East Lothian Council has submitted a formal request asking Scottish Ministers to hold a public local inquiry (PLI) into a proposed scheme to reduce flood risk in Musselburgh.
The current outline design of the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme was confirmed without modifications after preliminary approval was given at a special Council meeting on 30 September.
Councillors also approved an amendment asking Scottish Ministers to consider the proposals and establish a PLI. The final decision on the scheme progressing would then be made by Ministers.
In accordance with the legislation, the council has now made the request and Scottish Ministers confirmed receipt of the notification. Ministers determined they will require time to decide whether to call in the scheme for consideration and extended the decision period by 28 days. The council will be advised of their position by 19 December.
The proposed scheme, which aims to reduce flood risk for up to 3,200 properties in the Musselburgh area, moved to the next stage of development following September’s meeting.
The measures were approved after council officers presented a report setting out the history of flooding in Musselburgh and the increasing threat it poses from the river, the coast, and the impacts of climate change. In addition, the report detailed the engagement carried out with the local community to help develop the proposals.
Councillors further agreed that the project team, working in consultation with the planning authority, should seek to deliver 52 proposed changes to the scheme.
Best possible solutions
East Lothian Council leader Norman Hampshire said: “The council has notified Scottish Ministers of the outcome of September’s meeting and requested they consider the proposals and hold a public local inquiry.
“The council has always sought to engage with the community on how to identify and implement the best possible solutions to mitigate flood risks in Musselburgh. A PLI would give anyone with an objection to the current proposals the opportunity to express their concerns before Ministers make their decision.”
Following a significant public consultation process, the council wrote to every objector to offer them a meeting aimed at identifying whether the scheme could be modified and their opposition withdrawn. More than 50 meetings were held with objectors.
Meetings have also taken place with various organisations working in partnership with the council to advance the scheme, including Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, SEPA, and the RSPB. The council is working with NatureScot and the RSPB to resolve their objections without the need to modify the proposals while Historic Environment Scotland has withdrawn its objection.
Coastal defences
Although a detailed design is still to be developed, the outline scheme is aimed at bringing about a major reduction of flooding risk, preventing waters spilling onto the natural flood plains on which Musselburgh was built over the centuries. This includes the modification of two reservoirs in the South Esk catchments, the replacement of four existing bridges with new structures that won’t impede the onward flow of water and flood debris, the provision of a large debris catcher located upstream of the town, and river restoration works along the Esk corridor.
The project would also involve the creation of new drainage and pumping stations, engineering works on the Pinkie Burn to manage flood waters on this small burn, modifications to the Musselburgh Mill Lade to achieve flow control, new physical defences along the River Esk Corridor and Coastal Foreshore, and the modification of Fisherrow Harbour to incorporate it into the coastal defences.
As the proposed works would constitute part of the National Flood Protection Scheme Programme, the Scottish Government will provide 80 per cent of its eligible cost.