Families are leaving Freuchie because of bad flooding.
People in the Fife village have faced several severe floods, with one particularly bad incident in 2020 scaring away three families.
The residents who have stayed behind feel Fife Council officials are not taking their concerns seriously enough.
I spoke to one of the families who left in the wake of the 2020 flood.
And I spent an afternoon with two other village households to learn about how they’re trying to fight back.
The young family scared away from their ‘ideal’ first home
Caitlyn and Darren McAleese moved to Freuchie Mill in 2015.
But flooding has forced them out of their home.
Estate agents told them flooding issues had been “sorted out”.
But their worst nightmare came true in August 2020 when heavy rain made it into their home and badly damaged the ground floor.
The couple escaped with their son Finn – who was two-years old at the time.
They say their dog had to swim out because the water was too high for his paws to reach the floor.
The family lived in Airbnb accommodation for more than six months while workers repaired the house.
The family moved back for a short period, but it was not to be.
Do flood-struck couple regret leaving Freuchie?
Caitlyn and Darren returned to Kirkcaldy, where they lived before Freuchie.
Do they regret leaving?
“Not at all,” Caitlyn said.
“We miss the people. It’s a lovely place, but it’s not worth the stress of dealing with more flooding.”
Caitlyn thinks Fife Council should be doing a lot more to protect homes.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to them to do something about it.
“But they won’t even meet us halfway.
“My husband built a concrete wall for a neighbour to help them so it’s not like we’re not willing to do something ourselves.
“No one from the council was in touch throughout the whole ordeal.”
Living with flooding at Freuchie Mill
Some of the worst flooding the area has seen is at Freuchie Mill, which is to the east of the village across the busy A92.
About 10 homes have frequently faced flooding here.
I met Duncan and Linda Hutchinson in their home. The married couple have lived there for 11 years.
During the 2020 event they had water two-feet high in their home. They were forced out for five months while the ground floor was completely rebuilt.
The pressure of the water was so great the conservatory floor “floated” off ground level.
Like the McAleese family, an estate agent told them flooding problems “had all been sorted”.
Flooding has now caused about £22,000 worth of damage to their home.
It’s stressful when it starts raining. It’s scary and causes lots of sleepless nights.”
Linda Hutchinson
But despite their ordeal, they are determined to stay in their “dream home”.
They say biggest risk is surface water running downhill from Lomond Hills.
Linda said: “It’s stressful when it starts raining. It’s scary and causes lots of sleepless nights.
“When it rains heavily, you’re on alert whether to move the car so it doesn’t get damaged or washed away.
“This has happened many times.”
Linda tells me at least three families have moved away since 2020, each of them blaming flooding.
A small burn causing big problems
Jim and Diane Mullen live with the same issues.
The couple are working with a “broken” flood barrier on a footbridge near their home, where they have lived for about three decades.
They first experienced major flooding in 2008, and again in 2020, when a nearby burn burst its banks.
Jim said: “People have protected their homes, however it is not enough in these unpredictable times.
“We need joined up thinking and action.”
What is the council doing about flooding in Freuchie?
Fife Council service manager Ross Speirs said the local authority always work with communities in flood-prone areas.
But he warns that “unfortunately” there is often no “quick fix”.
“We have been working with Freuchie residents in relation to various flooding incidents there. More flood pods have been put in place.
“Proposals are being developed to mitigate for future flood risks in the area.”
