Unfortunately the planned work to reinstate the culvert outlet area at Freuchie Mill has been delayed due to the recent bad weather and delays in the other flood prevention and protection works carried out over the last few months.

The consultants for Kingdom Housing Association has advised the work will now commence on the 28th March, lasting an expected 4 – 6 weeks. They have offered an apology for the delay which is outside of their control.

Technorati Tags: flood, Freuchie, Kingdom Housing Association

The Courier features an article on the decision by Kingdom Housing Association  to pull the plug on the Broomfield Place / Millburn Place development due to the flood risk.

Grab yourself a copy of  The Courier then turn to page 4 to read Cllr MacDiarmid’s and FFAG’s comments.

Outstanding journalism by our friends at The Courier. Thanks Cheryl.

Technorati Tags: Broomfield Place, Cllr MacDiarmid, flood, flooding, FFAG, Kingdom Housing Association, Millburn Place, The Courier

The diligence and perseverance of Freuchie residents, Freuchie Community Council and Freuchie Flood Action Group ensured Lomond Group and Kingdom Housing Association made every possible investigation when considering the flood risk at the proposed development at Broomfield Place. We were informed last night of the withdrawal of this planning application due to the flood risk present at, around and downstream of the site.

Bill Banks of Kingdom Housing Association has sent us the following statement today:

Kingdom Housing Association withdraws from new-build project in Freuchie

Kingdom Housing Association has withdrawn its planning application to build 10 affordable homes at Broomfield Place / Millburn Place, Freuchie, which it had lodged in March of this year with Fife Council. This decision follows a thorough investigation of flood risk issues in the village.

A Flood Assessment Study undertaken for the Association has revealed an inadequately sized drainage pipe through the village, which also suffers from a blockage; as well as a more general lack of flood containment capacity. This flood risk situation may well be exacerbated by the proposed development; particularly as there is no current commitment to strategic service improvements proposed by the statutory authorities.

Bill Banks, Depute Chief Executive of Kingdom, expressed disappointment. ‘’The Howe of Fife is an area with a very high need for more affordable housing, and we were delighted to pursue this opportunity in Freuchie. Given concerns over flooding issues, however, we made it clear that it was never our intention to proceed with a project which could add to flood risks elsewhere in the village. As the study has not been able to demonstrate that we can safely develop at the site, we have withdrawn our interest in the project’’.

Kingdom Housing Association will continue to seek opportunities to provide badly needed affordable housing at appropriate locations in the Howe of Fife and elsewhere in Fife.

Bravo to Bill Banks for recognising this site as unsuitable for housing development. Thankfully Kingdom Housing Association’s investigations revealed the flood risk the community had warned about at the beginning of the planning process. 

The whole of Freuchie owes Kingdom Housing Association a debt of gratitude.  Their expensive investigations have revealed a far fuller picture of the flood risk on the south side of Freuchie – the lack of capacity in The Feus culvert, the blockage in this pipe, and the classification of this site and surrounding areas as ones at high risk of flooding brings even more weight to our call for a full flood study for Freuchie.

We also hope the Association finds suitable sites elsewhere in NE Fife to build the much needed affordable housing.

Let’s draw a line under this one with some final thoughts…

It is heartening to see SEPA being an effective organisation when dealing with flood risk issues, ensuring developments in flood risk areas are sufficiently understood and mitigated against.

There has been much discussion over the last year about the dissatisfaction with Fife Council Development Services and their procedures and systems. This case in particular has been an unadulterated mess causing much alarm and distress for the community. 

Thankfully the flood protection officers are doing sterling work behind the scenes when it comes to planning applications in flood risk areas.

The role of Freuchie Community Council cannot be understated. Their guidance and knowledge assisted the whole community at every stage of the planning application. 

There are also many residents who campaigned vigorously to make this a challenging planning application case. They deserve a show of appreciation for all their hours of dedicated hard work.

To the many people who supplied documentary proof of past flood events we thank you. This new evidence has strengthened our flood study campaign in no small measure.

We can now get back to dedicating all our time to the campaign for a flood study and flood protection and prevention measures for Freuchie.

Technorati Tags: Fife, Fife Council, flood, flooding, Freuchie, Freuchie Community Council, Kingdom Housing Association, SEPA

Freuchie Flood Action Group has just received video footage taken during the flood event in the early hours of the 13th August 2008.

Yet more graphic proof of why Kingdom Housing Association and the developers must ensure they get the flood prevention implementation correct on this site.

This new content will be sent off to Fife Council Development Services, Kingdom Housing Association and SEPA.

If you have trouble viewing the video try going directly to the video hosting website.

Technorati Tags: Fife Council, Fife Council Development Services, flood, flooding, Freuchie, Freuchie Flood Action Group, Kingdom Housing Association, SEPA

It was one of the happiest days of Kay and Jim’s life when they tied the knot and flew off on honeymoon.  They were truly oblivious to the cruel hand of fate smiting down on Freuchie Mill whilst they were blissfully enjoying the first throngs of married life.

This is Kay’s story in her own words.

My husband and I returned from our honeymoon on 14^th August 2008. When we landed at Heathrow we had no idea of the devastation that awaited us back home. Having taken the decision not to worry us as we were travelling back from Canada, my mother and children had kept the conversations lighthearted and upbeat. I was however starting to worry as I had tried all day to phone home and the line was unavailable. My mother’s line was constantly engaged. I had sent my daughter an email but of course, unknown to me, she couldn’t get it as the pc was under the floodwater! I was relieved when we landed at Heathrow and I was able to speak with my mother who reported that everything was fine!

Anyway, faced with a 2.5 hr turnaround at Heathrow I passed the time by buying a Daily Record. That’s when reality hit us as we turned the pages. I cannot begin to describe the shock and fear we felt at seeing our house and our neighbour’s garden. First reaction, on reading the article was major relief that everyone was ok and safe. We then telephoned my mum again and she was devastated that we had found out this way.

The thing is, no matter how good the holiday, there is always the longing to get back home, catch up with family, have a cup of tea and a sleep in your own bed, all of which we were very much looking forward to.

Somehow we managed to board our flight, looking like walking zombies. My parents were waiting to collect us from Edinburgh airport and take us home. In spite of what we saw in the paper, nothing prepares you for the reality. Faced with no home and no cars and my 18yr old and 16yr old rushing to tell us what happened, we were utterly numb. My son had just bought himself his first car 2 weeks previous, a classic mini – his pride and joy – totally engulfed by floodwater. Devastated.

We were informed Kingdom Housing had arranged for us to stay at The Greenside Hotel in Leslie so we had to spend the night there. Sleep evaded us even though we were jet-lagged. In the morning we went to the offices of Kingdom Housing and asked for alternative accommodation. We were placed in a 2 bedroom caravan at Pettycur Bay. I work in Glenrothes, my husband works in Perth, my son is an apprentice joiner and my daughter is in 5^th year at Bell Baxter HS in Cupar, so this situation was not ideal, but we had no alternative. Thankfully, my husband managed to get a courtesy car for a few weeks to enable us to commute. However my son had to stay with friends closer to his work as the caravan was too small to accommodate him.

The weekend following the flood was spent with friends clearing our things out of the house, wading through the mud and finding storage in various places. Unfortunately, we were not covered by contents insurance as I hadn’t got around to renewing it. Lesson learned.

After 3 weeks at Pettycur we found the situation too stressful to bear (too small/cramped, noisy and uncomfortable) and asked Kingdom if they would accommodate the four of us in a private lett. We were told they wouldn’t do that. They offered us a move to Leven Beach caravan Park on 13^th September with the possibility of a house becoming available to decant into on the 4^th October at The Henge, Glenrothes.

Being faced with living in the caravan for another 6 weeks and my son not being able to live with us during that time, my husband and I took the decision to organise a private lett, funded by ourselves, so at least we could minimise the disruption to us all and be together again as a family.

Like everyone in Freuchie affected by the flooding, our lives have been turned totally upside down and then some. Having had such a wonderful, magical wedding and honeymoon we never dreamed we would come back down to earth with such a devastating bump.

The utter dismay, helplessness, major inconvenience, expense and stress caused by this cannot be put into words. We are trying to stay positive and focus on what’s important (family) but are truly and utterly devastated and very homesick! We’ve lost the home we had put our souls into, (yes property can be rebuilt but it will never be the same), our cars and our day-to-day lives as we knew it.

Putting it all into perspective, we have our family and we are all ok and that’s the main thing. We will overcome!

Kay Henderson, 3 Freuchie Mill

Technorati Tags: Cupar, flooding, Freuchie, Freuchie Mill, Glenrothes, Kingdom Housing Association, Perth

In the early hours of the 13th August 2008, the residents of Freuchie were caught up in an unprecedented flood event. The media widely reported the flooding in Freuchie Mill where 12 homes owned by private residents and Kingdom Housing Association were devastated in spectacular style. Even those Freuchie Mill resident who escaped their homes being flooded were hit when approximately twenty cars were drowned unceremoniously in the heavily silted flood waters!

However, it is less well known that other homes in Freuchie were flooded and many more were within inches of their own tragic story! Even those residents who feel lucky to have escaped flooding will be affected over the coming months as insurance companies reclassify the village to be a flood risk area. In other words, watch the insurance premiums rocket and keep a close eye on the insurance small print as flood cover is reduced or removed by some insurance companies.

The affected residents and those who’re concerned about future flood events have got together to form a flood action group (name still to be announced). This blog, along with other online and offline resources will support the activity of this group, serving the simple single action mission of improved flood protection and prevention for the residents of Freuchie.

Technorati Tags: Fife, flooding, Freuchie, Freuchie Mill, Kingdom Housing Association