Flood fears raised after downpours batter Capital

Published on Wednesday 13 August 2008 10:49

HEAVY rain has once again lashed the Capital, raising fears of further flooding and causing more misery for commuters.

The deluge continued throughout the night, prompting the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to put out flood watch warnings for Edinburgh and Lothian rivers.

No major flooding has yet been reported, but surface water on the roads has been causing problems for motorists.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for Lothian and the Borders. A total of 35 mm of rain was expected to fall in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

A statement issued by the Met Office said today: "Further outbreaks of heavy rain will affect the area, giving another 15 mm in three hours in places. The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the latest Scottish Environment Protection Agency live flood warning information, and also to Traffic Scotland for further advice on road conditions."

Yesterday a driver was killed in a collision with a lorry during bad weather on the A904 in West Lothian.

Emergency services attended following the crash at around 4.10pm. The driver died as a result of the crash. However, a male passenger travelling with him was being treated by paramedics for his injuries.

A police officer at the crash site did not wish to comment on the cause of the accident. He did say, though, that the poor weather conditions and the wet road "did not contribute" to the tragedy.

However, local resident Jack Fortune believes the rain and poor lighting make driving on the road a "nightmare" for many motorists.

He said: "The road down there is really bad for accidents. There have been motorcyclists knocked off and even killed before."

SEPA today issued a statement advising people to be aware of the situation and be prepared for any flooding.

People are advised to keep valuable and sentimental items upstairs or somewhere above the flood line, and keep a list of emergency contact numbers and details of insurance policies somewhere safe. SEPA also advised people to prepare flood kits, including personal documents, waterproof clothing, first aid kit, mobile phone, torch and wind up or battery powered radio.

The weather warnings come just days after flooding caused chaos on city streets.

Key roads had to be closed, traffic lights failed and the rail line from Waverley to Haymarket was shut because of flooding from Princes Street Gardens last Thursday.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said there had been reports today of localised flooding in the Borders, but they were not aware of any major incidents in Edinburgh.

Traffic Scotland warned that surface water could cause problems on the roads, while a spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said traffic was continuing to flow through the city this morning.

Edinburgh City Council confirmed there were no major issues or road closures due to the rain.

Anyone concerned about flooding in their area can contact SEPA's flood line service on 0845 988 1188 or visit www.sepa.org.uk/flooding.

THE DAYS AHEAD

RAIN is expected to continue throughout the morning with the forecast for Edinburgh showing things brightening up later and into the evening. A mainly dry day is forecast for Thursday, with showers possible in the afternoon. Showers are due to continue over Friday, developing into heavier rain at the weekend.