in place'.
Pumps have now been made available for deployment if water again gets trapped behind the walls being constructed at Canonmills. 'The original design allows for this as back-of-the-wall drainage will be provided in the completed scheme.'
Serious shortcomings in the Council's response have also been identified and are being addressed. These include:
- Inadequate procedure for calling out senior management staff in the event of a rapid escalation of a flooding emergency.
- The Flooding Emergency Plan not functioning well when the Flood Group cannot be mobilised in time.
- Poor communication with Scottish Water.
- Difficulties accessing the telemetry used to monitor water levels in the reservoirs and on the Water of Leith as a result of password control.
- Reference material not being available at the Barnton Depot.
- The Flooding Incident Room not being opened until late in the 7 July event.
- Lack of staff on stand-by.
Other parts of the report (available below) describe current funding arrangements for the Water of Leith flood prevention programme, which faces a shortfall for Phase 2 after the Scottish Government turned down the Council's application for financial help in December last year. No money whatsoever is currently in place for Phase 3. The scheme is expected to cost £144 million in total.
Phase 1 of the scheme (between Bonnington and Veitch's Square in Stockbridge) is due to be finished in March 2013. Progress has been delayed owing to 'access arrangements to St Mark's Park, unforeseen ground conditions, flooding events and poor contractor performance'.
It may seem an easy target, but we're going to shoot at it anyway. Edinburgh's Water of Leith Flood Defence scheme shows disturbing signs of going the same way as Edinburgh's trams: nowhere fast.