Elected Member Briefing - Adverse Weather Update, 21 October 2023

About this Briefing Note

Report by: David Littlejohn - Head of Planning and Development  

EMBN Number: 118 - 23  

Date: 21 October 2023 

Subject: Adverse Weather Conditions - Update  

Responsible Officer: David Littlejohn - Head of Planning and Development 

Details

Purpose

The purpose of this briefing is to provide elected members with a further update regarding the actions that the Council and Tayside Contracts are taking in relation to preparing for and responding to the ongoing impact of Storm Babet on Perth and Kinross this week.  

Briefing Information

Following consideration of flow and tide data for the River Tay it is now considered the risk of flooding at Queens Bridge Perth is negligible, and as such it has been agreed at the Council's Incident Management Team this morning to remove the flood barriers on the bridge, commencing at 9:30am today. 

As the flow is continuing to reduce and tides are ebbing, it is also considered a low risk at the Harbour and Lower Friarton where observations last night and this morning confirmed the water never came out of the harbour basin at any point. Accordingly, a small number of business-critical gates will be opened in this area as well this morning. We will have an officer attend in advance of high tide later today and tomorrow just to ensure there are no developing issues at any of the locations. Staff remain on standby as required. 

All other flood gates remain in situ at this time with the commencement of reopening starting during normal working hours next week subject to the latest Met Office and SEPA advice. 

Further information regarding water levels in the Tay are available from SEPA at SEPA Water Levels - Tay @ Perth.