Shop owners in Perth have been left with thousands of pounds of damage after flash floods struck at the weekend.
A two-hour deluge, which was accompanied by thunder, took place on Saturday between 12.30 and 2.30pm, and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Homes and businesses were flooded across Perth, with Bridgend and Feus Road badly affected. The flash floods led to a river wall being swallowed into the River Tay at Bridgend, a wall collapsing at Wellshill Cemetery, a collapsed wall in Bowerswell Road and part of the roof of the Rodney Fitness Centre, Dundee Road, being damaged.
Debris was also strewn across Gowrie Street, Bridgend, and the South Inch resembled a lake. Water cascaded down both Lochie Brae and Bowerswell Road in Bridgend, turning Gowrie Street in to a virtual river.
Shops and businesses in Bridgend have since been counting the cost, with several having to close their premises.
Frank McEwan, who runs Cupcakes in Gowrie Street, said there is damage to the lower part of the tearoom and also the courtyard area.
“We’ve had to close the shop and don’t know how long it will be shut. A lot of our customers in Perth won’t know there’s a problem and that we’re closed. The assessors have to arrive and give us an indication of the damage but it will be into thousands of pounds.”
He continued, “The water poured in at the front but the damage is mostly below up to the height of the toilet downstairs. It’s not just the damage to the building but it’s also about the loss of earnings. We’re coming up to the third anniversary of this shop and have worked hard trying to attract customers to come over the Perth Bridge to us.”
Elena Costello, who owns the Yarn and Fibre Studio and the Heritage Rubber Stamp Company in Main Street, Bridgend, said the latter business was “ruined” following the flooding on Saturday.
“I am waiting on the loss adjustor and will hear what he says about it. There is no history of flooding here. The cellars had not been used for years but there is damage now.
“I’d heard that part of the problem may be development work being carried out at Murray Royal Hospital, with debris coming down from there. I think the drains just can’t cope.
“It’s three months since I opened but my Heritage business has been hit lots of the wood is soaked and ruined from the roof above. Nothing is salvagable. I’ll need to get industrial cleaners in as there is lot of filth on the ground.”
A council spokesman said staff spent Monday removing debris and confirmed that it responded to 300 calls from residents and businesses.
“The council distributed more than 1000 sandbags and were ready to open a rest centre for displaced residents if required. We also replaced many dislodged manhole covers.
“We will continue to work with our partners to give all support we can to residents and businesses affected. We are also in communication with Scottish Water about the action they can take.”
A spokesman for Live Active Leisure said, “There has been some damage to the roof at Live Active Rodney resulting in no access to the weights room. We are carrying out interim repairs to the roof area at the moment and will return to business as usual later today.”