Fears have been raised that a housing development is going to increase the chance of flooding in an already deluge-hit area of Dundee.
One resident claims she has already suffered water damage to her garden.
Plans for six new homes in Kellas Street were approved in July 2016. The plans were subject to conditions, including a 200-year flood risk assessment being carried out.
Construction company Lomond Group has now suspended the work after admitting a stream was altered before they should have begun work.
The area has suffered a number of flooding incidents over the years, most notably in 2009. Similar plans have been rejected in the past due to flooding concerns.
Joyce McGuinness, who has lived in nearby Riverside Cottage for “around 30 years” said the building work has already affected her. Lomond deepened and widened a stream while creating an s-bend to make space for the homes.
However, this leads into Joyce’s garden, and the unchanged stream in her property can no longer handle the volume of water passing through. She saw the effects of this on February 16 when the banks burst, flooding her garden and paddock were she keeps two ponies.
She said: “My part of the stream has to potentially deal with more water. I have seen evidence of that happening on Friday night when it wasn’t even raining.
“I knew there was a risk of flooding when I moved in here but I am worried about the effect this could have on all the other houses in the area as well. They shouldn’t be up there as it stands now.”
An email dated February 14 from council planning officer Craig Swankie to one of the nearby residents, who asked not to be named, stated the developers should not have started work yet as the applicant “has not discharged any planning conditions” and he would look into issuing a warrant to cease work.
The resident said: “I think it is reasonable to ask that no further work is carried out for the time being.
“They shouldn’t be there and I do not think the work should be happening and it has already caused some flooding.”
Lomond say they are only on site to prepare for the work and that nothing should have been started. However, they admit the stream had been prematurely moved and gave assurances nothing more would be done until conditions are met.
Phillip Ritchie, site manager for Lomond Group, said: “We have apologised formally to the client Aimeron and to the effected neighbour adjacent to the site for any disruption this may have caused.
“We are in the process of securing and making safe the site, for any disruption this may have caused and are in the process of securing and making the site safe. No construction work will proceed until they are formally advised by the project construction professionals.”
Scottish Labour councillor Brian Gordon said he is “very apprehensive” about any development on the land.
“They have been told to stop working and if they continue the next step will be court action. I really feel for the residents and will be keeping an eye on the situation,” he added.
A council spokeswoman said they are investigating.
