Scot Lib Dems calls for new funding to protect against the "Scottish Monsoon"

Scottish Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today called for a new fund to protect communities from extreme weather as heavy rain batters Scotland.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have proposed a new Climate Emergency Communities Fund to prepare and protect people across Scotland already being affected by extreme weather including flooding. The fund could be worth more than £75 million extra per year to communities – doubling the Scottish Government’s existing commitment to tackling flooding and coastal erosion.

It is estimated that 284,000 homes and premises are already at risk of flooding in Scotland, with an additional 110,000 properties at risk by the 2080. Just 7 of the 42 flood protection schemes identified by SEPA for delivery between 2016 and 2021 were completed on time.  

Commenting on the proposals, Mr McArthur said:

“The Scottish monsoon has become all too frequent a hazard in recent years. Communities across Scotland are being left vulnerable each winter that passes without work being done to make our defences more resilient.

“That's why Scottish Liberal Democrats are proposing a new Climate Emergency Communities Fund, aimed at upgrading Scotland’s homes, businesses and infrastructure to cope with the impact of the climate emergency.  

"The destruction and disruption that we are now seeing is not just an act of nature but also a consequence of the Scottish Government’s failure to prepare for more extreme weather.

“Scotland is underpinned by Victorian sewers that were never designed to cope with the extreme weather we get today.  

“The Scottish Government must back our proposals and make sure that local authorities have the resources they need to protect our communities. Funding to boost preparedness should be able to cover whatever will work locally from expanding and upgrading sewage networks to extra investment in nature-based solutions like planting trees and installing living roofs that can soak up the rain.”