Mop-up begins after floods cause chaos across Capital

Areas of Morningside and Stockbridge appeared to be the worst hit as rain lashed Edinburgh throughout most of the day yesterday.

The unexpected deluge forced some rail cancellations, while those living near to the Water of Leith in Canonmills and Stockbridge needed sandbags to keep the rising water levels from entering their houses.

Four Lothian buses found themselves stranded on a basin in Balcarres Street in Morningside, the location of problems in July when people in ground floor flats had their properties ruined by flooding.

That road was closed, while further south on the City Bypass traffic ground to a halt and speed restrictions had to be introduced on the Forth Road Bridge.

The Met Office said the rain would subside today and for the rest of the week.

Jane Smith, 52, a supermarket worker who lives in the Craighouse area, had trouble getting home after a shift last night.

She said: “I couldn’t get up Balcarres Street at all because it had flooded at the corner and buses were blocking the way.

“Last time round the Saab garage was completely washed out and people had sandbags on their doorstep for weeks after. We are quite high up here, but I can’t see why it should be worse hit than anywhere else.”

Meadows/Morningside Conservative councillor Mark McInnes has raised the issue with the council after July’s flooding, claiming work had been carried out years before which was supposed to stop such a build up of water.

Last night, rail services out of Edinburgh faced some disruption, particularly southbound after flooding at Drem, while this morning water at Dalmeny meant some trains from Fife were delayed, although signalling problems were also to blame for this, ScotRail said.

Meanwhile, experts said the Lothians and the rest of the country could be in for another brutal “Siberian winter”, bringing increased energy bills and transport chaos.

Despite a £15 million spending spree on stockpiling salt and snow-clearing equipment, forecaster Jonathan Powell said it was likely there would still be some problems.

He said: “The coldest spells will not be as sustained as last year, but these episodes are expected to be severe, with freezing temperatures, snow, ice and harsh frosts. They will bring Siberian temperatures.”

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