The Courier has done another outstanding job of highlighting the flood risk present in Freuchie in today’s article about the new automatic flood barrier installed at Freuchie Mill. This new flood protection measure protects three Kingdom Housing Association properties from being deluged in another August 2008 type flood event.

Freuchie Flood Action Group pointed out the flood risk in this area, recommending a flood wall, a flood barrier and a pump be installed at this location. Kingdom Housing took our evidence and recommendation along to their flood consultants to come up with a design which implemented two of our three recommendations. Menzies were appointed as the contractor who fitted backflow valves, automatic airbricks, floodgates, constructed the flood wall and installed the automatic flood barrier manufactured by UK Flood Barriers – the first installation of its kind in Scotland.  In flood prevention and protection project terms this is a small and relatively inexpensive project that has massively improved the flood protection for three Freuchie Mill dwellings and added protection from sewer flooding to all Kingdom Housing Association properties.

Working with Kingdom Housing Association and their consultants we have identified further reasonable priced drainage improvements that would make a massive difference to the flood risk at Freuchie Mill. Our proposals would implement the drainage recommendations made by Fife Regional Council when Freuchie Mill was still being planned back in the 1990’s. Cllr MacDiarmid has been trying for some time to organise a meeting with Fife Council officers and other stakeholders to look at our proposals.

p.s. The press release prepared by UK Flood Barriers mentioned a nursing home hence the error in today’s newspaper article! There isn’t a nearby nursing home.

UPDATE: Article now online at http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Fife/article/12680/freuchie-mill-the-first-community-in-scotland-to-introduce-a-passive-flood-defence-system.html