Tag: Flooding

Edinburgh and Lothians flood alert

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued an updated FLOOD ALERT for Edinburgh and Lothians:

There is a continuing risk of surface water flooding due to the band of intense rainfall currently over the area. This could cause flooding from local surface water run off, particularly in urban areas and on roads. It may also cause some flooding from smaller watercourses in the region, particularly to low lying land and in flood prone areas. The risk from flooding will lessen during Sunday afternoon as the rain starts to ease.

Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property.  Advice and information is available through Floodline on 0845 9881188.  This FLOOD ALERT UPDATE is now in force until further notice.

If you haven’t already signed up to receive free flood messages, please call Floodline or register online at sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup.Drain

Water result! Care home residents wheely happy

Residents at a Stockbridge care home are enjoying the perks of getting use out of a car which was originally intended to be used in the case of flooding emergencies.

Bield’s Stockbridge Care Home was provided with a contingency car when work began on the Water of Leith flood prevention scheme, with the intention it could be used to help evacuate residents quickly should flooding occur. Fortunately for the residents the car has not had to be used for any flooding problems but instead the staff have used it to take residents for special day trips and for medical appointments.

Kim Drysdale, manager at Stockbridge Care Home, said: “Originally the car was given to us so we could evacuate our service users quickly in case of any flooding from the Water of Leith which in the past has severely broken its banks after heavy rainfall.

“The Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme has fortunately prevented any cases of emergency and instead of just having the car sitting there without being used; we tried to think of different ways in which our service users could benefit from the transport.

“The car has been used for days out like canal trips and other activities. For example, earlier this year we had a service user who was unable to make a weekend trip with her social club, Pilton Elderly Project, due to them being unable to accommodate her wheelchair.

“But thanks to us having the contingency car we were able to take her on a two day holiday break to Oban which was a fantastic opportunity for her to feel independent by getting out and about to see the sites in Oban as she had never been before.”

In addition to offering assistance for recreational purposes, the car has been used for medical support for the service users who ages range from 60-90 years and have a diverse range of needs.

Kim added: “The car has been a massive help so far financially for our residents with them saving on travel costs for medical appointments to the hospital and doctor’s clinic as this can be expensive for them.

“Not only this but the nearest GP surgery is situated on a steep hill which would be physically impossible for the residents to reach so having this car has been a great advantage for them financially and mobility wise.”

Chief Executive Brian Logan said the innovative approach to available resources at Stockbridge Care Home typifies the approach Bield has made to improve the lives of people who use its services under its new inspirational statement: Free to Be.

He said: “This Free to Be commitment goes very much at the heart of what Bield is all about – letting people make their own choices about how they live their lives but being there to support them when they need it.

“Many older people still have ambition and drive and where we can we offer additional support to give them the freedom to do the things they love but which might otherwise be taken away without the right help and support.”

Bield – a registered charity – has grown from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness to become a major provider of a wide range of housing and services for around 15,000 people across 22 local authority areas.

BIELD

Council seeks to bridge flood funding gap

The city council is to continue talks with the Government and local government umbrella body COSLA over a funding shortfall for the second and third phases of flood prevention works on the Water of Leith. The Council made an unsuccesful bid for goverment support last December but a decision is expected later this year on funding for flooding projects.

Transport convener Councillor Lesley Hinds (pictured above) said: “The total cost of building existing and future flood defences for Edinburgh  is at least £144m, which is well beyond our own means. While the completed scheme on Braidburn and the finished parts of the Water of Leith are providing protection, other parts of the city continue to be at risk. Recent events have shown again how important it is that we have these defences in place and I very much hope COSLA and the Scottish Government can be persuaded of the capital’s case.”

The current funding arrangements are detailed in a report to the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment committee next week. The report also describes the lessons learned from recent flooding, especially on 7 July 2012 at the Stockbridge Colonies and in Warriston. As a result, various improvements are to be made in how the Council works with other organisations to plan for and respond to major flooding incidents.

Councillor Hinds added: “Flooding can be a devastating experience for those who are affected. While our staff worked very hard to deal with the consequences of the exceptionally heavy rainfall there are always lessons to be learned for the Council, our contractors and our partners I’d also urge every household tosign-up for alerts from SEPA and follow their guidance on being prepared for flooding.”

Weather warning – more heavy rain expected

The Met Office has upgraded a weather warning of more heavy rain for many parts of eastern Scotland, with an amber warning for Wednesday centring on Edinburgh with up to 50mm of rain possible. The Met Office said that there is still uncertainty about the exact areas which would be affected but localised flooding is likely.

The warning of further heavy rain comes just days after torrential rain caused flooding in many parts of the city including Stockbridge, Cramond and Warriston.

Environmental protection agency SEPA has issued an amber flood alert for Edinburgh and Lothians. In a statement on the organisation’s website, residents are warned:

‘Persistent rain is expected to affect the area from Tuesday through to Wednesday evening. River levels are expected to rise in response to this rain and may cause some flooding from rivers from later on Wednesday morning. There is particular concern for the East Lothian area.

SEPA duty officers will monitor the situation and update as further information becomes available.

Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property.  Advice and information is available through Floodline on 0845 9881188.  This FLOOD ALERT is now in force until further notice and was sent by phone and sms free of charge to registered customers of our Floodline direct warning service.  If you haven’t already signed up to receive free flood messages, please call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or register online at sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup.’

Last month was the dullest and wettest June since records began over a century ago and, with wet weather forecast to continue, it’s already looking likely that July will follow June into the record books.

The scientific explanation for the worst summer on record is that the jet stream is  further south than it should be at this time of year – over France and Spain,  meaning Britain is under a blanket of low pressure on the northern side of  it. That brings depressions, resulting in the record rainfall levels we’re currently experiencing.

Waters subside but flood warnings remain in place

Stockbridge, Cramond and Warriston were among the areas hardest hit by flooding today, and at 9pm SEPA flood warnings remain in place for those areas and Roseburn.

Around forty homes in the Stockbridge colonies were affected by flooding from the Water of Leith. The city council’s Flood Prevention team worked with emergency services to provide sandbags to affected households and Stockbridge Primary School was set up as a standby rest and information centre.

River levels are now dropping and rain has eased, but light rain is forecast to continue overnight.

Anyone with concerns about flooding should contact the Council’s Emergency Contact Centre on 0131 200 2000 and you can get information on flood alerts by calling the SEPA Floodline on 0845 988 1188.