Flood risk fears over proposed school site

Public consultation over merger bid hears of concerns about planned location of new secondary

Concerns have been raised about the potential flood risk of the site proposed for a new Dundee secondary school.

In an online public consultation on the proposed merger ofCraigie High School and Braeview Academy, questions were raised about plans to build the replacement campus on the site of the former St Saviour’s High.

One question asked: “The football pitches on the other side of the road basically flood every year, some worse than others, the water does flow across Drumgeith Road.

“If you are to build on this site, would the drains cope with more use from a building estimated to have 1,800-plus people?”

Another added: “The school that was on this site, St Saviour’s, was finally knocked down because it was past its best and sinking.

“What has been done or will be done to stop this happening again to a building that is likely to be bigger than before?”

Responding to these queries, council officials said: “Following and utilising appropriate surface water drainage methods, we would intend to utilise the

Dighty Burn as an outlet to prevent any additional capacity or burden being added to the existing Scottish water drain network.

“Regardless of the outcome of the proposal, collaborative flood assessment is being undertaken with another local authority the length of the Dighty Burn to understand and address the long-standing flooding issues and reduce the impact of this for future years.

“Construction methods and technology have moved on considerably since the building of St Saviour’s RC High School on this site.

“A variety of mitigation measures will be undertaken prior to, during and after construction of a new building in order to prevent such an issue arising.”

The consultation also revealed concerns about the build up of traffic in the area, with one person claiming the problem is already a “nightmare”.

They said: “That area is a nightmare some Saturdays and will get worse during the week when 1,800-plus people are trying to get home.

“I do not think bigger is better and 1,800-plus people in one area, is it just too much for one area to cope with?”

Another added: “In Whitfield at the moment, as you are aware, we have an ongoing problem around the schools, especially at 3pm to 4pm.”

Council officials moved to reassure the community that analysis of the area would be carried out in the event of the new school being built and this would include a “full traffic assessment”.

The online consultation on the merger closes today, with a final decision on the proposals due to be made in January.

The school that was on this site, St Saviour’s, was finally knocked down because it was past its best and sinking