The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is developing a national flood information line for Scotland, and plans to launch it on 1 November. Funding for the project was announced today by environment Minister Rhona Brankin.

A ‘Floodline’ service has operated successfully in England and Wales for three years. Although there are significant differences in the way flooding issues are managed north and south of the border, SEPA is developing a service similar to that operated by the Environment Agency, and from 1 November information on flood warnings will be available to the Scottish public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. As well as information about flood warnings, the system will also deliver useful tips on actions people can take to minimise flood damage to their properties.

Further information on Floodline will be available nearer the time of the launch.

ENDS

1. SEPA has agreed with its sister agency, the Environment Agency (EA) for England and Wales, to participate in the Floodline system which has been operating successfully south of the border.

2. The EA has wider responsibilities for flood issues than SEPA. In particular, local authorities, not SEPA, are responsible for flood defence works in Scotland.

3. Scotland is geographically distinct from England and consequently has different flooding issues. For instance there is much less housing and commercial development on low lying floodplains, more high volume, fast flowing rivers and more extensive uninhabited areas.

4. SEPA currently operates 42 flood warning systems in Scotland.