Questions and Answers

Further information and updates are will continue to be posted to the website. It is important to understand that there is a significant period of time before any construction will start. During this period more information and detail will become available and our engagement will be ongoing throughout. Contact details were displayed at the end of the presentation and are available on the scheme website. Our preference is to receive an queries/ questions/ suggestions via email: grangemouthfps@falkirk.gov.uk where we can log any enquiries and the response.

Further information, including the recordings of the June 2021 meetings have now been uploaded to the community sections of the scheme website.

The EIAR will be published along with the other scheme documents when the statutory approval process starts. Currently this is scheduled to commence in late 2022.

The potential timing of the works will be considered as the scheme develops. When this information is available it will be shared with all who have registered on the website or by other means. It is important to understand that its likely to be approximately 5 years before any works will be constructed. During this period, more information and detail will become available. Our engagement will be ongoing throughout and will include further information on the final location of the defences and any vegetation to be removed. Some of this information may not be finalised for as long as 10 years for those areas towards the end of the construction period. However, we will have devleoped plans during that time and will have the proposed location and areas of vegetation which are likely to be affected, with all of this information shared well in advance.

The field you refer to is already part of the natural flood plain. The scheme seeks to retain natural flood plains where possible in line with good flood management techniques. The proposed flood defences are located along the northern perimeter of the field, offset from the property boundaries and are lower in height than the perimeter fencing to the rear of your property.

Further details on public art and community facilities will be developed as the project progresses and we would hope gain further feedback on these. Falkirk Council will be responsible for coordinating ongoing inspection and maintenance of the scheme when built.

This scheme isn't just a hard engineering project. We will be looking to implement a range of items or biodiversity schemes, like you have identified with the aim of improving the biodiversity of the areas we will be working in.

The precise funding mechanism for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme hasn't yet been finalised and is subject to ongoing discussions with Scottish Government. However, given the significant estimated costs it is anticipated that contributions will be sought from multiple sources, including third parties where appropriate. Falkirk Council is currently working alongside Government and other strategic partners to prioritise and coordinate cross-cutting decarbonisation projects across the Grangemouth industrial cluster as part of a Just Transition towards Net Zero economy. The Grangemouth Future Industry Board is a newly established group that is working to align public sector initiatives, focusing on this critical hub of industrial and economic activity that is vital to Scotland’s economy, designed to ensure that the region maintains and develops its competitiveness now and in our net-zero future. Funding arrangements for the delivery of any new infrastructure required to support the future of the Grangemouth community and the industrial cluster is still to be determined and will be developed in conjunction with businesses and the UK and Scottish Governments The GFPS team is also working collaboratively with various other Council departments involved in the future of the Grangemouth area and we will continue to seek additional funding opportunities as appropriate.

The form of the stone is yet to be decided i.e. type and colour. Examples of flood defence finishes are still on the website (https://www.grangemouthfloodscheme.com/examples)

As noted, the decision on the placement of the flood defences e.g. on the property boundary or offset from the boundary has yet to be finalised. Any individual requests received from householders will be part of the decision making process. Other aspects will also need to be considered in determining the final finish of the flood defences e.g. height, cost, conservation area, future maintenance etc

We anticipate being in a position to meet individuals later this year. If individual residents wish to discuss the proposals we would ask that they either email grangemouthfps@falkirk.gov.uk. At this stage in the project, the detailed design has yet to be completed and may not be completed for several years. Therefore it may not be possible to provide all answers at this stage.

The reinstatement of gardens would be discussed and agreed with individual property owners. This is not likely to happen until nearer construction.

Community benefits is an important consideration within public sector procurement. Details of community benefits and opportunities will not be finalised until nearer construction as requirements are constantly being reviewed. We are currently finalising our Engagement plans to ensure that we engage in the best possible way with residents businesses and interested parties alongside statutotory bodies. A STEM education programme is currently being finalised and will be rolled out in primary schools in 2022.

A bund 1m high would have an overall width of 7-8m and when combined with the working space necessary for the construction equipment could impact a corridor some 13-15m wide, with all the vegetation in this corridor being affected, whereas a wall has a much narrower footprint and would affect less land. Constructing a bund is also very weather dependent and cannot be constructed when it is raining whereas a wall construction can progress in the rain.

It is likely the path will be completely reconstructed as part of the flood defences and new drainage installed.

This has yet to be decided. In our experience there is usually mixed feelings about providing access with some people keen to have access to the river and others less so. We would welcome any feedback on this issue.

Given the size of the River Carron, tree planting would have a negligible impact on reducing flood risk. This type of flood management is more suited to small watercourses. That said we will be considering tree planting upstream as part of a strategy to offset the carbon impact of the project.

The overall length of construction for the entire scheme is currently estimated to be 5-10years. However works will not be undertaken in all areas at the same time. Works will progress along the watercourses and be completed in phases.

Essentially yes. The reinstatement of private gardens would be discussed and agreed with individual property owners.

The council have no remit in terms of insurance and property value so cannot say with any certainty what the impact of the scheme would be on these matters. We would envisage that being able to obtain insurance should be easier and more cost effective but that is a matter for the insurance industry. Similarly property values depend on a number of factors and fluctuate due to market conditions. We would hope that the completion of the flood defences would have a positive impact on property prices.

We would welcome any suggestions on public art that could be incorporated into the scheme. We will develop our plans for art in the years ahead as the scheme progresses.

The impacts on wildlife disturbance are being considered in detail by the project team. We have been collating information on the species present over the last 3-4 years and in 2021 we undertook further surveys focussed on bats. The impacts will be considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report as well as the proposed mitigation where impacts are identified.

No flood defences are proposed to the rear of Halket Crescent. Defences are proposed upstream from Halket Crescent, from Rae Court and follow the River Carron and Chapel Burn and downstream from Halket Crescent flood defences are required to the south of Gilfillan Place and Wardlaw Place round to Dock Street. Flood defences are not required behind Halket Crescent as the existing ground levels are above the flood water level. We are trying to retain as much of the natural flood plain as possible to allow these areas to continue to flood.

The impacts on wildlife disturbance are being considered in detail by the project team. We have been collating information on the species present over the last 3-4 years and in 2021 we undertook further surveys focussed on bats. The impacts will be considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report as well as the proposed mitigation where impacts are identified.

We will be discussing the potential impacts with individual property owners. However based on your address there are no flood defences proposed in the vicinity of your property. Further details on the location of flood defences can be found on the community pages on the scheme website. Issues of noise and vibration have been answered in previous questions.

We will incorporate measures to deter people from walking along the walls.