The commitment of The Highland Council to prevent flooding in Caol, Fort William, has been underlined by Convener Sandy Park.

The Convener said significant progress is being made in developing this "important project". The assurance was issued in response to a petition that has been circulated in the Fort William area seeking support for the Scottish Government to give the Council the funding to build the flood defences.

Councillor Park said he was disappointed that the petition, which is being returned to Labour MSPs Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant and David Stewart, was circulated at a time when such good progress is being made. Given the importance of the issue for the residents of Caol, he wished to set out the Council’s position.

In a letter to the MSPs, he wrote: "The Council has set out clear objectives in its Programme for Administration, and these include a commitment to progress Flood Prevention Orders in areas where there is a history of major flooding. I am sure you will be aware that major flood alleviation projects cannot progress without a Flood Prevention Order.

"The Council has also made a commitment to work with COSLA and the Scottish Government to promote legislation to simplify the process of securing Flood Prevention Orders. The Council provided a written submission to the Scottish Government’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee in November 2007, and also made a detailed response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland in April 2008."

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The letter said the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee has also approved that design work is progressed on a number of major flood alleviation projects, including the River Lochy and Caol Flood Prevention Scheme, to a stage which will allow the publication of a Draft Flood Prevention Order.

And in the case of the River Lochy and Caol, Scott Wilson Ltd (Civil Engineering Consultants) has been appointed, and are progressing the design work. They have updated and verified the river and tidal models, and carried out a detailed cost/benefit study.

The Council has also appointed JBA Consulting to prepare a model of the Loch Linnhe tidal area to predict tidal surge events that arise under particular weather conditions. This work is ongoing and will be available to assist SEPA with flood warnings, and also to better predict extreme tide levels for flood mitigation works.

He confirmed that a Government Capital Grant, of up to 80%, was no longer available. However, the Council's overall Capital Grant had been increased to take account of this, and other previously ring-fenced capital funding, and flood alleviation projects, would be included in the review of the Council's capital programme.

He added: "It is important that we consult with the local community during this process, and I can confirm that officials have attended the local Ward Forum to present preliminary proposals to ensure the community is kept up to date with progress on this important project.

"I am sure you will see that the Council has given a clear commitment, and allocated sufficient resources, to progress this project. I can understand that people want to see a quick solution. However, it is important that we follow the correct procedures in promoting the Flood Prevention Order, and it is disappointing that the petition has been circulated at this time."

(GK/JM)