Perth flood victims have called for planning and development to be paused until the Craigie Burn Flood Study is completed and recommendations implemented.
Residents and businesses - close to the Craigie Burn - have been flooded as many as three times in two years and suffered up to tens of thousands of pounds' worth of damage.
This week the newly formed Flood Action Group Perth called for a temporary halt on building in the area.
Janice Haig was one of around 100 residents who attended a public meeting - chaired by SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire Pete Wishart - at Craigie and Moncreiffe Church Hall on Friday, October 28.
At Friday's meeting several residents raised concern about recent developments just off the Glasgow Road heading towards Broxden. Concern was also raised about proposed plans to build houses - potentially around 200 - on Craigie Hill Golf Course and the recently approved plans for a new Aldi just off Necessity Brae.
Croft Park resident Janice Haig has been flooded twice in just over two years. Her family's home insurance premium quadrupled following a £35,000 claim for the damage to their home in August 2020.
Following the most recent flooding in September 2022, flood victims set up a Facebook group Flood Action Group Perth to share stories, useful information and ideas on how they can move forward.
This week the group called for a pause to further development in the area.
Janice - a member of the group - told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "No matter how often residents are told that the development that has been completed in the last 10 years or so along the Craigie Burn's course has had no effect on flood risk there are many residents, including those who have lived in the area for decades, who say different. It may be anecdotal evidence but it really shouldn’t be ignored out of hand.
"Until the Craigie Burn Flood Study has been completed residents would like all planning and development paused. No more development of any type should even be considered, in our opinion, until the study has been completed and any recommendations acted upon."
Planning authority Perth and Kinross Council - while sympathetic with the plight of local residents and businesses - offered no commitment to pause planning and development and said its planning guidance "promotes a precautionary approach to flood risk".
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council told the LDRS: "We understand how difficult and distressing flooding is for those who have suffered it.
"All new developments must go through the planning approval process and comply with Scottish Planning Policy and our Local Development Plan and Supplementary Guidance, which promotes a precautionary approach to flood risk.
"Additionally, any development where flood risk is an issue requires a Flood Risk Assessment and a Drainage Impact Assessment. This considers the risk of surface water being generated and must include proposals for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). These systems manage surface water within the development site and release it at a controlled rate so the development has a neutral, or better, effect on flood risk. Developments that do not meet these technical requirements are not permitted."
The council is currently updating its flood risk management plan - scheduled for publication next month - and the Craigie Burn Flood Study is part of this.
PKC's spokesman said: "We published the Tay Local Flood Risk Management Plan in 2016, and are due to publish the next iteration of this plan in December. This document sets out the various responsibilities of public bodies, businesses and residents.
"Amongst the various actions in this plan, the council is progressing the Craigie Burn Flood Study and is developing a Surface Water Management Plan for Perth.
"Consulting engineers, Amey, have been engaged to carry out this work which will continue into next year."
PKC admitted implementing flood reduction measures could take years.
The spokesman added: "These projects are an essential first step in identifying any suitable measures that can help to manage and, where achievable, reduce flood risk in the long-term.
"However, even after the completion of these projects, any identified measures will be subject to further design, statutory approval, funding, and procurement before construction. This is a long-term process that typically takes a number of years to complete."
