Perth residents urged to take part in consultation to tackle impact of flooding

Perthshire residents living in areas at risk of flooding have been encouraged to take part in a project designed to help combat the distressing issue.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is consulting on a review of potentially vulnerable areas (PVAs) to protect communities in the future.

It comes as the watchdog predicts the number of homes, businesses and services at risk across Scotland is projected to increase by around 40 per cent by the 2080s due to the declared global climate emergency.

PVAs defined as are areas where significant flood risk exists now, or is likely to occur in the future, and are used to identify locations where a partnership may be required to resolve complex flooding issues.

A SEPA spokesperson explained they are used to inform Scotland’s flood risk management (FRM) plans – as well as local ones – and help responsible authorities to “prioritise investment and coordinate actions to reduce the impacts of flooding on communities”.

Identifying PVAs is described as an essential part of protecting people, properties, businesses, communities, infrastructure, and our environment, with an estimated 284,000 homes, businesses and services across the country currently identified as at risk of flooding.

This winter, SEPA issued a record number of regional flood alerts and local flood warnings.

A total of 720 messages were sent between September 1, 2023, and February 16 this year.

The previous record of 714 was set over autumn and winter 2015/16.

Siobhan McNulty is a flood risk planning manager with SEPA.

She said: “Scotland is witnessing an increasing number of extreme weather events and flooding presents a growing threat to our communities.

“It is vital we work together with partners and communities to identify the areas most at risk so we can work together to increase Scotland’s resilience to flooding. PVAs are the first step in this process.”

Since PVAs were first identified in 2011, SEPA have worked together with local authorities and Scottish Water to plan and deliver actions to manage flood risk.

They are updated and published six years and SEPA is now consulting on proposed updates to PVAs for 2024.

The review will focus on smaller, community-based, target areas.

Once the PVAs are formally designated by Scottish Ministers, SEPA will then prepare plans to set objectives and actions for reducing flood risk.

The local plans published by each local authority will then provide more detail, including timescales and funding.

Màiri McAllan MSP, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, said: “Managing our exposure to floods and their impacts is a significant and growing challenge as climate change brings more severe and frequent flood events.

“Improving resilience to flooding is a priority for the Scottish Government, so I welcome the launch of this consultation and I encourage all parties with a potential interest to engage with it.”

Ms McNulty added: “Whether you have previously been affected by flooding or have concerns about potential future impacts for your home, business or community, we want to hear from you.

“Your views on the proposed PVAs will inform essential future flood risk management work so we can improve flooding resilience together and best prepare for a changing climate.”

Responses to the consultation can be made on the SEPA website until June 24.