Ross-shire residents blame council for tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage after flash flooding amid claims of blocked culverts in Marybank area; Farmer left counting the cost over barley used in whisky trade
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TORRENTIAL rain that wiped out a dozen fields causing tens of thousands pounds-worth of damage "could have been averted" if Highland Council had cleaned out its culverts.
That's the claim of residents in Marybank who have spent days clearing up the area after torrential rain damaged 12 fields of important spring barley for the whisky industry, as well as breaching homes and gardens.
House owners report the rain has caused severe damage, blocking the Strathconon road for a number of hours.
Robert Mack, a tenant farmer on the Fairburn Estate, said he was facing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage, after the loss of his crop of spring barley this year, and irreparable damage to his top soil for future years crops.
"There is no doubt in my mind that all of this could have been stopped if Highland Council simply did its job and cleaned out the culverts. I have farmed this area for more than 30 years and I have never had anything like this before." – Robert Mack
He said: "We are tenant farmers on the Fairburn Estate and our spring barley crop has been devastated .
"We have not only lost the crop but we have lost the inherent value of future crops after the topsoil and its important nutrients was washed away.
"The field was washed away blocking the Strathconon road and entering the Conon River. It has affected all 12 fields where the spring barley was planted.
"Parts of dykes were also damaged.
"My son Stuart and I were out for three hours with a digger and forklift clearing the mud of the road.
"The council came, left signs and vanished. We haven’t seen them since.
"We have spent hours clearing passing places both on the road to Strathconon and the road to Fairburn Nursing Home and the council have been nowhere to be seen."
He added: "There is no doubt in my mind that all of this could have been stopped if Highland Council simply did its job and cleaned out the culverts. I have farmed this area for more than 30 years and I have never had anything like this before.
"It simply has to be connected to the fact those culverts have not been cleared and are full. You could not get a drop of water in them before this happened."
Householder John Beck (77), who was visiting his property at Elvenstone Cottage, said: "My garden and garage have now been cleared after a lot of work over a number of days.
"What is clear is the drainage is inadequate, this is the second time in a matter of months that this has happened.
"The council are not listening to the issues we are raising, but this is causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. The last time it happened in December/January we were told it was an exceptional downfall, but I think it has more to do with lack of cleaning of culverts and inadequate drainage."
Conrad Gwyther, who lives on the hillside, said: "Part of the problem with the culvert is that utility lines were put in the hole for the culvert. That means that even if you go out to clear the culvert you don't dig very far until you hit the cables.
"To be fair to the council do clear the culverts every few years. But the rain was torrential, and for me this has more to do with global warming, and we must face that and resolve that."
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: "There was a flash flood on Monday afternoon of May 10 in and around the Strathpeffer, Contin and Marybank area.
"Calls were received by the council at 4.30pm and operatives were dispatched to assist by 5pm. On their arrival the flood water at the reported locations had subsided.
"On Tuesday May 11 two operatives attended the Marybank area to clear silt and mud that had washed off fields onto the road.
“A meeting is due to be held with residents of Strathpeffer and Contin to discuss flooding issues. Staff will be visiting the sites concerned and assessing them. If culverts and gullies are highlighted that need cleaned or cleared the council will attend to them.”
