We can’t face any more flooding heartache
Family blasts council for failing to maintain drain
The granddaughter of an elderly couple who were evacuated in a flood last year fears for their safety because drainage problems with a nearby burn have not been fixed.
John Martin, who uses a wheelchair, and his wife Willimina, who walks with two walking sticks, had to be rescued by firefighters when water swamped their Ferguslie Park home in February last year.
Parts of the family farmhouse were destroyed when heavy rain saw the nearby Candren Burn burst its banks.
Now the couple’s granddaughter Samantha Vandal says she fears the same thing could happen again, claiming repeated calls for improved maintenance of the burn have fallen on deaf ears.
But Renfrewshire Council insists it has resolved drainage problems.
Samantha says she has not received a response from the local authority after she was asked to email her concerns to bosses.
She told the Express: “The problems with the burn have been going on for several years.
“The last time it flooded, firemen had to come and pump water out of the house and into the field.
“They had to move my grandfather, who is in a wheelchair, because it was a danger to life due to the electrics in the house. The water level was up to my shins.
“This burn is supposed to be maintained by the council, but family members are having to empty rubbish out of it because no one is coming down to do it.”
Pictures supplied by Samantha show litter piled up against some of the drains situated along the burn.
She now wants a commitment from the council that this will be removed regularly.
“We just want a solution. This needs fixed for my grandparents’ safety.
“My grandmother is 80 this year and my grandfather 81. They have serious mobility problems and the fear of this happening again is my concern.
“They have worked all their lives, paid their taxes and never asked for help.
“They just want a bit of assistance with this so they can live safely and with peace of mind,” Samantha added.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said work ha s b e e n c a r r i e d o u t. He explained: “Following the excessive rainfall and subsequent flooding from this burn last year, we carried out works to lower the water level by approximately three feet to reduce the likelihood of a reoccurrence.
“The road on the opposite side of the burn is currently flooded. The private owner has a contractor on site to drain the flooding and they will then carry out works to repair the road drainage.
“We’ve met with the resident to provide our support and will continue to do so where required to ensure the property remains as safe as possible from any flooding risk.”
They have serious mobility problems and the fear of this happening again is my concern