Around 100 angry residents packed a public meeting on Friday calling for urgent measures to combat flooding misery.
A number of Perth residents and businesses have suffered severe flooding three times in two years - most recently in September - causing up to tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and some unable to get insurance.
Flood victims shared their plight at a public meeting at Craigie and Moncreiffe Church Hall and told how:
- some have been refused insurance, or watched premiums spiral into thousands
- an 83-year-old man had to be rescued from rising floodwater
- residents had nowhere to turn for help as homes were engulfed
- blocked drains were reported to the council three weeks before flooding.
Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart hosted the meeting which was also attended by SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency), Scottish Water, Perth and Kinross Council and the Scottish Flood Forum, as well as Jim Fairlie MSP, the SNP member for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire.
James Taylor (70) - who lives in Millburn Court retirement flats - said: “In September’s flood I had to rescue an 83-year-old man from floating away.
“We have had enough!”
He added he went “round and round in circles trying to get help” when the water started to rise.
The resident said he phoned Scottish Water, SEPA, the Scottish Flood Forum and PKC looking for help after the fence gave way to the flood. He ended up taping the fence himself.
Mr Taylor said: “We got no help whatsoever from Perth and Kinross Council. Nobody.”
He said the collective insurance for the building with 45 flats had risen by £4000 a year.
After the meeting, he said: “What I will say for the council is that this street was a mess with debris and within 36 hours the council had six big lorries and cleared it within three or four hours.”
Croft Park resident Janice Haig's insurance premium quadrupled following a £35,000 claim for the damage to her home in 2020.
She said: “Our house got flooded in 2020 because the flood gates were open and flooded this year because they were closed. I’ve been told it could take 10 years [to implement] if the Craigie Burn Flood Study comes back and says the flood gates need moved.”
She added: “We have already spent £1500 on flood measures and are about to spend another £2500.”
Jack Findlay from the Cherrybank Inn said: “We have been flooded three times since August 2020.
“The council drains on Glasgow Road near our property were blocked. Three weeks before we got flooded I sent pictures of these drains and the council said they were not affecting the drainage.
“Did we get any help from the council? Not a jot! You should be ashamed of yourselves!”
PKC's road maintenance partnership senior engineer Andy Brown responded: “I am sorry you were let down on this occasion. I will take that up as to why you were told it does not affect the Low Road as it clearly does.”
Low Road resident Keith Harvey's home has been flooded twice in the last three years.
He said: “We can’t get insurance!”
SNP Perth City South councillor Sheila McCole - who attended the meeting - responded: “I have been living in this ward since 1970 and know the area inside out. I can never remember so many flooding incidents as there have been since I was elected.
“The heart of the problem is there is a climate change emergency.”
PKC flooding technician Gavin Bissett said: “The flooding event of September 8 was solely down to the level of rainfall. We had the average amount of rainfall for September falling in three hours. The flow that went down Craigie Burn was three to four times the capacity of the channel.”
He pointed to climate change and SEPA senior flood risk specialist Alistair Cargill said: “It was extreme. It was rare but we might be in a pattern of having more of these in future years.”
Annelies McMillan from Scottish Water said the sewage network had a “finite capacity” and highlighted the impact of “urban creep” with more hard-standing, decking, etc.
She said of the sewage network: “It does accommodate what it can but when it’s full it’s full.”
Many blamed the recent housebuilding heading towards Broxden for the increase in flooding.
Following questioning, SEPA senior flood risk specialist Alistair Cargill said SEPA - as a statutory consultee - had objected for a year and a half to the development on the basis of flood risk. Planning conditions relating to flood management were put in place by PKC.
He added: “It’s a shame no one from the planning authority is here.”
Mr Wishart said he had invited planning officers to attend the meeting.
Kilmac Construction owner Athole McDonald and ex-captain of Craigie Hill Golf Club is seeking to progress plans for a development to fully redevelop the clubhouse and create a community hub and transform the course to be a nine-hole course. His mum was one of the flood victims attending Friday’s meeting.
He said: “My mum lives on Queen Street and has been flooded out of her home twice. The first time round she was out for six to eight months.
“I’m an engineer and there is a lack of understanding in this room. I’m not flooding my mum out.
“The entire burn is flooding triple its capacity. Stopping a housing development is not going to double the capacity of the burn.
“At this current moment in time, unless I can get an understanding of why Craigie Burn floods, I can see me trying to push a development against the wishes of everyone in this room.”
Following the meeting Mr Wishart said: “The feedback I have received from the meeting is that residents are glad to have been able to express their concerns with all of the stakeholders in one room. However, what is also clear is that a lot more cross-sector co-operation is needed going forward if we are to tackle this massive challenge effectively. Residents are fed up of their concerns being passed about and brushed off – they simply want action.
“While it is true to say that climate change is exacerbating these events - which of course is no individual’s fault - it is equally true that we all have a collective duty to work together to find solutions.
“I believe that the cross-sector dialogue initiated at the meeting is a fantastic starting point, and I fully intend on maintaining that dialogue by making these meetings a regular occurrence.”
PKC is currently updating its flood risk management plan. Mr Wishart hopes to hold another meeting in January 2023 after this is published.
