Nearly 150 Homes to Be Demolished After Storm Babet Flooding

Nearly 150 homes and five garages in Brechin, Scotland, that were severely damaged by Storm Babet flooding in October 2023 are slated for demolition. Angus Council has approved plans that also include changes to the town's flood defenses, with an estimated cost of £8.2 million.

The decision comes nearly three years after the South Esk river breached its defenses, displacing hundreds of residents. Many properties have remained empty and uninhabitable since the storm, leaving residents in a state of prolonged uncertainty. Councillors acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and the lack of a simple solution that would satisfy everyone.

'Unfortunately, there is no simple solution that will meet everyone's needs in this area, and councillors must carefully consider the impact on wider Angus communities also affected by climate change,' said Councillor George Meechan. The approved demolition plan includes 145 homes, 29 of which are privately owned.

Local councillor Jill Scott stated that while not all residents will be happy, the decision will provide clarity and closure. 'With today's decision, the residents and council officers now have clarity in the next steps and while there is a lot of work to do, and there remain some risks in progressing this option, we can move forward together,' she said. She also assured that no one would be made homeless by the decision, with housing officers prepared to assist residents in finding new homes.

Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the decision. Betty Matheson, 78, who was displaced from her privately rented home, described the period since the flood as living in limbo. She questioned the point of renovating a home that might be demolished. 'I think it's a shame for Brechin itself,' she said, 'but I think I've known for a long time that I will have to move, but I am pragmatic about it.'

Another resident, Stella McIntosh, 82, who owns her home on River Street, voiced concerns about the time taken by the council to act. Her home was renovated after the storm, but she noted that other properties remained empty, making the area feel like a 'ghost town.' 'I just feel at my age I don't want to have to move again, but we're going to have absolutely no option,' she added.

Concerns also remain about future flood protection. John Cavanagh, whose home on Mitchell Drive was also affected by the flooding, questioned the effectiveness of current flood defenses and the need for future planning. 'Will the flood defences work next time, should they be adjusted?' he asked. 'What's going to happen 50, 60, 100 years from now? We need to plan that. Leaving things as they are clearly didn't work during the floods. If anything, some people will tell us the climate has worsened and we can expect more of these floods.'

Storm Babet brought severe weather across Scotland and parts of north-east England, with Angus being one of the most heavily impacted areas. The Met Office recorded up to eight inches of rainfall in some locations. In Brechin, rescue operations were carried out by boat, and many residents sought shelter in evacuation centers.