By Gordon Berry

A FIFE councillor yesterday said that a permanent solution has to be found for flooding problems which have hit part of Cupar for the third time in as many weeks.

The call came from Cupar South member Margaret Kennedy as Fife Council teams tackled the task of clearing up tons of mud and debris that cascaded from a path on to the road, which runs between Cupar and Ceres and passes Cupar Golf Course.

The incident occurred after heavy overnight rain, and water and mud was swept down the road and then into the residential Robertson Road and Hogarth Drive area.

Two gardens were badly affected, several inches of mud was left outside several homes, and the main road was closed just outside Castlehill Primary School while attempts were made to clear drains. Councillor Kennedy said it appeared that the problems arose in a field on elevated ground between Cupar and Ceres.

Councillor Kennedy said that water was running from the field into the natural gorge formed by the footpath and was then sweeping down towards the town.

She added, “This is the worst incident so far, and we have seen potatoes and even golf balls in the mess left behind.

“Something has to be done so that this problem is tackled once and for all, and the solution will involve co-operation between the council and any landowners involved

“Luckily water and mud has not entered any houses, but a terrible mess has been left behind and the situation is having a real effect on residents, some of whom are elderly.”

The councillor said that she wanted to pay tribute to the council officials and workmen who were dealing with the situation.

Fife Council engineer Neil Young said that he had witnessed the surge of mud, large rocks and pieces of wood, and he had been surprised by its intensity.

He said that the torrent, which had obviously built up at a higher level, had lasted for over half an hour, and he had to hurriedly jump aside as the first debris came by and gushed on to the road.

Mr Young said that contact had been made with the farmer who owned the field and it was hoped that a trench could be cut to divert water into a disused quarry which could act as a temporary sump.

The official said that the silt traps on the path had been checked as recently as yesterday morning, and they had been all right, but they had been swamped when the mud and stones came down the path.

Also called to the scene were local firefighters—who helped pump water away from houses—and Fife’s emergency planning officer Gordon Jacobs.

Mr Jacobs said that contingency plans are always in place to deal with serious incidents, but on this occasion his services had not been required.

“This is a real problem, though, and it requires a long-term solution,” he said.

In Perth and Kinross motorists were asked to show caution yesterday morning after the torrential rain affected roads throughout the district, writes Richard Burdge.

No roads were closed by the deluge but surface water caused problems. The worst affected road was Burn Brae on the A85 at Methven.

As motorists made their way to work police had to put up signs warning of the danger—though the route was still passable.

In Angus the incessant rain also brought problems to the roads, write Gary Cooper and Andrew Jarret.

It prompted the mid-morning closure of the B9128 Forfar-Carnoustie road between Hillend and Craichie, as deep water lay across the route.

Other roads badly affected included the Forfar-Arbroath one and also at Redford.

The torrential rain caused some localised flooding in parts of Arbroath in the morning.

The Montrose Road near the Alldays store and parts of Tarry Road were under about six inches of muddy water as floodwater from adjoining fields spilled on to the carriageway.

Residents of Grampian Gardens were forced to lay sandbags across their driveways to try to prevent water from entering their gardens.

Drains blocked by fallen leaves also contributed to flooding in Elliot Street/Lochlands Drive, Nolt Loan Road and at Woodville, and council workers were kept busy removing the debris.

Tayside Police also reported flooding at Inverkeilor Railway Bridge, and were advising motorists to approach all standing water with care.

Although swollen and very fast flowing, the Brothock Burn managed to cope with the deluge.

Motorists in Dundee were forced to take extra care yesterday morning as heavy rains reduced visibility and caused minor flooding on some roads in the city, writes Finlay Miller.

Terrible driving conditions were experienced throughout the morning rush hour as drains struggled to cope— leaving puddles and excess surface water on the city’s routes.

Police had reports of high water levels on some roads in the city, with the rainwater knee-deep on Riverside Drive outside the University of Dundee botanic gardens.

Motorists caught in Dundee-bound traffic on the Tay Road Bridge described the lines of cars as double the normal length.