The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
This runner on Auchterarder High Street braved the rain which lashed most of Tayside. Picture: Steve MacDougall.
Heavy rain causes chaos across the region as homes are flooded and major roads are closed
Large swathes of Tayside and Fife were on high alert last night after a day of heavy rainfall took its toll on the region.
Seven of the nine flood warnings issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) across Scotland affected Courier Country, amid warnings that river levels in the region were rising to dangerous levels.
Residents and businesses in Arbroath town centre were being warned of localised flooding yesterday evening, with Hume Street, Brothock Bridge, Old Shore Road, Dens Road, Lindsay Street, Lady Bridge and Marketgate the areas most at risk.
Customers at the popular Meadowbank Inn in Arbroath were asked to leave after torrential rain from nearby fields poured into the car park.
Staff became concerned as the depth of floodwater increased and one witness said that customers with vehicles in the car park were advised to leave around 3.30pm, amid fears that the vehicles could be trapped.
In the village of Muirdrum, one householder’s property was deluged by floodwater for the first time in more than 30 years.
Water poured into Alan Berg’s property at around 2pm and rose to a depth of around a foot in every room.
“The rain just kept coming down and we could see the water coming down the road from Forfar,” said a friend involved in the mop-up operation.
“It’s reached the garden before but has never come into the house and the water is through every room, probably more than a foot deep.”
The drama came just hours after similar warnings were issued for Comrie, where the Water of Ruchill had overflowed on to a field neighbouring flood defences at Dalginross; Innerpeffray to Bridge of Earn; Glen Lyon; Crieff to Innerpeffray; Carse of Lennoch to Lochlane; and Bridge of Ruthven to Leitfie.
Sepa said water levels on the River Earn were expected to be extremely high overnight, while there were reports that the Barry Burn in Carnoustie had burst its banks.
Seemingly relentless rain swept northwards for most of the day, causing treacherous conditions in all areas.
Many roads were said to be impassable, and there was intense flooding near Muirdrum on the main A92 Dundee to Arbroath road as water totally covered sections of the carriageway. In Dundee, police said Arbroath Road and Forthill Road, Broughty Ferry, were the worst affected.
A statement from Tayside Police Division urged people to “drive sensibly and according to the conditions”.
Several roads in Fife were flooded, with the B925 Boglily Road in Kirkcaldy closed by a fallen tree and the whole stretch of Craigluscar Road in Dunfermline shut by flooding.
Parts of St Andrews were hit by the downpour with water covering routes, with the famous Old Course forced to close due to the weather.
Residents in Fife’s flood-risk areas were being given access to flood pods, which contain super-absorbent bags to stop water entering buildings.
There was disruption in Angus when a huge tree fell on to the A932 Friockheim to Forfar road near Pitmuies Gardens at about noon.
More bad weather is forecast for parts of Scotland this weekend, with heavy rain and thunderstorms anticipated.
Elsewhere, a major power cut caused “apocalyptic” rush-hour scenes across England and Wales, with traffic lights down and trains at a standstill.
Nearly a million customers faced blackouts after what the National Grid Electricity System Operator said were issues with two generators.
It’s reached the garden before but has never come into the house and the water is through every room.
FRIEND OF ALAN BERG