Melting snow triggers fresh flood threat
● Warnings issued as trains disrupted by three rail lines left under water
Melting snow was causing travel problems last night as flood warnings and alerts were issued across Scotland.
The disruption came as a “Fair Work” charter in a bid to stop staff being forced to travel to work in extreme weather was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Flooding from snow melt hit three main rail lines, while a fourth is not expected to reopen until later today because of snow falling on to the track.
Engineers worked all day to clear floodwater from a 100m stretch of the main Edinburgh-glasgow line at Winchburgh in West Lothian.
A spokesman for the Scotrail Alliance with Network Rail said: “We’ve got eight pumps on site working to clear the water but we’re seeing significant amounts of snow melt, and water is building back up almost as fast as it can be removed.”
Other flooding caused major disruption to trains between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes in Fife, and Dyce and Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. The Edinburgh-north Berwick route is expected to remain shut until noon because of overhanging snow.
Drivers were hit by heavy snowfall yesterday, including on the M77, M8 and M80. Police reported “severe flooding” on the A92 between Dundee and Montrose.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a flood warning for the Eye Water between Grantshouse and Eyemouth in the Borders. It said: “Harbour Road in Eyemouth is the main area at risk. Businesses near to the harbour may be at risk.”
Eight flood alerts, where
0 A farmer struggles in deep snow in the Carron Valley near Stirling where 6ft drifts blocked roads
0 Flooding on Park Road in Rosyth potential flooding could occur, were issued for the Borders, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Angus, Edinburgh and the Lothians, Fife, Tayside and west central Scotland.
Sepa duty flooding manager Marc Becker said: “Parts of Scotland could see minor disruption from isolated flooding due to a combination of rainfall and gradual snow melt into Wednesday.
“Flood alerts have been issued to raise awareness of the potential for surface water on roads and transport links.
“Significant flooding is not expected, however flood warningsmaybeissuedwhere rainfall and snowmelt combine to create a locally greater risk of flooding, primarily to areas of agricultural land.”
Meantime, the First Minister said there should be legislation to protect workers during weather conditions, such as last week’s red warning when people were urged to avoid travelling.
She said a charter would be developed with the Scottish Trades Union Congress, although employment law is reserved to Westminster.
In a joint statement with STUC general secretary Grahame Smith, Ms Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government and the STUC share a real concern some workers were placed at unnecessary risk through being compelled to travel to work or placed under threat of lost pay if they did not make it into work.
“We are committed to doing everything within our current powers to encourage employers to be fair and flexible.
“That is why we have agreed to collaboratively develop a Fair Work charter, focusing on the treatment of workers affected by severe weather or other emergencies.
“The charter will set out fair work principles that employers should adopt in these circumstances.”