Flood mitigation measures for a St Andrews burn received a mixed reaction from the residents whose homes they are designed to protect.
Fife Council’s north-east Fife area committee agreed to press ahead with a £150,000 scheme to reduce the risk of the Kinness Burn bursting its banks.
A licence is to be sought from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before work can begin on the reduction of silt berms and bank repairs.
Many residents want the complete removal of the berms but have been told SEPA is unlikely to allow this.
Following the committee meeting Graeme and Moira Weir, of Kinnessburn Road, said they wanted to see the berms gone completely.
Mr Weir said, “We are left with the impression that wildlife is more important than people.”
Dr Robert Grundy, who owns a house in Fleming Place, said, “This is probably the best they (the council) can get away with. Anything more drastic probably would not have satisfied the regulations.
“As long as what they describe actually happens and provided the maintenance is carried out in the way described, I think this is a step forward.”
Ian Cumming, who lives 100 yards from the burn, questioned the need to protect the berms.
“There is no life on these berms apart from plants, which are causing the flooding,” he said.
It is proposed to reduce five berms which create bottlenecks between Dempster Court Bridge and Greenside Place Bridge by 50% and remove unstable berms.
While another berm is of particular concern, officers told councillors reduction of those upstream meant water flow would improve and that they would carry out as much work on it as SEPA would allow.
Banks and timber revetments are also to be upgraded and a programme of regular maintenance embarked upon. This option was recommended by officers as the most feasible and cost-effective.
Complete removal of the berms was rejected as this was deemed likely to have a significant detrimental impact on the ecology of the burn, which is used by birds and otters, and therefore unlikely to be permitted by SEPA.
After councillors approved the scheme, committee chairman Andrew Arbuckle, said, “This may not be as much as some people would like but it’s the result of an expensive and comprehensive study of what is possible.
“We are constrained not only financially but by legislation.”
An application is to be submitted to SEPA next month and if a licence is granted by the end of June it is anticipated work will begin in August or September and be complete by September.
Options in relation to the smaller footbridge at Dempster Terrace, which is not owned by the council but is known to contribute occasionally to flooding, are also to be investigated further.