Householders are hit again as torrential rain causes chaos

Aug 21 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

EARNOCK residents were once again hit by flooding this week following heavy rain.

Water flooded into Robin and Anne Taylor’s garage at 77 Woodfoot Road from the Earnock Burn on Tuesday evening.

The couple last experienced flooding in November 2006 when the burn rose by 20ft in what was described as a “mini tsunami.”

Mr Taylor, a retired chemical engineer, said this week: “The Earnock Burn flows through the bottom of our garden, and had once again risen by about 20ft.

“We weren’t the worst affected by any means.

“It also burst its banks further upstream at Lady Wilson Gardens, and flowed through several properties there.”

While the water had subsided by yesterday morning (Wednesday), the couple were concerned that it could return.

“We are rather worried about more rain falling today,” said Mr Taylor.

“Two culverts in the area are supposed to be monitored by council employees to ensure they don’t get blocked with debris during heavy rain.

“However, council staff are on strike today (Wednesday).

“This means there’s no-one around to look into the matter and we are feeling rather vulnerable.”

The couple said they had been told by the council following the 2006 flood it was a one-in-a-hundred-year event which would not happen again.

Mr Taylor said this week he thought the culverts in Lady Wilson Gardens and Woodfoot Road were not large enough to cope with the volume of water.

He said: “The amount of water was too much for the entrance to our culvert in Woodfoot Road. I think culverts in the area just aren’t big enough.”