No plans to beef up flood defences for Castle Douglas

There are no plans to beef up flood defences for Castle Douglas.

Local councillor John Young raised the threat of properties being flooded by Carlingwark Loch with council officials during last week’s meeting of the communities committee.

But he was told there was “no intention” to take another look at the matter.

Severe weather can lead to homes and businesses near the loch being flooded with the torrential rain brought by Storm Frank at the end of 2015 proving particularly problematic.

During a discussion on the council’s flood risk management, Castle Douglas and Crocketford member Councillor Young said nearby residents were “still concerned” and questioned whether there were plans to review the current flood risk plan which wasn’t included in the report.

He said: “There still exists a flood risk at the bottom of the town.”

Infrastructure boss James McLeod said there was “no intention” for a further review as the best way of managing flooding from Carlingwark Loch was through “property flood resilience” rather than flood management.

He said the principles of the Flood Risk Management Act were a “plan led and risk-based approach to sustainable flood risk management”. That meant targeting higher risk locations which did not include Castle Douglas.

Mr McLeod added: “We accept that there is a risk of flooding in the lower part of Castle Douglas but the mitigation measures are around utilisation of property level protection rather than flood defences or undertaking any significant works as has been mooted by community, for example the interaction of Carlingwark Lane and Dee Ken catchment, none of which would have an impact upon flood risk in Castle Douglas.”