Flood of SEPA complaints in Strathspey
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The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has come in for criticism for its Floodline, with calls for the public agency to provide more regular updates in the future for those threatened by flooding from the River Spey.
Aviemore’s Old Bridge Inn suffered another spate as the river tore over its banks, flooded the car park and entered the popular premises which expected to be “booming” up to and beyond Christmas.
Instead, the rooms were under several feet of water by Sunday morning.
The bar and restaurant is on Old Dalfaber Road, and flooding is not a new problem for many residents there.
Aviemore councillor Bill Lobban said: “There have been some criticisms of the way the situation was handled. Residents of Dalfaber Road, to whom flooding is not a new phenomenon, were critical of the level and frequency of information provided by SEPA’s Floodline.
“The River Spey rises extremely quickly, which renders Floodline updates every four or more hours apart relatively useless.”
Councillor Lobban added: “Our sympathies must now be with the businesses and individuals left with the unpleasant task of clearing up after the storm”.
At nearby Rothiemurchus, where the Cairngorm ski road shut at Inverdruie on Sunday, a spokesperson said: “The Druie is not nearly as bad as the flooding in October last year.
“The majority of the water is from the Spey flooding, and we are still assessing the damage.”
Downstream at Boat of Garten, near record levels were being recorded on the Spey, while upstream at Kingussie, Spey Street was once again shut off by sandbags as the main Highland rail line was threatened.
Services were disrupted on several occasions over the weekend, and buses had to be brought in to ferry passengers past the Badenoch capital.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was praised for its speedy responses and quick thinking, especially following the dramatic early-morning rescue at the Aviemore Holiday Park.
SFRS group manager John MacDonald, who led the fire service operation, confirmed: “Crews found considerable flooding throughout most areas of the park, with the water too deep and fast flowing for vehicles to gain access.
“Many of the occupants were unaware of the increasing risk as most were asleep in bed.”
Recognising the “significant potential threat to life”, he immediately called in the specialist swift water rescue team from Inverness.
The firefighters brought to safety 22 adults, three children and seven dogs from various properties within the park, using the rescue boat and rescue sled.
A detailed and systematic search of all 103 properties on the site took place to ensure that all persons had been accounted for and that all residents were safe.
