AN ANGUISHED couple face an anxious wait after a collapsed culvert created a gaping hole under their house.
Graham and Monica Winton’s festive season was washed out by the appearance of the eight-foot deep hole at their Scone home on December 21.
Water poured from a rupture in an old tiled barrel drain under the property, stripping away the layer of soil above and bringing down a section of the garden path.
The front porch of the Perth Road house has also been left unsupported.
Mr and Mrs Winton said they had no idea the culvert ran under their property and there was no mention of it in the title deeds when they bought the house 11 years ago.
It is unclear exactly where it runs or whether other sections have become destabilised by the recent wet weather.
Disabled Graham (51) said: “Christmas was a write-off. My wife stepped on to the path and her foot went through the mono-block. I had a brush and put it down the hole thinking it would be just a few inches deep but it was much deeper than that.
“The path is gone and the concrete pad the porch is on is floating on nothing so we’re unable to use the front of the house. We had no idea there was a burn there and I’ve phoned the solicitor to check and there is nothing in the deeds about it.
“We’ve put sandbags down to keep the culvert open and we just have to hope for the best with the weather until it’s sorted,” Mr Winton said.
“It was the Friday before Christmas and there was nobody available so I ws dealing with Scottish Water and they just told me to get a plumber.
“I never thought something like this could happen. Because of the position the house is in, I’ve always said if it flooded we would all need the ark it would just be impossible.
“We’re not sure which way to turn now and are waiting for the insurance company getting back to us.
“The insurance did say they would cover it but I had changed insurer at the start of December and it reverts back to the previous company because the claim came within eight weeks of me changing.”
Another large hole also appeared in the car park of the Wheel Inn in Scone on the same evening. It is believed to have been caused by another culvert rupture further up the watercourse.
Pub owners Maclay Inns are in discussion with the council about the damage.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The issue on Perth Road in Scone relates to the barrel drain running under properties on the street, which is in poor condition and collapsed in two locations in December.
“Due to the location of the collapses the responsibility for repairs lies with the affected property owners. In the interests of public safety, council staff attended the two incidents to provide assistance if required.
“In addition, we arranged for a camera survey of the barrel drain between the two collapsed sections on December 27, and we will provide the survey results to those affected once these are available, to provide the property owners with the information required for repairing the damage.”
Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the matter was for the local authority and private landowners to deal with.
The Wintons’ cause has been taken up by Councillor Lewis Simpson, who said he will be striving to bring various agencies together to prevent future collapses.
arichardson@thecourier.co.uk