Elected Member Briefing - Adverse Weather Forecast, 18 October 2023

About this Briefing Note

Report by: David Littlejohn - Head of Planning and Development  

EMBN Number: 115 - 23  

Date: 18 October 2023 

Subject: Forecast 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 an update regarding the actions that the Council and Tayside Contracts are taking in relation to preparing for the potential impact of Storm Babet on Perth and Kinross this week. 

Briefing Information

Following on from yesterday's briefing and the Met Office Yellow (wind) and Amber (rain) warnings, and the Amber flood warning from SEPA, there has been no change to these warnings for Perth and Kinross. 

However, the Met Office has subsequently today updated the rain warning to Red for the neighbouring local authority areas of Angus and Aberdeenshire. While they do not at this time foresee changes to the situation in Perth and Kinross, there is a potential impact from the red warning on the River Tay's levels from tributaries in these areas (River Isla, River Ericht). SEPA are continuing to monitor the impact of rain particularly in relation to Alyth, Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus. 

As a precaution ahead of Storm Babet arriving in Perth, we have taken the decision to install the flood barriers on Queens Bridge in Perth from 9.30am tomorrow, Thursday 19 October. Once installed the bridge will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians.  Motorists are advised to plan ahead and only travel if absolutely necessary.  

We appreciate closing the bridge will cause an inconvenience for many and that the high tide tomorrow will be at 7.14pm; however, as the current forecast includes a Yellow Weather Warning for wind, the barriers need to be in place in advance of the worst of the weather to ensure the safety of our team and any members of the public in the vicinity.  

We will monitor conditions very closely over the coming days and if we believe it is safe to reopen the bridge we will do so as soon as possible. 

All other flood gates within Perth and Kinross have been closed and will remain closed until Storm Babet has passed and conditions return to normal; although we will maintain a 24-hour presence in the Perth Harbour area to assist businesses to pass through gates when it is safe to do so. 

The Roads Maintenance Partnership has also been arranging to distribute pallets of sandbags to key locations across Perth and Kinross during today. 

The arrangements for dealing with potential effects of high winds on trees is that emergency situations affecting roads or public safety will be dealt with by the emergency services.  They have established contact arrangements with the Council for such situations.  Otherwise, reports of tree damage would be taken by the Council's customer service centre and be coordinated and dealt with by the relevant services and contractors when it is deemed safe to undertake the work i.e. during daylight and in calm weather conditions.  

We would also advise that subject to weather conditions, some refuse collections may be affected over the next few days. 

We have additionally issued advice to staff (and line managers) regarding the rest of this week, encouraging them to consider hybrid working or other arrangements to avoid or minimise the need to travel where possible.