Freuchie Flood Action Group would like to congratulate Cllr Donald Lothian and Cllr David MacDiarmid on their successful re-election and welcome Cllr Andy Heer to be the latest representative of Freuchie. These three councillors will be representing The Howe of Fife and Tay Coast (Ward 17), of which Freuchie is a part, for the next five years.

At this point we’d like to remind you of your commitment at the Newburgh hustings! You all stated you’d be happy to serve on the Fife Council committee responsible for flooding. We hope and expect at least one councillor from the ward, if not more, will be sitting in the right place to help out the local communities of this ward who’ve suffered from flooding in the past.

We look forward to working with you over the next few years to deliver flood prevention and protection measures for Freuchie.

Full result for anyone who’s interested.

John Thomson, Chair of the Freuchie Flood Action Group, visited Dundee University on Tuesday to talk to students on the University’s undergraduate Geography programme about flooding from a resident’s perspective.

Photo: John (centre, left) is pictured with the students and Dr Andrew Black, a Senior Lecturer in the University (centre, right).

The University of Dundee has to be commended for allowing the real world experience and knowledge of flood survivors to be shared with students. As John pointed out during the talk, the rubbish sitting in skips outside flooded properties was once someone’s possessions and the fabric of their home or as he put it, “That’s someone’s home in a skip!”

Low cost innovative flood prevention solutions have been implemented here in Freuchie, an approach we’ve been forced to take due to the lack of funding for the more traditional big engineering approach to flood prevention. It was important to demonstrate to the students how small amounts of money on simple engineering solutions can make big improvements to flood risk.

Another major thread in the talk was to discuss the power of communities in coming together to help themselves and to work in partnership with the local authority, SEPA and other agencies to improve the flood risk impacting on the community.

Today the support available to flooded communities and the law surrounding flooding has improved since FFAG was first formed, both of which are game changers in how flooding is now being dealt with throughout Scotland.

To know the next generation of hydrologists and flood professionals has a greater appreciation of the impact of flooding can only be reassuring to the many areas of Scotland blighted by this ever threatening risk to their homes and businesses.

Dr Andrew Black commented, "Flood risk management is a huge field and our students are always enthusiastic to learn about the latest technical and policy initiatives from around the world designed to help manage this perennial hazard.  However, some of the most valuable lessons about floods, their impacts, and how to mitigate them, can be learned from close to home, so it was great that John was able to come and meet the students.  It’s a great example of learning in a university that knows its place in its community.”

Additional Notes:

Freuchie has experienced a number of flood events over the last decade. The flood events on the 13th August 2008 caused over £1m of property damage throughout the village.

Significant improvements have already been made to protect many of the properties so badly affected in 2008.

Freuchie was designated as the next area for a flood scoping study in a Transportation Services report submitted to Fife Council’s Enterprise, Environment and Transportation Committee in November 2010.

Dundee University will also be hosting a major UK hydrological symposium in July when the British Hydrological Society(BHS)  holds its biennial symposium in Dundee.  The event will see more than 100 hydrologists from around the UK and beyond descend on the city for a programme of scientific papers, discussions and field visits.  Andrew Black is the immediate Past President of the BHS and will be welcoming the hydrologists to Dundee for the first time.

Following a nation wide consultation, SEPA has published the National Flood Risk Assessment.

The National Flood Risk Assessment is the first step of the new risk-based approach to managing the impacts of flooding, introduced by the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. It represents a significant milestone in our understanding of flood risk by bringing together the latest information on the sources and impacts of flooding across Scotland.

From the National Flood Risk Assessment we have found that one in 22 of all residential properties and one in 13 of all non-residential properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or heavy rainfall in urban areas. The outcomes of the National Flood Risk Assessment will help us to target actions for flood risk management in those areas where we can have the greatest impact.

SEPA has published the following documents to accompany the National Flood Risk Assessment:

• The National Flood Risk Assessment ( 774Kb): This document provides further detail on the National Flood Risk Assessment and how its outcomes support Flood Risk Management Planning.
• Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans ( 463Kb): Provides detail on the content and production of Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans.

>> View the National Flood Risk Assessment here

Freuchie is shown as being in an area at significant risk from flooding. Two locations within Freuchie are highlighted as “Flood Events” hotspots.

FFAG will be assessing the various documents and resources made available by SEPA.

A news article is being run on the BBC website and the news bulletins this morning about the worries over flood insurance for vulnerable areas.

Tens of thousands of people who were flooded in 2007 may find it impossible to get cover for their homes and businesses unless the government and insurers reach a new agreement.

Campaigners say the government needs to act quickly as guarantees on vulnerable homes are due to end in June 2013.

The Association of British Insurers argues the agreement was a temporary measure and has distorted the market.

It wants the government to offer more help.

To put it simply, the insurance industry committed to keep flood insurance affordable for at risk communities so long as the Scottish and UK government, local authorities and agencies make progress on flood protection and prevention. The real concern is not enough or slow progress is being made for the insurance industry to recommit to such arrangements in the future.

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers, speaking on BBC Breakfast, confirmed more commitment from government was required and hinted at the need for a government  subsidy so at risk communities can be provided with affordable flood coverage.

The ABI and the Scottish Government compiled “A Joint Statement on the Provision of Flood Insurance” back in December 2008.

Freuchie, Falkland and the Newton of Falkland have all been recognised by SEPA as areas at risk of flooding.

Following flooding in the West of Scotland over the last few days, Paul Hendy of the Scottish Flood Forum was interviewed by David MacKay on Scotland Tonight.

Do you agree or disagree with the comments made by Paul?

It is becoming increasingly clear that years of underinvestment by local authorities and Scottish Water need to be scrutinised from a flooding viewpoint. Both should and must do more in the coming years as the statutory duties of the Flood Risk Management Scotland Act 2009 come fully into force.

Our experience with Fife Council has seen a massive improvement in the way they deal with flooding over the last three years. The flood officers are taking their duties extremely seriously, working hard behind the scenes to do as much as possible. Unfortunately the budget they are given is no where near enough!

Many properties were built on sites where flooding was either not considered or the development was allowed to take place as long as it appeared to meet a 1 in 30 year flood return period. Thankfully the building standards of today insist on at least 1 in 200 years and it is now common for a Flood Risk Assessment to be performed in areas at risk of flooding.

SEPA has impressed FFAG over the last few years as they carefully consider flooding issues and planning applications. They’ve saved the community from worse flooding on more than one occasion.

Sad to see flooding occurring in Scotland following the torrential rain over the last few days.

BBC flood photos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15943842

Abington Primary School pupils rescued from flooding:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15945986

Drivers stuck after rain causes flooding in Scotland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15922080

Here’s hoping no one has had their home flooded.

A flood alert is in force for Fife:

SEPA has issued a FLOOD ALERT for Fife.

Due to a continued period of prolonged and heavy rain which is forecast to continue throughout Wednesday, there is a risk of localised flooding, particularly from small watercourses, in the western areas of the region. The east of the region is not expected to experience the same degree of risk.
Intense periods of rainfall could result in some localised surface water issues in the west of the region, particularly in urban areas and on impermeable surfaces, such as the road network. Standing surface water may occur in these and other low lying areas.
SEPA will monitor the situation closely and provide further information when appropriate.

Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property. Advice and information is available through Floodline on 0845 9881188. This FLOOD ALERT UPDATE is now in force until further notice. If you haven’t already signed up to receive free flood messages, please call Floodline or register online at sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup.

The webcams will be switched over to a subscription only service this weekend.

The weather station will follow in the next few weeks.

Use the Contact Us form if you haven’t already told us you would like to subscribe.

UPDATE:
Webcams are now a subscription only service.

A severe weather warning has been issued by The Met Office -  from midnight tonight a “YELLOW ALERT OF RAIN” will be in place for 24 hours.

A period of heavy rain will affect parts of southern, central and eastern Scotland during Tuesday. The rain will tend to ease from the south during the afternoon. Timings and extent of rainfall remain subject to some uncertainty. The public should be aware that there may be disruption to travel in a few places with possible localised flooding.

The BBC Breakfast weather report is reporting the potential for 40 – 60mm in the east of Scotland.

Certainly a weather event we will be watching closely.

Sad news from Spain as an elderly couple are drowned in a flash flood.

Full story can be found here.

This story graphically illustrates the dangers from flash flood and the speed at which they can occur.

Freuchie experienced the most rainfall in a while yesterday. Approximately 24mm of rain fell in 9 hours, with most of the total falling in a 7 hour spell of moderate steady rainfall.

The culvert at Freuchie Mill rose considerably during this rainfall event. As has been previously highlighted, a rainfall rate of 3mm per hour will see the level of the Pitilock Burn rise to alarming levels incredibly quickly at Freuchie Mill.

Thankfully other watercourses in Freuchie tend to take longer or require more rainfall to raise the same level of alarm or lead onto flooding.

Thanks to Cockermouth Flood Action Group and others for their kind thoughts posted on our Facebook updates yesterday.