Locals voice concerns over flooding in East Inverness

Around 200 people attended a public meeting last night at Culloden Academy, Inverness to discuss the recent flooding at Balloch, Culloden and Smithton.

Organised by The Highland Council, the meeting was chaired by Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of the Council’s Inverness City Committee.

Representatives from the Council’s Transport Environmental and Community (TEC) Services, and Planning and Development Service; Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA); Northern Constabulary; Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service; Forestry Commission (Scotland) and Scottish Flood Forum were in attendance to answer questions posed by members of the public.

Neil Gillies, Director of TEC Services gave a presentation on the recent flooding on 8/9 July at Castle Stuart; 16/17 July on the east side of the A9; and 6/7 August in the Inner Moray Firth Area, when these areas were affected by very intense rainfall. During the last event on the 6/7 August the rainfall exceeded the total monthly average for the entire month of August. He focussed on the three drainage systems of Tower Burn, Smithton Burn and Culloden Burn West (locally known as Red Burn),
He also explained the roles of the many agencies involved that deal with flooding emergencies and also planning and maintenance of flood prevention.

Mr Gillies informed the meeting that the Council’s TEC Services had employed a consultant to review the area to the east of the A9 to establish what can be done to reduce the risk of future flooding.

Members of the public from both the local urban and rural communities posed many and varied questions to the panel of officials, and provided additional information in relation to how the flooding had affected their own areas. This information will be used to build up the picture of how the very heavy rainfall impacted on the area to the east of the A9.

Provost Jimmy Gray welcomed the dialogue between householders/landowners and the panel and invited members of the public to make direct contact with officials to discuss any personal concerns about flooding in more detail.

Assurance was also given by the Council’s Chairman of TEC Services Committee, Councillor John Laing that the outcomes of the meeting would be communicated to the local community and that more detailed information on how the Council deals with maintenance and flood prevention would be made more readily available on the Council’s website and through other communications.

A further public meeting will be held in 3 months to update the public on the Consultant’s report and the recommendations to reduce the risk of future flooding.