New home flooded

Nov 21 2012 by Nicola Findlay, East Kilbride News

A couple have been left counting the cost after flood water poured into their new home.

Scott Wilson, 38, and Jackie Sykes, 45, only moved into their Hudson Bay home in Westwood thirteen weeks ago.

But as heavy rain battered East Kilbride on Monday morning , water containing raw sewage, poured into the downstairs of their Barratt home on the site of the old Duncanrig High School.

Scott said: “The water started pouring in about 6am on Monday.

“I tried in vain to stop the water getting in, but by eight in the morning it was clear there was nothing we could do.

“The whole of the downstairs is wrecked.

“All the carpets and furniture and even our laptop is ruined.

“We are gutted as we only moved in 13 weeks ago and just had everything the way we wanted it.

“It was perfect, our dream home, and now it is ruined.

Scott claims that he, along with neighbours, contacted Barratt about a problem with drainage six weeks ago but nothing was done.

“There was a problem several weeks ago with drainage, which we reported and now this has happened,” Scott continued.

“After the flooding I contacted Barratt, Scottish Water and the council but everyone was just blaming each other and I was getting nowhere.”

He added: “Thankfully, Barratt eventually got back to us and put us in a hotel for the night.

“The main thing is we are ok but it is just gutting that all our things are a write-off, just a few weeks after we moved in.”

A spokesperson for Barratt West Scotland said: “As soon as we became aware of the flooding at our Hudson Bay development in East Kilbride, we started an immediate investigation.

“It appears Hudson Bay was affected by an off-site flood, perhaps triggered by the heavy rainfall.

“We understand that Scottish Water are carrying out investigative works to determine the cause of the flooding and have agreed to re-house the affected households during the time Scottish Water are having the homes cleaned up.”

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “We are arranging for a camera survey of the surrounding waste water network to check for any issues that may be contributing to flooding risk.

“We sympathise with the home owners who have been flooded and we are working with Barratt Homes and South Lanarkshire Council.

“Flooding can be caused by a number of factors and, in this instance, the various bodies concerned need to look closely at the surrounding area and how surface water and waste water is currently draining away.”