Fife floods: Rainfall at airport was 1-in-1000 years probability

Devastating floods in Fife earlier this year were unprecedented, councillors have been told.
Cardenden flooding (Pic: George Zielinski)Cardenden flooding (Pic: George Zielinski)
Cardenden flooding (Pic: George Zielinski)

At a meeting of Fife Council's south and west area committee, a full assessment revealed the impact of the torrential downpours.

Roads and transportation services described the floods as "a severe event, one which has never been encountered in Fife before. "

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They revealed there were a total of 259 flooding events throughout the Kingdom, with 32 in the south and west.

Fife Airport in Glenrothes recorded a rainfall of 105.6mm water area within 12 hours - the equivalent of a one in 1000 year probability event happening overnight.

Ross Speirs, service manager, said: "The rainfall we had was way above anything that I have seen in such a short period of time."

Councillors raised concerns about Rosyth - and why it wasn't included in the report.

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Cllr Tony Orton said excluding the town was "whole unacceptable" given its previous flooding history.

Cllr Sharon Green-Wilson agreed, saying: "To actually have a briefing which ignores the significant amounts of historic flooding and future flooding that will come in Rosyth is just not acceptable."

Mr Speirs said the department was aware of flooded football pitches and problems at Park Road and other streets.

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Cllr Manekshaw noted that the report has also 'under-reported' flooding in Kincardine, Cairneyhill, and Culross.

Mr Speirs said the report reflected the calls logged on the nights of the flooding.

Cllr David Barratt asked for a report to be taken to the environment sub committee including full register of flooding events with a brief summary of the location of each event and the key processes undertaken.

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