Welcoming the Release of a New Set of Surface Water Flood Maps from SEPA

That the Parliament welcomes the release of a new set of surface water flood maps from SEPA with an enhanced level of detail to include small watercourses; notes that the maps integrate both rainfall data and climate change projections, along with local authority data to increase the accuracy in recognising which areas are likely to be worst affected by heavy rainfall; considers flooding to be the biggest climate change adaptation challenge in Scotland and that surface water is the most widespread flooding risk; recognises what it sees as the importance of accurate information in helping both residents and businesses to understand the level of risk that they face from flooding, and which is crucial to help mitigate both loss of life and damage to property, and encourages the public to make use of these new maps, available through the SEPA website, to assess their own flood risk.