23 August 2022 – Council Approve the next steps for the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme
The Scheme submitted a report to Council which provided an update on the Scheme’s latest round of consultation that ran from Summer 2021 until March 2022. Councillors were also asked to approve the key next steps for the project, some of which were a direct result of feedback during the consultation.
These include: a further review of the Scheme’s Hydrology and Hydraulic Model; a revision of the Scheme Programme and the development of a new Public Communications Programme; a revision of the Communications Plan and the development of a new Consultation Plan for future engagement with stakeholders and the people of Musselburgh. In parallel, the Council have approved the inclusion of the Ash Lagoons Seawall into the Preferred Scheme, recognising its vital role in providing flood protection to the town.
The full agenda for the meeting was published by East Lothian Council on Tuesday 16th of August. All agenda items, including the full report by the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme, are publicly accessible on the ELC Website HERE.
Review of the Scheme’s approach to Hydrology and its Hydraulic Model to be undertaken:
During the latest round of consultation, the Project Team identified concern and questions from some members of the public towards the Scheme’s hydrology, hydraulic model, and flood maps. There have also been some changes to national guidance this spring which it is appropriate to consider.
Following Council’s instruction, the Project Team will review and potentially update our approach to hydrology. This may involve updating the hydraulic model and, if required, releasing new flood maps. In the interest of transparency and building understanding in the community, Jacobs will be producing a stand-alone report to clearly define the process being followed for this review.
New Scheme Programme to be developed for October meeting of Council:
We appreciate that many stakeholders are keen to know what the ‘Next Steps’ are for the Scheme, and when key events or decisions will be happening. As outlined previously, the Scheme has been ‘off-programme’ for some time which has been a source of frustration for the public and the team alike. During this time all activities have been instructed and overseen by the Project Board, and key activities have been clearly identified through the public meetings.
The decision of Council commences a path back to having a clear programme. An updated Scheme Programme will be presented to Council in October which will clearly set out the rest of the Outline Design Stage and thereafter probable timescales for Scheme Approval and Construction.
The Ash Lagoons Sea Wall is to be incorporated into the Preferred Scheme for Musselburgh:
Council approved the inclusion of the Ash Lagoons Seawall into the Preferred Scheme. The Seawall has always been essential to providing flood protection due to Musselburgh having a coastal flood risk along Levenhall Links. Within the report to Cabinet in January 2020 it was not part of the Preferred Scheme, but it was highlighted that “continued usage of the Existing Coastal Defences – (Scottish Power Ash Lagoons Seawall) is Essential for Flood Protection”.
East Lothian Council have been engaged in negotiations with Scottish Power in relation to this asset and its eventual transfer into Council ownership as defined by the Musselburgh Agreement signed in 1963 – which framed the approach through which Cockenzie Power station’s associated infrastructure at Levenhall could be delivered. Due to the progress of these negotiations, the logics relating to the Seawall have changed since the Preferred Scheme was approved by East Lothian Cabinet in January 2020, thus it was approved that it becomes part of the Preferred Scheme today.
At this stage, the Project Team are not in a position to provide a cost estimate as the Seawall has not previously been in the Preferred Scheme and therefore an Options Appraisal of it has not been carried out. Once a preferred option is identified then the Project Team will undertake an engineering assessment and an associated estimation of cost.
An update on these activities will be provided to Council in October 2022. The decision of Council today simply enables to the Project Team to carry out this initial assessment work.
Report approved with Amendments
An amendment to the report was tabled, and both the report and the amendment were unanimously approved with the exception of one abstention relating to the inclusion of the ash lagoons sea wall within the Scheme. The report as amended includes an instruction from Council to the Project Team to allow for the public to participate in a discussion about forms of defences. The Project Team is further instructed to present indicative options which show how varying the heights of defences might change the Standard of Protection, and to gather public feedback on these.
The Project Team are happy to receive clarity on the requirements of Council and this proposed Amendment provides greater clarity on the desired approach to advancing the Outline Design in consultation with the people of Musselburgh. This builds upon a process which began at the consultation event in March when the advantages and disadvantages of various different forms of flood defences were presented to the public to consider and provide feedback on. As mentioned in previous updates, The Project Team have always intended to continue the process of consultation with regulatory authorities, key stakeholders, businesses and the people of Musselburgh through the Outline Design. Following the approval of this amendment, the Project Team will be preparing a Consultation Plan for the next meeting of Council in October 2022 to set out how we intend to fulfil the requirements of this amendment.
We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone for their participation in the consultation process this far. We hope that the report and its approval by Council show that we are responding to the messages of consultation and evolving our approach to the Scheme in line with these. We hope that as the Outline Design continues, the local community will continue to work with us to deliver the best Scheme for Musselburgh.