Floodworks too expensive and ill conceived

Dear Spurtle

It is worth pointing out that there is to be a third phase of the Water of Leith Flood 'prevention' scheme, costed at £30m, bringing the total to £100m or thereabouts (item 10 TI&E committee, 13 Sep 2012).

Unlike the Council, which claims – as you report (Breaking news, 1.5.13) – this ill-conceived and poorly executed scheme will protect 1,500 households, I prefer to base calculations on 500 properties flooded in 2000. In other words, costs per property are £200,000. A good number of these properties have been built on well-known flood plains. 

Harald Tobermann

(Pilrig Street)