Rain brings more flooding issues for Rosyth residents

Last week's downpours resulted in water pouring into Sharon Hetherington's Hudson Road home with the level so high it even seeped in through her back windows.

"This is the fourth time in 13 years that I have been flooded," she said. "The water runs down off the field, fills up in the garden then eventually comes through. It all piles up at the back door and it got to waist height then seeps in.

Flooding in Sharon Hetherington's Hudson Road home. (Image: Contributed)

"It’s about time the council did something.

"It needs gutted downstairs. I am going to have to live up the stairs. The insurance company offered me to move out but the last time I did that, they dragged their heels getting it fixed. The last time it happened, I stayed in and the work was done a lot quicker.

"They will need to get someone out to rip the floor up and rip out the carpets, get rid of the furniture and bring out big air blowers to dry it out."

Flooding in Sharon Hetherington's Hudson Road home. (Image: Contributed)

Sharon said her neighbour, Alex Mackie, had helped to tackle the floodwater.

"I have a neighbour who is in his late 70s who goes out to look at the drains and lifts the lid off them," she added. "If the drains were maintained, then the water would have gone straight through. 

"My brother suggested building a wall round the garden and that might be what I am going to have to do."

READ MORE: Fife Council calls on government help for flooding problems

Mr Mackie said they escaped without flood damage last week but said it was a constant concern.

"I got the manhole lifted and that drained the water away," he said.

"When it rains, we watch that field and when we see it running down the field, we know it is a problem. Opening the drain up helps so the best thing to do is put on my heavy boots and go and do it."

Park Lea resident Heather McIlroy said she and her neighbours were left trapped in their homes because of the conditions.

"Normally when it happens, we can park our cars in Burnside and there is a little lane between Burnside Crescent but that flooded as well," she said. "My son actually parked his car in Burnside and had to take his shoes off and walk through knee deep water.

READ MORE: Fife Council working to help stem problem flooding

"My main concern is we have got quite an elderly population in our street and some, myself included, have health issues. If there was an emergency, the emergency services would not get through.

Flooding at Park Lea in Rosyth (Image: Contributed)

"A lot of people have said it has been like that for 60 years but that isn't a reason just to put up with it."

Fife Council’s head of structural services, Michael Anderson, said the local authority are continuing to liaise with Scottish Water and SEPA to find solutions to the flooding issues in Rosyth.

“We are preparing a tender package for a surface water management plan to reduce the risk of flooding in the Rosyth area and we'll carry out a site investigation at Hudson Road which is impacted by water run off from farm land at the rear of properties," he said.

“In the meantime, private homeowners can apply for a flooding grant to install property flood resilience measures to protect their homes. The Scottish Flood Forum can also offer advice to residents affected by flooding.

“For anyone experiencing difficulties with insurance, Flood Re is a re-insurance scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable as part of your home insurance. Flood Re helps households at the highest risk of flooding."