MSP calls for urgent report into devastating Cardenden floods

A Fife MSP has called for an urgent report from Fife Council after last week’s torrential rainfall severely impacted Cardenden.

Alex Rowley’s comments after he visited the town to see the damage first hand , and meet local residents facing a heartbreaking clean-up operation.

While much of the Kingdom returned to normal after the downpour, Cardenden has remained severely impacted with around 15 properties on Cardenden Road facing damages running into thousands of £s.

Mr Rowley said the flood had been “heartbreaking to see” and added: “There was one lady crying her eyes out because she doesn’t have insurance. There are questions that now need to be asked.”

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He said: “I believe we will need answers from different public bodies such as SEPA and the Coal Authority, but we need to understand some of the questions I am raising and get a quick report from the council to allow us to progress the issues.

“The people who have been impacted by this need support now, so I am asking more detail of the extent of the damage and the levels of support that will be needed.”

News of the MSP’s call for action comes as many locals complained they felt abandoned after the floods.

They complained about a lack of resources given to help them.

Mr Rowley (Mid Scotland & Fife), Labour) wrote to Ken Gourlay, head of assets and facilities management at Fife Council and asked what it was doing to support local people who do not have insurance or are not covered.

Mr Gourlay said the issue was being looked into.

On fears of further floods at the Den Burn – a concern of residents – he said: “We are looking at that, but the main reason was down to the sheer volume of water.

“Drainage systems are not designed to cope with that volume.”

Mr Rowley also raised concerns of floating debris as well as concerns for drain maintenance.

“Fence panels were washed down from the builders’ merchant which became blocked and did not help the escape of water.” noted Mr Gourlay, “The gullies on the roads are serviced, but the road drainage systems are not designed to cope with that level of flooding.”

The bridge at the burn has been inspected by engineers reported no problems.

However, Mr Gourlay noted that capacity through the bridge is an issue, adding: The fact that debris had been washed down into this area did not help.”

> Hannah Brown is the Local Democracy Reporter for Fife & Angus

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