Union working with stakeholders on flood resilience

Details on how to apply to the Scottish Government’s floodbank restoration scheme have been announced with NFU Scotland encouraging flood-hit farmers to apply to the £1 million fund.

The scheme, specifically designed to assist those farmers who have seen floodbanks breached by recent floods, will remain open to applications until the end of February, with applications subject to an approval process, before funding will be made available in March.

Working with the Union, the scheme has been simplified and will see standard costings being applied to applications.  The level of individual awards will be determined by the number of applications to the scheme.

NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie said: “We welcome the launch of the floodbank restoration scheme, and the £1 million support it will provide to many flood-hit farmers.  I would urge all farmers who have seen their floodbanks damaged to apply to the scheme before the end of February.  

“Following the scheme closure, we want Scottish Government to press on at pace with the approvals process so that funds can be released and vital repair work carried out. While many of our members would want to crack on with repairs now, it is an unfortunate requirement of State Aid schemes that necessary work cannot be done without grants receiving prior approval.

 “For those who need to press on with floodbank repairs now, it is worth noting that where like-for-like repairs are being carried out, prior approval from SEPA is not required.

“Longer term, the key issue is to prevent flooding on this scale in future and the Union has put a package of flood resilience measures to SEPA and ScotGov for consideration.  We are seeking a change in attitude that will allow farmers to do the necessary required activities on watercourses to reduce the flood risk to farmland, homes and businesses.”  

Notes to Editors

• NFU Scotland, including President Allan Bowie and Deputy Director of Policy Andrew Bauer will join a delegation of NFU Scotland members from the North East when they sit down with representatives of Aberdeenshire council and SEPA in Inverurie on Friday (5 February) to discuss flooding.
• Applications for the Agricultural Floodbank Repair Grant Scheme are available online at https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/floodbank-repair-scheme/
• Completed forms (along with supporting evidence) should be emailed to afrs@gov.scot by Monday 29 February 2016, however, if farmers are in a position to apply in advance of the end of this window the Scottish Government would encourage them to do so in order that checks on applications can be made with a view to approving applications as soon as is practicable after 29 February. Farmers must also post a signed hard copy to SGRPID, P1 Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD. Paper applications are also available in local area offices.
• Following confirmation that their application has been approved, farmers will have until June 30 2016 to complete the repairs.

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006