Residents in fear for future as 150 homes damaged by Storm Babet to be demolished

It’s been nearly three years since Storm Babet devastated the Angus town of Brechin.

Hundreds had to flee their homes due to flooding after the South Esk River breached its flood defences.

Plans approved by Angus Council to demolish around 150 properties, including 29 privately owned homes, has been met with a mixed reaction as residents fear for the town’s future.

For almost three years, residents have been living in limbo, unsure what the future holds for their homes.

Even with plans approved to demolish the affected properties – many of which still remain boarded up – there are fears that, if similar flooding recurs, the current defence system will not work, and more homes will be damaged.

Stella Macintosh, 82, has lived in her home on River Street in Brechin for almost 50 years. Her house, like many others, was destroyed as the flood waters rose.

Brechin was at the epicentre of Storm Babet STV News

“We knew that the river was high, it was just a case of waiting”, she told STV News.

“I took a few small things, but I lost a lot of stuff. You forget things.

“It was on October 17, 2023, and I got back on August 4, 2024. By that time, everything, the kettle, toaster, microwave, TV, everything was covered in mud. There was nothing salvageable.

“Even to this day, I sometimes go ‘I used to have that’. If it were just ordinary flooding, I think we could cope with that. Because it was a storm, the weather was wild.”

Stella Macintosh, 82, has lived in her home on River Street in Brechin for almost 50 years. STV News

Stella said she “wouldn’t mind” moving but would need somewhere with a garden

She added: “I wouldn’t mind moving, but I would have to get something with a garden for a start, that’s my hobby. I’ve spent a lot of money on my garden, even this year. I’m not buying plants anymore because I might not be here to see them.”

Despite the devastation caused by Babet, the community came together to help one another.

Local charity Brechin Buccaneers provided around £500,000 in support over the past three years.

They say the council should focus on other issues.

Grant Hutchison told STV News: “Quite understandably, so a lot of the efforts have gone into flooding.

“Since the flooding we’ve had trees through houses, we’ve had road closures, we’ve had armed sieges, and we’ve had major fires, and I don’t think we’ve had the capacity to deal with them.

“I think money that could be spent needs to be spent wisely or spent elsewhere.

“They could build new schemes elsewhere that aren’t going to be flooded, that people can move in, still have a community, and build them appropriately to the use that they’re going to be, then maybe we can spend a bit of money protecting the business areas because, as an employer, would you want to move your firm in any area that might flood?”

Homes still boarded up after Storm Babet STV News

For business owners, the fear of another storm is a constant worry, and now having to consider the impact of demolition nearby is an added pressure.

Scott McNeill, owner of the Brigend Bar, describes the area as being like a “derelict bomb site” with boarded-up houses.

He said he is now looking up his own flood defences.

“We’re a bit nervous because if it happened to us again, I don’t know if we could weather that. If it happened the same.

“Babet might only happen in another 100 years, but it might happen in another ten days. We’ve no idea.

“So there is insecurity, we’re now looking to put up rain flood defences, which is going to be a considerable cost again. But otherwise, the business is actually worth nothing.

“There’s no point in me doing that if we’re going to lose 170 homes.”

A motion, lodged by Brechin and Edzell representative Jill Scott, for an £8m option that includes enhancements to flood protection in the area and the demolition of 154 homes was unanimously backed by councillors.

The council will seek voluntary agreements for privately owned homes, offering market value, statutory compensation and reasonable moving and professional costs.

If agreement cannot be reached, the council will look to use compulsory purchase orders to buy the properties.

The cleared land will then become public open space.

Councillor Jill Scott said: “It’s shown the scale of the incident and how far the water can go, we absolutely take on the distress for people. They’re living with the fear that it might happen again.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work around resilience and measures you can put in place in your house to mitigate.”

The Scottish Government will fund £5m to help communities improve preparedness and reduce flood risk.

But for those losing their homes here, there is still a long way to go with a date of demolition unclear and plans for the town’s future uncertain.