Scots face future of flash floods

FLASH floods will hit cities in Scotland with increasing frequency as climate change takes hold and old urban sewers will be unable to cope, it was claimed last night.

One of the country's most senior Met Office experts also said the current warning system was inadequate, with no one agency shouldering responsibility for urban flooding.

Although climate change will bring wetter winters and drier summers, the rain that does fall from June to August will be more intense, and potentially devastating.

Scottish Water, the agency responsible for the country's Victorian network of sewers, admitted adapting them to deal with potential climate-change effects could be "prohibitively expensive". Instead, it wants drainage plans to be drawn up for all towns and cities.

Pat Boyle, one of two Met Office public weather-service advisers in Scotland, works with emergency services and public authorities to protect the country from weather-related disasters.

She told The Scotsman that "one of the biggest questions" thrown up by climate change was urban flooding.

"Just about any city, any town, any place can flood because we have drainage systems not designed to cope," she said. "Most of the drainage systems were designed to cope with what was thought to be an extreme in the past, but what was extreme in the past will no longer be extreme.

"And without digging up the whole of cities and re-laying sewers, which isn't feasible, we have to work out what to do.

"At the moment, no-one warns for it, because in the past it's just been accepted that it is something that will happen, but it's going to become a bigger problem."

Ms Boyle said the increased frequency of downpours was as big an issue as their intensity.

Currently, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issues warnings for river and coastal – but not urban – flooding. It is working with the Met Office, Scottish Water and the Scottish Government to establish a better warning system, and the issue is expected to be included in the forthcoming Flooding Bill, currently out for consultation.

Dr Chris Spray, the director of environmental science at Sepa, said: "Urban flooding is not just due to severe rainstorm events. Some of Scotland's sewerage systems need to be upgraded. Development in towns and cities has led to rivers being culverted – covered over – and building on natural flood plains. This all contributes to urban flooding.

"Various organisations share responsibility for flooding issues. Sepa is the national flood-warning authority, flood defences are dealt with by local authorities and Scottish Water has responsibility for maintaining the sewerage network. It is investing huge amounts of money to bring it up to modern standards."

This includes £26 million over the four years to 2010 on reducing the flood risk to 456 homes and businesses across Scotland. Scottish Water said there would be "significant" further spending over the following four years.

Dr Spray said agencies were working closely to combat urban flooding, including forming a partnership in Glasgow in the wake of the 2002 floods in the city.

A national plan is being devised, and the first stage of the 25-year blueprint could include using disused culverts to temporarily divert surface water, that could overwhelm the drainage system, to flood plains and "storage" areas.

Dr Spray said: "No single body can combat climate change or deal with urban flooding. Only by working together with other agencies, local authorities, developers and the public can we reduce the impact of urban flooding.

"Climate change must be dealt with on an international level, and Sepa will play its part. The Flooding (Scotland) Bill, currently being drafted by government, aims to modernise flood-risk management in Scotland and ensure that all partner organisations work together through a catchment approach to meet present and future flood risks."

A spokeswoman for Sepa said the organisation "recognises that increased frequency of severe rainstorm events will be a symptom of climate change and that flash-flood incidents within urban areas – and elsewhere – are likely to increase".

Its State of the Environment Report 2006 identified climate change as the most pressing environmental issue in the country.

A spokesman for Scottish Water admitted "adapting our assets to the multiple climate-change scenarios could be prohibitively expensive in terms of building pipes and pumping stations that can deal with ever greater flows" and said that the agency was in favour of the development of surface-water plans for all cities and towns.

He went on: "Scottish Water works in partnership to develop appropriate strategies for dealing with floods. We liaise with Sepa and the Met Office to anticipate flood conditions and are committed to the development of sustainable, urban drainage systems. These systems deal with rainfall run-off problems and are the best way to future-proof against changing rainfall patterns. We have assessed our infrastructure for vulnerability to climate change and are working on necessary adaptation plans.

"We need to adapt our towns and cities to provide flow routes for floods. Ideally, these would be green corridors, as are being proposed for Glasgow, but other solutions may need to be examined.

"Plans for new developments, land-use management, the planning system and building regulations all have a role to play in ensuring that the layout and functioning of our towns and cities allows us to manage current and future flood risk and to mitigate against the effects of climate change and changing rainfall patterns."

GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW WARNING SYSTEM

A TRAFFIC light weather warning system is due to be launched by the Met Office, following an investigation into last summer's flooding in southern England.

The new alerts – which will be available to the public – will flag up more potential disruptions than the current system allows for.

It means the UK should be able to plan more effectively for the devastating effects of weather.

The National Severe Weather System Advisory will be provided by the Met Office's Public Weather Service, which was commended for its work during the flood emergencies of last summer. It draws on lessons learned during the summer floods and mirrors suggestions of the interim report of the Pitt Inquiry published last December.

Graeme Leitch, of the PWS, said: "The improvements have been planned for some time and respond directly to feedback from our partners from the emergency services and local authorities.

"The advisory alert will flag up a developing situation to allow for more preparedness further in advance. Alerts will be easier to use. The traffic light system will provide quick and easy access to vital weather information to emergency responders and the public alike."

Ten-year climate change forecasts are also being developed to help highlight risks associated with global warming.

Time to batten down the hatches as severe weather heads north

ALASTAIR DALTON
TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT

A NEW storm is forecast to hit parts of Scotland overnight tonight – a day after winds of up to 95mph battered southern England and Wales.

The Met Office said gusts of around 70mph were expected to reach Dumfries and Galloway, but the brunt of the storm would be focused on northern England and Northern Ireland.

News of the latest winter onslaught came as gales roared in from the Atlantic, battering the south coast.

Rescuers helped a Swedish tanker with 13 crew on board which got into difficulties off the Isle of Wight.

The 11,000-tonne vessel, Astral, whose rudder was damaged, was towed by tugs to safety at the nearby Fawley oil refinery. A 95mph gust was recorded at The Needles on the island's western tip.

The Port of Dover was closed to all shipping movements as gales buffeted the coast.

Some 4,500 people in the West Country and South Wales were without power after trees crashed on to power lines.

Some houses were flooded in Fishguard and Cardigan in Wales, while in Cornwall, more than 30 properties were hit by wind-driven high tides.

The four-day Cheltenham Festival is expected to go ahead today following repairs after the starter's rostrum was blown away, a hospitality tent was flattened and fencing was damaged by the winds.

In Scotland, snow caused problems on the M74 at Beattock and the A85 near Lochearnhead.

In Selsey Bill, West Sussex, a lifeboat rescued 30 people from a caravan park after flood defences were breached at high tide. A number of flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports were cancelled, while speed restrictions were put in place on some rail lines.

Flooding caused lane closures on the M25, and P&O Ferries were unable to operate any afternoon Dover-Calais sailings.