Owners told they must take responsibility for home flood prevention

Perth and Kinross Council says it is actively working with partners on flood prevention and reduction measures, but restated that it is up to owners to protect their own properties.

This comes after flooding last Sunday led the owner of a Perth pub to call for a long-term solution.

Scott Findlay of the Cherrybank Inn, which had to close its kitchen and beer garden just before the Italy v England Euro 2020 final, raised concerns, with nearby residents also repeatedly affected by flooding.

A council spokesman 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 reopened on Monday.”

Eight residents contacted the council with their concerns over the flooding of roads in residential areas, while the council was aware of one property that may have suffered some minor flood damage.

The spokesman said the flooding in August 2020 – which affected more than 200 properties in the region, including the council headquarters and Perth Leisure Pool – was “extraordinary”.

He added: “In such extreme circumstances there is a limit to what can be done to mitigate flood risk.”

He continued by saying the local authority tries to assist residents where possible and added that the council meets its statutory duty to inspect watercourses and flood schemes on a regular basis and carry out maintenance or repair works where deemed necessary.

Road drains are inspected and cleared at regular intervals and reactively when required.

Similarly, trash screens on watercourses throughout the council area are cleared every two weeks and reactively when required.

He added: “It is important to note that while 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”.