Families hit out after flood threatened new estate
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FLOODS have threatened homes in two Inverness streets where a developer has allegedly reneged on its promise to improve drainage.
Now Highland councillors are to consider whether to spend public money on bringing land in Wester Inshes up to standard after developers RF More Properties failed to carry out improvements ordered by the Scottish Government.
The cost has not yet been announced but is believed to be up to £150,000.
Torrential downpours on Monday caused disruption all over the city and homes and garages on Cloverfield Park and Meadowfield Park came dangerously close to being invaded by water.
Residents claim the problems have stemmed from the developer’s failure to complete and landscape community land, including a children’s play area.
They have complained about sharp stones and rubble just below the surface of amenity areas, as well as poor drainage and a lack of maintenance.
"We have been fighting this for years. Most of the houses here were built in 2006 and 2007," said Heather Gardiner, chairwoman of the Wester Inshes Residents Association.
"The amenity area is in a terrible state and we hope that the council is able to carry out at least some of the work. The play park is always flooded when it is really wet and there is significant overflow from the drains.
"People here had to put out sandbags and were worried it would come in through their door. It is always the same when we have wet weather and you would not expect this in a new development. It has not been done properly and fixing it is long overdue."
RF More Properties was granted permission to build almost 96 homes and apartments in 2004, on the condition it completed a landscape plan for the estate.
But the terms have never been fully met, and in February a Scottish Government reporter gave the developer 66 days to complete the agreed proposal.
Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said the work has still not been done and hopes the council will now carry out the work itself and recover the costs from the developer.
He added that the developer has also failed to comply with two enforcement notices issued by the council over alleged breaches of planning conditions at the estate. On both occasions RF More appealed to the government and lost.
Members of the council’s south planning applications committee will decide if they should carry out the work at a meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Gowans said: "What the rain this week has done is highlight the failure of the drainage system within the area. The developer has been given several opportunities to rectify this.
"There is a significant cost and if we go ahead we will take out appropriate measures to cover it. The residents have had to put up with this for years and it is appalling.
"They have lost all faith in the developer and I hope my colleagues agree to this spend because these are extraordinary circumstances."
Despite several attempts by The Inverness Courier, RF More could not be contacted for comment.
