Fears over flood risk at Dalbeattie site earmarked for affordable housing

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A councillor has expressed fears that a potential affordable housing development in Dalbeattie could be liable to flooding.

Cunninghame Housing Association’s £11.4 million plans for 58 houses at Port Road near the town’s learning campus emerged last year.

And while local councillor Davie Stitt is in favour of more affordable housing, he shared fears about potential flooding at Stewartry area committee last week.

The Abbey representative told the meeting: “I’ll accept any kind of housing in the area, but in that area where the houses are going, three houses in the last two years have been seriously flooded after storms. “They’re sitting right beside this field. “I spoke to one of the residents and I think the council is putting a new culvert in to take away surface water coming away from the school, but that field floods and I’m a bit concerned that unless there is major work done, this scheme might not go ahead.” The council’s strategic housing and regeneration team leader, Jamie Little, replied: “Cunninghame Housing Association and ourselves have been working really closely with the flood risk management team within the council to ensure this site can continue to move forward. “What is being proposed in terms of the culvert and the issue around the flooding is intended to alleviate both the current issues but also enable the development of the Port Road site in Dalbeattie. “Effectively it would be allowing for additional hard standing areas to be constructed as part of that solution.” He promised to come back with a fuller update as he was seeking the latest position from the flood risk team.