RESIDENTS of the community of Peterculter are being asked if they want to take part in a trial for a smart phone app which they would tell Aberdeen City Council of the potential of floods.
Aberdeen City Council is working on the trial in conjunction with the University of Bradford as part of one of several anti-flooding measures brought into the city since Storm Frank almost four years ago.
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December 2015 and January 2016 saw Scotland experience some of the most severe flooding in recent memory as a series of storms passed over Scotland bringing sustained and persistent rainfall, by a series of storms influenced by the pattern of the Jet Stream.
Storm Frank brought high intensity rainfall over a 24hr period falling on already saturated catchments which resulted in flooding impacts in many parts of Scotland. More than 100mm of rainfall was recorded over this period in the Upper Dee catchment, and SEPA recorded (by a large margin) the highest water levels in 40 years at many local river stations.
Hundreds of residents suffered for flooding, particularly in Peterculter after the Culter Burn burst its banks, and other areas affected by flooding or debris included Seaton Park, Aberdeen beach, Westburn Park, Glashieburn, Stronsay and Jack’s Brae.
Flood prevention schemes already in place before Storm Frank and the January flooding included the Westburn Park Detention Pond which protects Fraser Place and area, the Glashieburn Scheme which protects Lochside Drive, and the Stronsay Detention Pond which protects Fountainhall, Queens Cross and Mackie Place.
Since Storm Frank and the January flooding, Aberdeen City Council has instigated several changes around the city including repairs to damage to a road at the Bridge of Don, installation of a storm bypass at Leggart Terrace, installation of the wetlands at Seaton Park, and flooding prevention work at Watson Street/Cornhill areas.
One of the changes is design studies for a flood reporting scheme at Peterculter (Millside and Paddock) which includes the trial for an app for a smartphone in which residents can use their local knowledge and let ACC know when waters are rising or there is flooding in their area.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “We’ve carried out a lot of work since Storm Frank and will continue to work on new measures over the next few years.
“Storm Frank and the January 2016 flooding were devastating and while we hope nothing on that scale happens again, we are continuing to work on flood prevention measures as we know how terrible the impact is on residents and businesses.
“We’d encourage Peterculter residents to take part in the smartphone app trial which may be a help to the City Council for building up a database on flooding patterns and statistics.
“For example, the information could be used for the City Council strategically when deciding about what additional flood alleviation works need to happen, and also operationally for proactively being more prepared as floods happen.”
Peterculter residents wanting to take part in the trial for the app should register their interest by taking part in a questionnaire at https://consultation.aberdeencity.gov.uk/operations/ce6b4e51/ by 14 November.
In addition, residents can apply for a 50% flood grant funding, up to a maximum of £2,500 designed to help with costs to buy equipment such as flood doors for their properties, and a total of £100 for an initial survey assessment, at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/environment/information-about-flooding/property-level-protection-flood-grant
