Questions raised on delays to Newton Stewart flood protection scheme
Councillor McCamon seeks clarity as project stalls
A frustrated councillor has demanded answers over the continued delay to a flood protection scheme for Newton Stewart – more than a decade after it was first proposed.
While the project has stalled, construction on the controversial £68.6 million Whitesands flood defence scheme in Dumfries began two months ago.
At the council’s economy and infrastructure committee on Tuesday, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Councillor Jackie McCamon asked why the Newton Stewart project is marked as ‘red’ in a capital investment update report.
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She said: “Given this significant time elapsed since publication of the scheme, could officers explain exactly why it’s been assessed as red, what the principal barriers are to progress, and probably most importantly for me and the community, what members should expect to see over the next 12 months to demonstrate the project’s actually moving forward?”
Karen Brownlie, the council’s assistant director of transport and infrastructure, responded that the delay was down to the need to complete an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before the project could proceed to a hearing.
She said: “This project has been delayed because we have required to go through an EIA, as well as other parallel processes, and we will be progressing to a hearing.
“That hearing date hasn’t been confirmed. It is likely to be in early 2027.”
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The council officer added: “To give members the assurance, any funding allocated to the Newton Stewart flood protection scheme through the Scottish government is still there. They’re aware that this process is ongoing.”
She said an update newsletter would be issued to elected members and the local community.
When Councillor McCamon pressed further on what progress residents might expect over the next year, Brownlie said it was difficult to give firm timescales.
She said: “It’s very difficult to say at this current time. The EIA will be concluded by the autumn.
“We require to await the outcome of the hearing, which we anticipate will be January, and until that point we wouldn’t be able to provide either members or the local community with an update in terms of next steps.”
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The £68.6 million Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme in Dumfries also came under scrutiny, with Annandale South Councillor Ian Carruthers seeking clarity on how much had been spent to date.
Officers confirmed £6.48 million has been spent so far, with the council’s overall contribution set at £13.7 million, and said the project would be reported to committee on a six-monthly basis.
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