Rising tide of flooding chaos leaves Capital homes at risk

Published on Thursday 14 August 2008 10:36

IN the wake of horrendous floods that wreaked havoc across Edinburgh in April 2000, city residents were promised swift action to protect their homes in the future.

But with torrential rain once again lashing the Capital this month, hundreds of homeowners still remain at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Even when the flood prevention plans were announced eight years ago, concerns were raised that it would take until late 2003 for work to start. In fact, it will be spring 2009 before work to safeguard hundreds of homes and businesses along the Water of Leith gets under way.

As each winter goes by, those living alongside the banks of the river are forced to endure sleepless nights whenever the water level rises.

But few could have expected the city's waterways to be placed on flood alert in mid-August, as has happened twice this month.

By yesterday, 132.2mm of rainfall had fallen in the city since August 1 – nearly double the entire month's average, and already higher than any August this decade. Although the record for wettest month ever in Edinburgh – August 1948 when 239mm fell – is unlikely to be beaten, the torrential rain comes after similar downpours last January were officially classed the worst in more than 100 years.

Figures released by the Scottish Government show that around 8000 homes in the Capital are in officially designated flood zones. A similar study by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency found that parts of the city are at risk of flooding of up to 30cm in depth, due to the effects of climate change.

Areas of Leith including The Shore, Bernard Street, Salamander Street, Tower Street, and the lowest properties on the west bank of the Water of Leith, close to the end of Commercial Street, are at risk from high sea levels and storm surges.

But it is flooding from burns and rivers in the city that causes most concern. An estimated 25 million worth of damage to around 600 homes and businesses was caused when the Water of Leith and the Braid Burn burst their banks in 2000.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, whose transport and environment remit includes flood prevention, today said the council and the Government have invested "several million pounds" on the planned flood prevention schemes for the waterways, "which will bring peace of mind to thousands of residents and businesses who have either been affected by, or are vulnerable to, the threat of flooding".

Carrying water from the Pentland Hills, the Braid Burn enters Edinburgh at Redford and weaves its way north-east to meet the sea at Portobello. Although in normal flow the burn seems harmless, it has burst its banks five times in the last 16 years.

The most recent example occurred only last week, leaving Old Dalkeith Road and Inch Park flooded, and "lakes of water" in peoples' gardens. The 29m flood prevention scheme includes 14 projects that, when complete, will protect around 900 homes and businesses along its banks.

It took nearly five years for the plans to be approved by ministers, only narrowly avoiding a public inquiry. Work got under way at Inch Park, Peffermill Playing Fields and Comiston last July and Cameron Toll Gardens and Mid Liberton earlier this year.

Around one-third of the work on the three-year construction programme is now complete. But while residents along the Braid Burn will feel they have waited too long, the Water of Leith scheme has faced even more hurdles.

When the 24-mile long river burst its banks in 2000, around 500 properties were damaged, and Murrayfield was left under water. A flood prevention scheme was submitted to Scottish ministers in February 2003, but with a large number of objectors – including the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) – a public inquiry was announced.

In 2005 the reporters' backed the SRU over the council and said Murrayfield's practice pitches should be protected rather than used as an emergency flood plain. Ministers eventually agreed with this around 18 months later, meaning walls downstream at Stockbridge will be raised higher to stop the river bursting its banks.

After Scottish rugby chiefs won their battle, a new planning application was required, but the SRU objected once again over the loss of two outfield pitches.

Finally, earlier this year, the council reached agreement with the bodies, and the remaining available space at the site will now be remodelled to include four new training pitches.

However, the various delays in the process mean the overall cost has soared from an original estimate of 9.5m in 2001 to just under 54m now.

By the time the measures are in place, it will be about 13 years since the major floods of April 2000. Until then, residents will continue to suffer sleepless nights every time the water levels rise.