Musselburgh flood scheme set to go to Scottish Ministers

A controversial £54m flood scheme is set to be sent to Scottish Ministers after months of talks saw only four of nearly 500 public objections withdrawn.

A report on the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme (MFPS) will go before East Lothian councillors next week asking them to approve it without any modification.

The move will mean Scottish Ministers will be asked to intervene, with so many objections outstanding, and either order a public inquiry or local hearing to decide its future.

In total 485 ‘valid objections’ were accepted by the council after it consulted on the scheme, with discussions held with those opposing it in a bid to find resolutions.

However the report to council next week says only four objections have been withdrawn and any proposed modifications to the scheme to address the concerns raised would not meet all demands.

It sets out how officers came up with more than 30 modifications but realised they would not lead to the withdrawal of enough objections to progress the scheme.

It says: “Given the number of objections to the scheme that have been received, and the complexity of points raised therein, it has been determined that there are no modifications, or combination of modifications, which would realistically result in the withdrawal of all objections.

“As such, it is considered that a Local Hearing or Public Local Inquiry is the most appropriate step to reach a democratic resolution.

“It is on this basis that it is recommended that members make the
preliminary decision to confirm the proposed scheme without modifications.”

The Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme (MFPS) has sparked controversy in the town after costs soared from the original £8.9m in 2016 to a current estimate of £53.9m.

Opponents of the MFPS, which includes the introduction of high walls through the town centre, wanted it paused claiming not enough work has been carried out to find ‘natural solutions’ instead of walls. They claimed less than a tenth of the outline design for the scheme uses natural options.

The Musselburgh project aims to protect the town from flooding from the coast and the River Esk which runs through its centre. Current plans include 4.7km of flood walls with 1.7km made up of “flood embankments and hybrid structures”.

The coastal town has seen a number of flood incidents in recent years related to the River Esk which runs through it.

In April 2000 and October 1990 there were moderate floods from the Esk affecting parts of the town. The last major flood event was in August 1948 when the River Esk overflowed causing significant flooding in the town and washing away a footbridge.

Councillors will next week be asked to make a preliminary decision to approve the scheme without notifications which will see Scottish Ministers notified of their decision.

Scottish Ministers will then decide whether to hold a public inquiry or send it back to the council to hold a local hearing.