Dumfries counts the cost of Whitesands flooding

Nov 25 2009 by Craig Robertson and Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE WORST flooding to hit Dumfries in at least 20 years could have cost the town £5 million.

Businesses and residents were yesterday still trying to get back to normal after a major weekend clean-up from Friday’s floods.

And there are fresh fears that more trouble could be on the way as heavy rain was forecast for yesterday.

Up to 50 premises on the Whitesands, Friars Vennel, Banks Street and Nith Place were hit by the flood water after a month’s rain fell in 24 hours.

In the worst parts of the Whitesands and the Vennel, the water was nearly two feet deep.

According to a council consultant’s report on flooding, that sort of rainfall could cost an average of £5 million when the damage to residential and commercial properties is counted along with the cost of emergency services.

In Friars Vennel, many businesses were caught out by the water which very rarely gets that far when the Nith floods.

The owners of the Dumfries scooter shop in the Vennel had to rescue their stock as flood water reached the door.

Yvie Teave, who was helping to clear up on Friday morning said: “You just have to try and save as much stock as you can.

“How bad does this have to get before the council does something about it?”

Another shop hit hard was community communications shop, The Hub.

It had only opened on Wednesday and members of staff were devastated that dirty flood water had ruined much of their new equipment and fittings.

“We came in at 6.30am and tried to get the flood water out,” said Katriona Branney, one of the workers at the store.

“The water actually came over flood defences which we had up and it’s even worse because we’ve just opened.”

Pat Hughes who owns the Waterfront Takeaway reckons a single storm has cost his company £8,000 in ruined stock, destroyed equipment and lost business.

He found himself knee-deep in water after the flood breached his premises.

His £2,000 display cabinet was wrecked and with the electricity cut-off, his frozen stock defrosted.

Pat told the Standard: “We knew the flood was coming, but there isn’t much you can do if it’s coming up the toilets, sinks and even through the walls. All in all, this is going to cost me around £8,000.

“That’s a huge amount of money for one business to deal with.”

He added: “My display case blew up and needs to be replaced. But the council are charging me £30 to have it removed.

“It’s more salt into the wounds and it’s just one thing after another.”

Peter Bacci’s newsagent escaped the worst of the flooding.

But as a shopkeeper who has seen flooding for decades, he’s fed up with the situation.

He said: “The only people who are giving any help are good neighbours. Without their good will, we’d be fending for ourselves.”