Perth family still unable to return home after heavy floods hit city in September
31.01.2023 - 15:05
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A Perth family who were forced to leave their home when it flooded in September are still unable to return home, a meeting to discuss the recurring issues heard.
About 70 local residents affected by flooding in the Craigie Burn area attended a meeting on Saturday, January 28.
Residents shared their experiences and ideas of how to move forward with many calling on authorities to do more.
Samantha Lamond and her family have been out of their Croft Park home since September and have forked out thousands in flood defence measures.
She told those at the meeting: “I’ve shown pictures of the flood damage to companies asking what they can do and when they see the pictures they say they can’t do anything.
Samantha added: “I do not want to put another new kitchen - and bathroom - in. We just put one in two years ago.
“It’s knowing who to ask for help. We’ve just spent £7000 for two doors and a bit of metal.”
One resident said when she phoned Perth and Kinross Council for help she was sent to B&Q.
She said: “I phoned and asked them for sandbags and they told me to go to B&Q and buy my own sandbags. The council should have bags that are more accessible.”
A resident of the retirement housing complex at Millburn Court shared how “at least 30 neighbours were stuck in flats for three or four days” because they could not get out.
He added: “It’s a big problem when people can’t get out of their own homes.”
The meeting was led by Janice Haig and Shelley Jeffrey who were put in touch with each other by the Scottish Flood Forum.
The two have met several times and are keen to see how residents can help each other to take action.
One idea tabled by Janice was to create a Help Your Neighbour group where neighbourhoods look out for