Aberlour flooding drop-in for residents

The drop-in event provides the chance to discuss ongoing flood issues in Moray and specific works in Aberlour following flood events in May this year.

Products including flood gates, vent guards and Floodsax will be available to order at cost price on the day, with Moray Council being joined by SEPA, Scottish Water and Scottish Flood Forum to provide advice to residents on protecting homes at risk of flooding.

Flood gates are used for protecting against water ingress through doorways, vent guards are used to cover air vents, and Floodsaxs are a lightweight, easy-to-store, biodegradable alternative to sandbags.

Those who can’t attend will have the opportunity to order the flood defence products online with details to be confirmed by Moray Council following the event.

Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “With extensive flood alleviation schemes constructed across Moray, there hasn’t been a major flood event in recent years, but there has been localised flooding – including flash flooding – resulting in water entering homes, which is understandably distressing.

“The flash flooding we saw in Aberlour in May led to short-term drainage improvement works to mitigate further incidents while we developed longer-term plans. I hope residents take up their chance to find out more about these works as well as receive advice on protecting their homes at this event.”

A Scottish Water Spokesperson said: “Intense rainstorms are becoming more common across Scotland, with capacity to overwhelm the capacity of both natural and man-made drainage systems. Flash-flooding occurs where excess water rapidly flows towards low points where it will generally drain to watercourses, to the ground or to the drainage system once the rainfall eases.

“We recognise how distressing flooding is for residents and businesses that are affected, regardless of its cause. Scottish Water is responsible for the operation of the public sewer network and seeks to offer assistance where customers are affected by flooding from the sewer. While nobody is in a position to stop the storms, we are committed to working with our partners and with property owners to understand the causes of flooding and what can be done to reduce its impact on communities.”

Emma Christie, Flood Advisor at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), added: “Scotland’s climate is changing and we’re experiencing the impacts of more extreme weather, such as flooding, all year round. It’s vital communities are supported to safely prepare and reduce the risk of damage and disruption.

“We are looking forward to working alongside partners and meeting with residents in Aberlour to help them understand the flood risk for their area. We will also be able to advise on how to register to receive Flood Alerts and Warnings, and how to check the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast, which aims to provide even more notice of flooding.”

Find out more on the responsibilities for flooding here.