Council is working on flooding prevention
Perth and Kinross Council says it is actively working with partners on flood prevention and reduction measures.
But PKC has reiterated its message it is up to owners to protect their own properties.
This comes after flooding on Sunday (July 11) saw the owner of a Perth pub call for a long-term solution.
The Cherrybank Inn had to close its kitchen and beer garden just before Sunday’s Euro 2021 final kicked off.
Despite the loss in takings and flood damage, Scott Findlay expressed most concern for local residents repeatedly affected by flooding.
He called for long-term flood management measures to avoid locals being flooded out of their homes.
A PKC spokesperson acknowledged to the Perthshire Advertiser “there was a short period of heavy rainfall that exceeded the capacity of parts of sewer/ drainage network, resulting in localised, but temporary surface water flooding of the road network,” on Sunday.
The spokesperson said: “The council received several warnings via its alarm system situated along the catchment of the Craigie Burn and as a precaution the flood gates on the South Inch were closed and were re-opened on Monday (July 12).”
Eight local residents contacted PKC “predominantly concerned with surface water flooding of roads in residential areas” and PKC was aware of “one property that may have suffered some minor flood damage”.
The council spokesperson said the August 2020 flood event - where over 200 properties in the region were flooded including PKC’s headquarters and Perth Leisure Pool - was “extraordinary”.
They added: “In such extreme circumstances there is a limit to what can be done to mitigate flood risk.”
PKC “is trying to assist residents, where possible” and listed the following actions:
The council continues its statutory duties to inspect watercourses and flood schemes on a regular basis and carry out maintenance or repair works where deemed necessary.
Road drains (gullies) are inspected and cleared at regular intervals and reactively when required. Similarly, trash screens located on watercourses throughout the Perth area are cleared every two weeks and reactively when required.
Since August 2020, emergency clearance works were carried out on the Craigie Burn and many culverts and drainage systems were CCTV surveyed to determine their condition and whether any remedial works were required.
In November 2020, Scottish Water and the council carried out the replacement of all eight pumps in the South Inch Pumping Station. This was part of planned maintenance work for the Perth Flood Prevention Scheme.
The Tay Local Flood Risk Management Plan is also in place and includes: The Craigie Burn Flood Protection Study, The Perth Surface Water Management Plan, and a Flood Protection Study.
The spokesperson revealed Scottish Water and the council are currently carrying out a flood study to look at possible upgrades to infrastructure and other improvements around Feus Road, Crieff
Road, Fairfield and Cavendish Avenue.
PKC understands from August 30 to October 30, 2021 SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) will conduct the next phase of a national consultation on the second cycle of the Flood Risk Management Plans and Strategies.
The spokesperson added: “It is important to note that whilst the council and other agencies are actively working on flood prevention and reduction measures, flood protection of individual properties remains the responsibility of the property owner and not any agency.”