24/10/2008Official reaction about the flood in Kilbirnie on the 1st of August
It's twelve weeks today since the flood in Kilbirnie on the 1st of August, and the last official statement on North Ayrshire Council's website about their investigation into what happened was posted on the 6th of August 2008.
In the mean time, some official reaction of a different kind about the day of the flood:
Having been made aware of the ongoing post-flood debate on this website, local MSP Kenneth Gibson today sent the following comment via e-mail to s1kilbirnie.
Given that it was I who alerted NAC to the flood, I held three constituency surgeries on that day, had my photo in the local paper standing in flood water, contacted the Minister for Environment, Mike Russell MSP to invite him along and was in my office in Dalry working until after 10pm on 1 August, suggestions that I was not in Kilbirnie on the day of the flood are ridiculous!
Best wishes,
Kenneth J Gibson MSP
Cunninghame North
Iain Walker, Vice Chairman of the Kilbirnie and Glengarnock Community Council, sent some feedback from the recent meeting:
MSP Kenneth Gibson has been in contact with North Ayrshire Council (NAC) Chief Executive, Ian Snodgrass, but cannot go public at the moment with what has been discussed regarding the recent flooding.
The NAC report will not be published until mid November 2008 at the earliest. It appears that NAC do not wish to apportion blame, but to work towards future flood prevention which is what we all want. However, the local residents of Muirend Street are extremely unhappy that no-one from NAC has been in contact with them directly. Councillor John Bell promised that he would get information to the residents affected.
A full engineers report is to be carried out to ensure that the correct action is taken to prevent future flooding and to ensure that other properties, especially those on the opposite bank of the river, are not adversely affected. It was also intimated that the flood prevention works could not be carried out before the 'Flood Management Risk Bill' goes through the Scottish Parliament. Let's just hope and pray that we don't have a wet winter.
A representative of Scottish Water was also in attendance and explained about the sewage issues in Muirend Street and advised about 'flood guards'.
Read the complete notes from the meeting held at the Bridgend Community Centre on the 20th of October here.
- Well that makes it perfectly clear then. I trust that means we will not hear from the faceless and nameless poster who quite shamefully turned this into a political debate for his / hers own misguided means.
-
'Flood Management Risk Bill'
What is this? Is this the same as a "flood risk assessment", as required under current statute?
I am fortunate in that I am not on the flood plain, I feel for those that are.
When are NAC (whether Nats, Labour, Tories, BNP, NF etc etc) going to do something about this serious issue that is affecting so many people.
Answers are welcome, political rant are not!
This is not political!
-
I too was at the c.council meeting where Kenny Gibson told the group what had been happening between him and Mr Snodgrass, but sadly by refusing to reveal the details of their meeting both Kenny Gibson and Mr Snodgrass are politicising the issue by keeping the public in the dark yet again,
I also witnessed the obvious politically motivated scenes between John Bell and Kenny Gibson (arguing like a pair o weans), whether we like it or not I do think this issue will become a very embittered one with lots of "politics" and mindless name calling and blame laying.
Also the rep from Scottish Water basically said enough to appease to some degree the residents of Muirend Street who attended the meeting, but come on, plastic flood guards for your doors will not stop the problem happening again and it will happen again.
I really do feel for those folks who have suffered because of this but I get the very strong feeling that NAC or whoever else cares too will evade having blame laid at their doors, by whatever means neccesary, which is a shocking indictment, but I do believe that is what will happen.
I feel that this will roll on and on turning into another playground fight while the poor folks hit by this incident will be quietly pushed to the side as the politicking and squabbling goes on.
But Mr Clarkson, you are right and it has been proven that it is not a place for political rants.