- Whitesands in Dumfries has experienced flooding at least 205 times since 1827.
- The River Nith overflowed in December of last year, causing the worst flooding.
- Residents and business owners are pleading with the council to prepare for possible winter weather.
According to research by BBC Scotland, The Whitesands in Dumfries, Scotland, has experienced flooding at least 205 times since 1827, or once every year, making it one of the most frequently flooded metropolitan places in the nation.
The River Nith overflowed in December of last year, causing the worst flooding since the start of the current measurement system. Council members must now decide whether to move forward with flood protection plans despite rising expenses.
Dumfries Street
Living and working in a region where floods are a continual concern is getting harder as winter approaches. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) discovered that between 1827 and 2020, its database contained 205 occurrences of flooding on the Whitesands, with the River Nith serving as the primary cause of the problem.
The worst occurrence ever was 5.15 million in December 1982, but 5.31 million on December 30th of last year topped that.
Co-owner of Parry Farm Produce in Friars Vennel, Gwyn Parry, expressed optimism that the council will deal with the region’s persistent flooding problem. The most recent major event was a once-every-15-year flood that was the worst he had ever seen.
In 2020, a protection plan sponsored by the council was authorized; nevertheless, COVID-19 postponed its execution. The program now costs £37 million instead of £25 million, and the local authority’s leadership has changed.
It will be decided whether to move forward with the project, abandon it, undertake a review, or consider other possibilities during a full council meeting. Residents and business owners are pleading with the council to prepare for possible winter weather.
