Report to the People
17th October 2005
Weathering
the Storm
Our usual October complaints
about the weather are certainly put into perspective when we see the devastation
caused by the Pakistan earthquake or Hurricane Katrina.
It makes you realise,
although our summer is always too short and it rains too often, how lucky we are
to live in a country where natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and
tsunamis are things we only see on the news.
Now, if you were from the
Borders and had spent last Wednesday watching your car floating down the flooded
main street and through a shop window, you might disagree.
But, as inconvenient and expensive as this must be, it is not in the same
league as building upon building, community upon community being completely
destroyed.
Thankfully, it’s been a
while since we had the sort of severe flooding which used to submerge the A8 and
turn Inverclyde into an island every time it rained. Back
in 2000, though, the situation was so bad that I called a Member’s Debate in
the Scottish Parliament, demanding that action be taken.
Thanks to the combined
efforts of the Scottish Executive, the Council at the time and what was then
West of Scotland Water, work such as clearing culverts and sewers was undertaken
to ensure that excess water can drain away safely.
These improvements, though,
won’t last forever if they’re not maintained. And once again I see piles of leaves lying in gutters rather
than being swept up. Such
complacency is asking for trouble.
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