Glasgow City Council – The White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme
Example of:
How developing partnerships and engaging others can help improve sustainability
Key points:
- Glasgow City Council consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including an environmental working group, to inform the engineering design for its flood prevention scheme.
- This wide consultation helped to minimise the environmental impact of the scheme and resolve any local objections.
The White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme is designed to address the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the south side of Glasgow. The area is susceptible to flooding. In addition to protecting the houses in the area from flooding, the scheme seeks to protect and complement the natural environment. Public consultation was a key aspect of the scheme development and the selection of the final preferred proposals.
Through one-to-one discussions and an extensive public exhibition, the views and opinions of affected parties were obtained and, where possible, incorporated within the design. The engineering designs for the scheme were complemented by the creation of an environmental working group comprising stakeholders from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as well as environmental professionals from the three local authorities involved. The work of this group helped to minimise the environmental impact of the scheme, and, where possible, to enhance the natural environment.
Despite the size and scope of the project, only limited objections were received, all of which were subsequently resolved through discussion without the need for a Public Local Inquiry.