Report by Luing Community Council

Page 1

Luing Community Council - Climate change action and flood risks to housing
Report from Luing Community Council (LCC) to Oban, Lorn and Isles Community
Planning Group Meeting, November 8th 2023
Coastal flooding at Cullipool
Following collapse of the boulder wall protecting the shore and houses in Cullipool
Conservation Village, a report produced for the Isle of Luing Community Trust (IoLCT)
by the University of Glasgow’s Dept of Geographical and Earth Sciences
recommended a number of management options in the light of climate change
scenarios. The recommended first step, to repair the boulder wall, is underway in two
phases. Phase 1, the repair of the northern end, was completed in June 2023 at a cost
of c.£32,000, 80% funded by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) topped up with
community contributions. The second phase, repair of the southern end, is estimated
at £60-70,000. Funding is being sought from HES and Argyll & Bute Council’s Coastal
Adaptation Fund, topped up if needed by a crowdfunding campaign. The second
phase work is anticipated to be undertaken in 2024. Further actions to limit erosion at
Cullipool are required, most importantly annual beach replenishment. If the
forthcoming planning application for the IoLCT’s small-scale slate project is approved,
the rock from the initial excavation will be moved to the beach and quarried slate
spoil will be used for the beach nourishment annually.  
Other flood risks to housing on Luing
On two occasions recently there has been flooding of houses in Cullipool
Conservation Village caused by water draining off farmland above the village. After
the first flood in Cullipool, the slate-lined culvert through the village was manually
dug out by community volunteers and surrounding vegetation was cut back. This
failed to prevent more serious flooding of houses during the heavy rains of early
October, water sweeping down from the field above the village, overflowing the
water channel and culvert and flooding into several houses. A similar problem of
flooding has occurred in Toberonochy Conservation Village, water coming down from
fields to the west of the settlement into the centre of the village, possibly
exacerbated by two new building plots. Flood water was following the road and
finding a path to the sea through private properties. Existing drainage measures are
not coping with the increased flooding risks. 
Luing community is willing to help in any way it can, but it lacks the technical know-
how to assess current and future risks and identify appropriate solutions. In the first
instance, technical advice is needed to identify the source of the problems, assess the
flooding risks and recommend remedial actions to prevent future flooding.