Public Open Day & Call for historic information – February 2019

In February 2019 the Project Team alongside partners from SEPA and East Lothian Council hosted a Public Open Day and Call for Information at The Brunton Theatre. This event provided the opportunity to share information about flood risk, practical advice on staying safe during a flood event and to update on the Scheme’s progress. The event included one-to-one conversations, tutorials (for example on registering for flood warnings), information leaflets to take away and information display boards.

During the event the local community were encouraged to share their experience and knowledge of flooding in Musselburgh. The Project Team was delighted with the positive response of the community, many of whom brought along photographs from their own collections which captured previous instances of flooding which were not publicly available. With the last major flood event occurring in 1948, it is not within most residents’ memory; these ‘hidden histories’ provide invaluable evidence which helps the Project Team understand the potential extents of a flood events.

Over the course of the day approximately 50 residents attended. This first public consultation event demonstrated how the Project Team and the community both benefit by working collaboratively.