Do flood defences go far enough?

Has Sandside been left behind by the flood defence scheme?

The D&G Council has published a new website with details of how the flood defence scheme will pan out over the next 3 years, subtle signs that work is underway on the Greensands and Whitesands are appearing and there’s been a bit of tree maintenance on the Greensands as prep for the new works.

If you’ve studied the scheme you’ll be aware that there is only one project phase that takes part of the west side of the river and that’s to protect the houses in the park by the suspension bridge.

That’s all good. But it’s also quite clear that the focus is on the “town side” of the river. However seasonal flooding also impacts Sandside, particularly Goldie Crescent which is adjacent to the Maryholm Burn. Most of Sandside is buffer from the Burn overflowing and the Nith breaching its banks simply by the elevation of the streets. Nobody is arguing that the Academy Playing Fields and the farmland between Sandside and the Nith aren’t a necessary floodplain.

I’m no expert, but …

Surely a simple bund could be created to shelter the houses and pavements of Goldie Crescent. At points, houses are only 5m from the Burn and flooding has got worse in recent years. Their case is strong. The area is subject to rains swelling the Maryholm Burn and the Nith breaching its banks which is does more that most people in Dumfries realise.