The walls of a £103million flood scheme will provide a giant canvas for graffiti artists who will think ‘all their Christmases have come at once’ according to objectors.
The Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme is currently waiting a public inquiry after East Lothian Council was unable to resolve around 500 objections to the plans.
The controversial scheme includes plans to build concrete walls along the banks of the River Esk which flows through the town centre and along part of the coast line.
Protestors believe the project is flawed and needs to look for other ways to protect the thousands of homes and businesses which would be at risk in the event of a flood.
And they have pointed out the walls would not only spoil the look of the historic town but now they are warning they will be target for vandals.
One objector has told the Scottish Government Reporter, who is leading the inquiry for Scottish Ministers the walls will be treated like a giant blank canvas by vandals.
He said: “When you see the extreme measures that graffiti artists go to on railway bridges, motorway flyovers etc, this will be like all their Christmases coming at once. In no time at all the walls will look horrendous.”
Dozens of objectors have signed up to take part in the public inquiry which is due to get underway later this year. Questions are already being asked about the council’s decision to include a £50million project to restore the sea walls which are currently owned by ScottishPower in the notified flood protection scheme which had previously been reported as having a cost of £53 million.
Adding to those concerns are the fact that earlier this year the Scottish Government placed a cap on the total cost of flood schemes across the country which means the Musselburgh project cannot cost more than £35.6million well below its estimated cost which the council only pays 20 per cent towards.
The scheme was initially estimated to cost under £9million when it was first put forward a decade ago. Despite the cap on the total cost being well below the current estimate East Lothian councillors have already agreed a further 6million pound spend on getting ‘shovel ready’ to start the scheme if approved by the inquiry.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
