Canonmills residents have been left fuming after the weekend inundation. Here, former 'Stop the Chop!' campaigner Ani Rinchen Khandro tells the Spurtle why.
It gives us no pleasure to say 'We told you so!' to Edinburgh City Council. During the recent heavy rainfall, the so-called defences not only failed to protect property but actually contibuted to their flooding. This is hardly surprising for the following reasons:
- The floodworks have narrowed the Water of Leith's watercourse, thus causing levels to rise.
- [img_assist|nid=3158|title=Floodwater subsides to reveal remaining bank, but gardens still submerged.|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=148]The 8-metre deep steel sheets that have been driven into the earth to prevent seepage failed to take into account that rainwater falls from the sky. Even when river water levels fell, the water on the building side of the steel-sheet wall was trapped and unable to drain away, thereby causing more damage to property in the Stockbridge Colonies and Warriston Crescent.
- The wholesale felling of trees along the Water of Leith has caused large sections of the once beautiful and useful riverbank to be washed away, thus exposing properties to increased danger from flooding.
[img_assist|nid=3160|title=Why was this basement flat granted planning permission?|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=141]Over a thousand people petitioned Edinburgh Council several months ago (Breaking news, 5.12.11). Despite the assurances of the Director of City Planning, the trees we were told would be saved were suddenly chopped down (Breaking news, 18.3.12). Nothing can bring back those magnificent trees. However, surely those who are responsible for this misguided operation – which has already squandered millions of pounds of taxpayers' money – should be brought to account.
Given that contractors have left a trail of chaos, ugliness and misery in their wake across the city, whether from implementing the floodworks or tramworks, one can only wonder why they were awarded their contracts. Edinburgh City Council is already being investigated over how it has run its services. In the light of this latest fiasco, with so many questions remaining unanswered, perhaps the net should be spread a little wider.
[img_assist|nid=3161|title=The way it was: trees stabilised the riverbank and helped prevent flooding.|desc=|link=node|align=middle|width=640|height=418]