Musings from the Merse
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Cometh the Flood; Buildeth the Ark
It appears that the proposed building over the area next to Hutton Castle Mill-the second home for the resident gillie-is running into further bother with a letter of objection from the Scottish Environmental Agency (SEPA) as you can read here
This is all about the flood risk and the great flood of 1948 which carried away some of the buildings around the mill and swept away a couple of bridges down stream. However the Head of Technical Services writing about the flood problems offers some comfort:
In terms of information that this Council has concerning flood risk to this site, I would state that The Indicative River & Coastal Flood Map (Scotland) known as the “second generation flood mapping” prepared by SEPA indicates that the northern part of the site is at risk from a flood event with a return period of 1 in 200 years. That is the 0.5% annual risk of a flood occurring in any year.
Thus with the great flood of 48 and several less severe inundations since, go on,one might say, take a risk, it won't happen for another 200 years- and assuming that the Gillie is an experienced betting man he could well go for it. But if he is a very experienced betting man he just might pause for thought-next year is inside the '200 year flood risk envelope' as the SEPA guy puts out so why put both your homes at risk?
SEPA does not have much clout I fear. The existing house was given planning permission despite an identical risk assessment as was the project to convert the mill into self catering accommodating.
On present form it is sad to say that with both SEPA and the Community Council against the application it has a reasonable (ie completely unreasonable) chance of success. Much will depend on which way Big Jim will jump.
Just a thought. If Mr Noah, formerly of Ararat, now of Belmarsh was to make a formal application to build an Ark down there how would he fare? Anticipation of a Flood would chime well with SEPA advice but I am not sure that the new Local Plan has provision for mobile buildings of this sort (unless containing chickens as at Hutton Castle Barns-and only two in the case of the Ark) Sites of Special Religious Interest (SSRI)are not recognised by SBC Planners.
Come on Planners think outside the box (or Ark) for a change A Gillie's Ark, able to float out of trouble by 2209 if necessary is an idea worth pursuing should the current application fail.
What do you think Albert R?
Worth a shot?
It appears that the proposed building over the area next to Hutton Castle Mill-the second home for the resident gillie-is running into further bother with a letter of objection from the Scottish Environmental Agency (SEPA) as you can read here
This is all about the flood risk and the great flood of 1948 which carried away some of the buildings around the mill and swept away a couple of bridges down stream. However the Head of Technical Services writing about the flood problems offers some comfort:
In terms of information that this Council has concerning flood risk to this site, I would state that The Indicative River & Coastal Flood Map (Scotland) known as the “second generation flood mapping” prepared by SEPA indicates that the northern part of the site is at risk from a flood event with a return period of 1 in 200 years. That is the 0.5% annual risk of a flood occurring in any year.
Thus with the great flood of 48 and several less severe inundations since, go on,one might say, take a risk, it won't happen for another 200 years- and assuming that the Gillie is an experienced betting man he could well go for it. But if he is a very experienced betting man he just might pause for thought-next year is inside the '200 year flood risk envelope' as the SEPA guy puts out so why put both your homes at risk?
SEPA does not have much clout I fear. The existing house was given planning permission despite an identical risk assessment as was the project to convert the mill into self catering accommodating.
On present form it is sad to say that with both SEPA and the Community Council against the application it has a reasonable (ie completely unreasonable) chance of success. Much will depend on which way Big Jim will jump.
Just a thought. If Mr Noah, formerly of Ararat, now of Belmarsh was to make a formal application to build an Ark down there how would he fare? Anticipation of a Flood would chime well with SEPA advice but I am not sure that the new Local Plan has provision for mobile buildings of this sort (unless containing chickens as at Hutton Castle Barns-and only two in the case of the Ark) Sites of Special Religious Interest (SSRI)are not recognised by SBC Planners.
Come on Planners think outside the box (or Ark) for a change A Gillie's Ark, able to float out of trouble by 2209 if necessary is an idea worth pursuing should the current application fail.
What do you think Albert R?
Worth a shot?
Labels: Big Jim Fullarton, Flooding, Gillies Ark, Hutton Castle Mill, Noah
Comments:
SEPA has no clout at all. A few years ago there was an "executive" (read pastiche vernacular)estate built which destroyed Fountainhall, between Stow and Heriot.It was built on the flood plain beside the Gala Water on land which needed to be drained for the purpose and had loads of rubble delivered to do this. Afterwards the residents had loads of trees cut down by the speculative landowner because some of the tacky houses and bungaloids were too dark. So why move there in the first place? Townies and visually illiterate planners are doing similar nasty things on this side of the Borders, too. Bah, humbug.
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