NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 21 December 2009 TAYSIDE AREA NEEDS A NATIONAL REVIEW OF FLOODING Flooding in Tayside is occurring on a more regular basis and MSP Murdo Fraser has called on the SNP Government to carry out a National Flooding Review in order to put in place a long strategy to try to tackle the issue. Murdo Fraser believes that a National Flooding Review will set out what action needs to be taken in Tayside and that parts of the area will be a priority for new flood prevention schemes or improvements to existing schemes. Murdo Fraser wants to see flood prevention schemes and improvements for a number of communities due to the risk of flooding, including Birnam, Bankfoot, Coupar Angus, Dalguise, Kenmore, Pitlochry and Scone in Perthshire and improvements for Kirriemuir and Brechin in Angus. Commenting, Murdo said: "Virtually every year in recent memory we have seen flooding either in Summer or Winter or in both seasons in Tayside and there are a number of communities in Perthshire and Angus that are worried about possible future flooding. It is time that the SNP Government carried out a National Flooding Review so that priority areas in Tayside can be identified for flood prevention schemes or improvements. "Communities throughout the Tayside and in the Tay basin are at risk of flooding and I believe we must see a national response in Tayside to try and stop flooding where it is humanly possible. Flooding is one of the most serious issues affecting many communities in the Tayside area and we must get to grips with this issue and it can devastate communities, farmland, properties and businesses. "It is clear to me that many communities in Tayside are in continuous risk from flooding during severe weather. I will continue to press the SNP Government on this issue until we in Tayside have the necessary protection against flooding." ENDS   back to top of page