December 2024 update

Throughout 2024 we’ve held weekly drop-in sessions for the community, resident phone rounds, information sessions and community walk-rounds to talk about existing and emerging problems. This support will continue in 2025.

By sharing information regularly and giving you the opportunity to discuss your needs and concerns, we have been able to hear about issues directly from you and share information you need.

If you, or anyone you know, would like to receive our monthly updates and other information, please contact communityresilience@angus.gov.uk and ask to be added to the distribution list.

Communication/Support

The Brechin community drop-in will take a Christmas break and will start again on Thursday 9 January from 9:30am to 12 noon at The Crickety.

At the community’s request, there is also a twilight drop-in session on Thursday 23 January from 5 – 7pm.

Please feel free to pop in for a cup of tea, a chat, or advice on issues relating to the impact of the storm, such as:

  • money and benefits
  • future flood protection
  • insurance
  • grants and funding: advice and help with applications
  • emails and form-filling
  • housing
  • mental health and wellbeing
  • anything you feel you need help with

You can also email us at communityresilience@angus.gov.uk if you have a particular question.

The Brechin Information Sharing Sessions

We recently started a programme of information sessions. These were held for the community at The Crickety. Thanks to everyone who came along and contributed to the discussions. There were a variety of questions and concerns raised by those who attended. These have all been gathered and sent to relevant council departments for a response. We’ll keep you updated on outcomes and future actions as we hear back.

If you’ve not been able to attend in person, you can receive a summary of the presentation either by email, or as a paper copy. Please email communityresilience@angus.gov.uk or come along to the drop-in to request a copy.

One of the follow up actions from information sessions was a walk-round which took place on 12 December, with representatives from various council departments including housing, waste management, community development, and our anti-social behaviour team. This was to explore what actions could be taken straight away to improve the immediate area and to explain some technical questions around the flood defences.

The questions, comments and responses have been collated below:

1. Debris was noted in the river around the area where the wall collapsed.

The ‘debris’ is some of the original stonework from the wall which we will be reusing when we restore this section. We are rebuilding it because, while it is not part of the flood protection scheme, that section of the wall helps to stabilise the rest of the wall.

2. Resident felt that there was no point rebuilding the wall if the grills were to be left in place.

At the west end of the Inch, the wall is not part of the flood defences, and the embankment is what provides the level of protection. Rebuilding the wall without gaps could lead to greater risks as rising river levels could exert immense pressure on the wall, potentially causing it to collapse without warning. Such a collapse could result in a sudden surge of water, increasing the risk of flooding in the Inch and River Street area. The gaps with railings in the wall were designed to prevent this scenario and have proven effective in improving river flow during high water levels by expanding the floodplain, which helps reduce the depth of flooding. For these reasons, we will be installing additional fence sections rather than removing them.

3. Who is responsible for the collapsed wall?

Angus Council is responsible for the wall.

4. Why was River Street already flooded before the water started coming over the wall?

The volume of water was so high that flood water came over the flood defences at various points before the highest point of the defences at the concrete section of River Street was also over-topped. This is the water which pooled in River Street.

5. Is it possible for a camera to be installed at the Inch to monitor potential flooding?

A camera would not give sufficient warning time to residents of any potential flooding. Instead, we have good river levels forecasting from SEPA, based on forecasts and gauging stations higher up the river that gives constant river level readings. SEPA and the Council were announcing that the defences would be overtopped early that evening, several hours before the flooding happened. This was possible due to the river gauges and SEPA advice.

6. Why can’t the river be dredged?

Dredging rivers to increase water flow has proven ineffective for flood prevention and may cause significant environmental harm. It offers only short-term, negligible benefits while incurring high financial and environmental costs. For these reasons, dredging is not being considered as a viable option.

The River South Esk is an extremely mobile river system and contains a lot of silt and gravel that is constantly being swept downstream from the upper reaches. Any removal of grit would quickly be replaced through the action of the river. Historically, the river was dredged when there were factories which used river water along the Inch and River Street. However, flooding still occurred regularly, demonstrating that dredging does not offer a long-term solution.

In addition, the areas of gravel provide valuable habitat for a wide range of native species and removal of this would be very detrimental to the health of the river system.

7. Why did the river pumps not get turned on during Storm Arwen and why were these not working when the storm was forecast one week prior?

We have a contract for the regular maintenance of the pumping stations and the pumps had been checked by the contractor shortly before Storm Arwen. The pumps should have automatically turned on when surface water levels reached a certain point but unfortunately this did not happen. A council officer attended, and the pumps were manually activated when this became apparent.

8. Why have the drains not been properly cleaned out from Storm Babet as water is not clearing away?

We regularly clean out all gullies and outfalls in this area and have done prior to Storm Arwen and Babet.

9. Who is responsible for the wall that has come down between residents’ homes on the edge of River Street/Inch Park?

This wall belongs to the property owners.

10. What is the cable line across the river for?

This is to help us monitor the river flow.

11. Has the bridge been properly maintained?

The bridge is regularly inspected and has been repaired following Storm Babet

12. While the wall at the end of the flood prevention scheme has been rebuilt, it will not hold the water back in future events.

The section of Brechin Bridge wing wall that was repaired has internal reinforcement within it and will be sufficient for withstanding future high river levels.

13. During repair work to the bridge, sheet piling was put down. Has this reduced the width of the bridge and increased the risk of flooding?

The sheet piling was a temporary measure to allow dry access to the bridge foundations. This was completely removed after the repairs were completed and the riverbank has been restored to the same position it was prior to the flood.

14. Can the council remove the willow trees on the embankment?

Numerous trees have been removed during the vegetation maintenance works that were carried out this summer. While the majority of those were removed down to the roots, some of the trees had to be cut at the base. We will continue to manage the trees on the gravel bar and will ensure any new growth is kept to a minimum.

15. Is it not possible to use of the two reservoirs upstream at the Den of Ogil and Glenogil, both of which are within the catchment for the River South Esk?

These are privately owned reservoirs and not under the control of Angus Council. If we could use these reservoirs as a flood catchment scheme, they would need to be emptied before a storm. It would take more than a week to safely empty these reservoirs and, as such, there would be insufficient time prior to any storm warning.

It should be noted that the South Esk has a vast catchment area and even emptying these reservoirs would make very little impact on flood prevention.

Options for a flood catchment area were explored in the Brechin hydrology report and were quickly discounted because of the vast area required to have any significant impact.

In the specific case of Storm Babet, the impact of the storm was increased by the fact it happened after a period of extremely wet weather, with river, reservoir, and water table levels already extremely high. Attempting to empty the reservoirs would have likely caused flooding due to the already saturated condition of the catchment and, even if the reservoirs had been empty, they would have made very little difference to the overall impact felt at Brechin, as stated above.

16. There is an area on East Mill Road which is becoming a dumping ground.

This is private land and the owners have been contacted by our Waste and Recycling department to address this issue.

Useful Links

Weather events:

Angus Council

Angus Council Festive Opening Hours:

Angus Council will be closed on 25 and 26 December as well as 1 and 2 January for public holidays.

During these days if anyone in Angus has an urgent problem or crisis, they can call our Out of Hours service on 0345 277 7778. Listen for the recorded message for Housing repairs, homelessness, social work and other emergency services.

Our website www.angus.gov.uk is available 24/7 for you to report, request or pay for a service, or get information on lots of things from bin collection dates to how to prepare yourself this winter season.

All waste collections due on festive public holidays will be two days later than normal:

  • Wednesday 25 December bins will be collected on Friday 27 December.
  • Thursday 26 December bins will be collected on Saturday 28 December.
  • Wednesday 1 January bins will be collected on Friday 3 January.
  • Thursday 2 January bins will be collected on Saturday 4 January.

Our recycling centres will be closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January but will be open normal hours otherwise. Bulky uplifts will be available as usual out with the public holidays.

If you have a real tree to dispose of after Christmas, you can cut it up and put it in your green bin or take it to one of our recycling centres. We cannot accept any trees left beside your bins.

Health and Well-being

Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. If you are struggling, please reach out for help and support.

  • Samaritans on 116 123
  • NHS 24 on 111
  • Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87

You can find other helpful numbers here from Voluntary Action Angus: Christmas Survival Guide

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