Resolution to 'superschool' flood concerns could be in sight for Tain residents
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FLOODING fears associated with a multimillion-pound new school build in Easter Ross first flagged a year ago by the Ross-shire Journal could finally be addressed.
The 3-18 campus Tain 'superschool' new-build for Highland Council by contractor Kier Construction has been plagued with flood concerns for months.
Homes in Moss Road and Provost Ferguson Drive, near the bottom end of the construction site, were slammed by yet another bout of surface water flooding last week after heavy rainfall during Storm Babet.
Videos of silt water pouring from driveways and over garden walls circulated with residents saying they were losing sleep worrying about what might happen.
Concerns from folk living near the site were first raised last November after their properties were hit by flooding during heavy rainfall.
Contractor Kier Construction stated in January they believed they had resolved the issue with the capping of an old field drain.
But suggestions drainage problems remain soon emerged.
- WATCH: Gardens behind new Easter Ross school development flooded with silt water after Storm Babet rainfall
- Contractor asked for flooding assurances over new-build Tain school campus amid concerns from residents as Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) monitors situation
- Repeat of flooding 'hell' near Easter Ross school campus site is devastating, say residents
- Contractor leading multimillion-pound Tain school campus build for Highland Council in Easter Ross urged to provide assurances over flooding concerns
One resident said: "I fear we are not being told the truth. The site is worse than ever. Although the drainage might be in, they can’t tie into anything into it until the groundworks are complete and that will be months away. We were up all night with worry it was going to come in the house."
Representatives from Highland Council and Kier Construction met residents of Moss Road and Provost Ferguson Drive last week.
Councillor Derek Louden (Tain and Easter Ross) said the situation had become "unacceptable" and that the local authority willmeet with the contractor to put measures in place to mitigate the risk.
He has met with Kier Construction's senior project manager to discuss drainage concerns and on Saturday met council officers along with fellow local reps, Alasdair Rhind and Maureen Ross.
He said: "We are all determined that this situation must be resolved. While weather conditions in the area have been exceptional, it is unacceptable that residents have had to endure surface water flooding to their properties from the site. We must ensure that everything possible is done to avoid this happening again and that surface water runoff from the site is suitably controlled in a manner that residents have every right to expect."
Additional control measures will be put in place by the contractor, including a second surface water pump to double pumping capacity to clear the site. He said a site management system will be put in place by Kier to provide a rapid response to any future weather-related concerns. The council will look further at the need for extra permanent drainage at the foot of the site.
He said: "The main SUDS drainage system has been installed, but will not be commissioned until the upper grass pitch is seeded in the spring, this will prevent the flood attenuation system being severely impacted by silt. Officers from the council’s property team will now review the current situation and arrange to meet with Kier Construction and the affected residents within the next week to discuss the additional mitigation works to manage the local flood risk."
Moss Road resident Neil MacDonald said: "Kier met with me this morning, along with Highland Council. They have agreed to fix all my issues and finally take a look at a permanent fix for the drainage at the bottom end of site, so we are moving forward I hope."
The Ross-shire Journal has contacted Kier Construction for comment.
