Calls for Fife Council to ‘support all homeowners’ during floods

Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy representative Gordon Langlands took issue with the wording of a report that he said could cause concern among those who do not live in social housing.

Part of the report suggested that the council was at risk from “reactive mitigation” from homeowners who believe the authority is liable to protect homes from flood damage.

However, Cllr Langlands took issue with the phrasing of this statement.

The Labour councillor told officers: “The wording seems harsh and it seems very discriminating against owners of private property.

“The sentiment is correct but the the statement was a little bit jarring, especially if you were to have suffered from flooding. You might feel you were getting discriminated against.”

He was backed up by Judy Hamilton (Scottish Labour, Kirkcaldy Central), who added: “As a local authority we stand with people and stand to protect them as we do have a level of responsibility to help – not insuring properties, but we have a duty to support people through these crises.”

Cllr Langlands made the remarks at a meeting Fife’s Environment and Protective Services Sub Committee, which on Thursday reviewed the latest evidence of the investigation into the Kingdom’s severe flooding in August.

Severe storms on August 11, 12 and 25 crippled much of the region, with some areas experiencing a once-in-a-thousand-years level of rainfall. About 4,300 sandbags and 129 personnel were deployed across Fife to assist beleaguered residents, the worst affected of which were in Kirkcaldy, Cardenden and Glenrothes.

The local authority has committed to spending £325,000 on flood prevention works before next April to avoid a repeat of the scenes seen in the summer.

Ross Speirs, Fife Council’s structure services manager, said the council was in the midst of preparing a leaflet to be sent out to residents explaining the local authority’s liability and responsibility during flooding events.

“We’ve been requested a lot from various councillors and from locals as well anybody that has been affected with regard to what they believe we could be doing and what we are legally bound to be doing.

“Unfortunately private properties are to be looked after by private citizens. I always say that I don’t insure anybody else’s car, I own my own car and I insure that. It’s the same with properties.”

Mr Speirs was backed up by committee convener Councillor Ross Vettraino (SNP, Glenrothes Central and Thornton).

“The council always does whatever it can to help in any situation in my experience but there’s a limit to what it can do,” he said.

“I also think it’s important to clarify what is the council’s responsibility and what’s the community’s responsibility.

“Hopefully we’ll all be the wiser when we see that.”

Jon Brady, Local Democracy Reporter

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