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Muir of Ord businesswoman praying not see her premises flooded again


By Louise Glen

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The premises have been flooded five times since 2019.
The premises have been flooded five times since 2019.

A businesswoman says she may shut up shop for good if she is flooded once more – having faced five floods in the past two years.

As weather warnings were issued, The Potter’s House owner Fiona Warren (53) said she may close up for good in the event of another flood, blaming Highland Council for not clearing the drains.

The Muir of Ord pottery which runs a range of classes, first suffered flooding in July 2019 and then in February, June and December of last year.

It was hit again just weeks ago, on July 11.

The Potter's House owner Fiona Warren (right) with staff member Lexi Evans were putting a brave face on it as they hoped to avoid another flooding disaster. Picture: James Mackenzie
The Potter's House owner Fiona Warren (right) with staff member Lexi Evans were putting a brave face on it as they hoped to avoid another flooding disaster. Picture: James Mackenzie

In spite of repeatedly contacting Highland Council over the past three years to ask for something to be done about the heartbreaking situation, she says it was not until a customer “shamed” the authority on social media that action which could make all the difference was finally taken.

“Since moving our business, that was established in 2009, into the current building in 2019 we have been flooded five times,” she said.

“Three times the water has entered the building.

“Each time it is a major clear-up operation and we have had very little communication from the council.

“In fact, I have had enough. If we get flooded again I think it would be very hard emotionally to put it all back together again.

“It is not so much the damage or the loss of things, it is really the thought of constantly putting it all back together again, knowing that there is every possibility that it will flood again.

“I have written, emailed and phoned the council. The customer service adviser who I spoke to last time it flooded on July 11 told me that there was very little the authority could do because we were a business.

“But all we want is for the council to do its job, rather than just ignore the problem. The drains and manholes are full, there is nowhere for any water to go – it is running down the road and breaching our building.”

Ms Warren said that when the last flood happened she told customers she was seriously considering the business’s future.

At that point one customer, Shelly Munro, said she would raise the issue online, and after she tweeted her concerns, saying the lack of action by Highland Council was unacceptable, the authority sprang into action.

Ms Warren said: “Suddenly everyone is coming out to help us.

“It is not as though they have not heard about the problem before though. I have written to Highland Council, roads officers, councillors and other politicians and the only person to reply was (MSP) Kate Forbes. When challenged, the councillors said my email was in their spam folders.

“We offer support to a whole range of people who need us. Not only people of many different abilities, but also for those people who have been working on the frontline.

“I know closure of The Potter’s House would be a real loss to the community, and we desperately want to stay here.”

MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Kate Forbes, said: “After Fiona brought this matter to my attention I raised it with Highland Council.

“I completely understand why she is so concerned after having to deal with so many flooding incidents in the last few years.

“I hope the local authority will investigate this as soon as possible.”

A Highland Council spokeswoman said gully-emptying equipment and team members were in Muir of Ord on Tuesday morning this week, ahead of a Met Office thunderstorm warning.

And she added: “The gullies and manholes in this area were last cleaned on December 5, 2020.

“The technical team are aware of the issue and looking at the systems in place at the moment to establish responsibilities and resolutions.”


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