Couple left with £100k bill for flood damage
A family is looking for answers after their forever home flooded causing £ 100,000 worth of damage.
Carol and Stephen Sunnucks and their 12-year-old son Kai haven’t been home since February because their bungalow in Park Avenue flooded.
Back in 2008, Scottish Water spent £2.6million to take 27 homes in the Park Avenue and Stanely Drive areas of Paisley off the register of those at risk of flooding.
But after severe heavy rainfall flooded several streets in Paisley and left the village of Lochwinnoch cut off, the family’s home and all their possessions have been written off.
They were moved into a hotel and then into temporary accommodation the day before the country was put into lockdown.
Carol, 51, is looking for answers from Scottish Water and Renfrewshire Council why the flood defences failed and she wants reassurance that it won’t happen again.
“Scottish Water spent millions back in 2008 on flood prevention in this area,” said Carol. “We were confident it wouldn’t flood.
“We’ve been in the house 20 years. We never wanted to move.
“A couple of years ago it flooded and our cars were both written off.
“Then on February 21 this year the water came right through our house into our back garden. It flooded five houses on the street.
“At midday we moved our cars because the water was getting high. Then it started coming down our path, then by 7pm we couldn’t get out our gate because the water was so high.
“At 9pm it was in the house.”
Carol and Stephen , 54, converted the loft of their bungalow into a room for Kai a year ago. They sheltered there overnight as they were told they wouldn’t be rescued or get a pump out as the home still had electricity.
Carol said: “I woke up on Saturday morning at 7am and heard a council van outside.
“There was a guy wearing waders, he lifted a drain and in ten minutes the water was cleared.
“We still don’t know what caused it, we’ve had no answers from anybody.”
Carol and Stephen were fully insured but have been told it could take up to year before they are back in their own home.
The couple run a nightclub, wedding and events business and mobile bar but have seen their income plummet due to the coronavirus lockdown.
And like many others, Kai missed out on his P7 celebrations for leaving Bushes Primary School.
Tragically, Carol’s sister and nephew also died earlier this year and she said the family just need some positive news.
Carol said: “It’s been a nightmare.
“Coronavirus is bad enough but we’ve not even been in our own house.
“We’ve lost everything. All the furniture, clothes and all our sentimental items. Kai had to leave everything behind.
“We’ re covered by insurance but the premiums are going to shoot up after all this.
“I dread to think what it would have been like if we didn’t have insurance.”
She added: “Something happened for it all to flood like that, something went wrong somewhere whether it was the sewers or the drains.
“We just want to know why so we can be covered if it happens again.”
A spokeswoman for Scottish Water said: “Together with Renfrewshire Council, we are continuing to investigate the full circumstances surrounding this flooding incident.
“We would like to reassure those affected that we will work to identify any further measures which should be implemented to help mitigate future flood risk.”
According to Renfrewshire Council, heavy rain is to blame.
A spokeswoman explained: “During extreme rainfall in February, flood defences diverted water away from homes near the Espedair Burn as normal, however the significant amount of rainfall resulted in some homes being flooded.
“We are working with Scottish Water to investigate the flooding mechanism and any additional measures that need to be put in place.
“We are very sorry for the issues facing this family and will continue to help wherever we can.”
It’s been a nightmare. Coronavirus is bad enough but we’ve not even been in our own house