New report on Grangemouth flood protection scheme released.

The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS) has recently released an Engagement Feedback Report following a series of public events held in March 2024 as part of the scheme notification process.

Throughout the engagement process, nine events were organised to give local residents and business owners the opportunity to review the final proposed design, seek clarification from experts, and understand the potential impact of the Scheme on their surroundings.

Participants were also invited to complete a feedback survey online, sharing their views on the necessity of the scheme, their satisfaction with the design, and any additional comments for the project team.

The feedback report, summarising the insights gathered from the survey, is now accessible on the GFPS website. In addition, a succinct summary sheet highlighting key findings from the report has been made available to aid readers in interpreting the data presented in the full report.

Among the respondents, 73% (65 individuals) expressed agreement with the need for a flood protection scheme, while 9% (8 individuals) held a differing opinion. In terms of satisfaction with the proposed design, 70% (62 respondents) indicated they were either ‘extremely satisfied’, ‘very satisfied’, or ‘somewhat satisfied’. However, 11% (10 respondents) remained ‘neither satisfied nor dissatisfied/undecided’, and 19% (17 respondents) expressed dissatisfaction with the design.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council, expressed gratitude towards those who participated in the engagement events and shared feedback either in-person or online. Meiklejohn emphasised the importance of understanding the community’s sentiments towards the scheme and highlighted the ongoing commitment to engaging with residents and businesses affected by the flood protection initiative.

The consultation window for the GFPS concluded on 16th June 2024. Moving forward, Falkirk Council will collaborate with objectors in the following weeks and months to address any concerns raised and formulate a way forward. A final decision on the scheme is anticipated to be reached by early 2025.