KILSYTH and the surrounding villages experienced flood problems on Friday following the almost constant downpour, added to the generally wet weather of the preceding few days.
Queenzieburn and Croy were particularly badly hit, and North Lanarkshire Council responded accordingly, but in Kilsyth the Colzium Burn overflowed and the water pressure pushed both ways along the Lade, which feeds Banton Loch, and forced a breach at
the lowest point for about 35 metres.
Suleman Chebe of Stirling Road said: "A wall of white water could be seen from my house. At first we didn't know what it was - from that distance it looked like snow!
"Then we realised that the Lade had overflowed onto Cavalry Park. Some of my neighbours phoned the council in alarm."
Another resident, Rob Kay, later walked along the line, and took these photos at approximately midday, after the initial flood had subsided.
Referring to the recent controversy about plans to build houses at Cavalry Park, and the subsequent public inquiry, Rob commented: "If there had been houses and roadways at Cavalry Park, it is evident that the existing watercourses could not have coped - the wall of water would have continued down to Stirling Road and serious flooding of houses would have been absolutely inevitable. Luckily the vast bogland of Cavalry Park was able to absorb the intense flow."
David Miller, North Lanark-shire Council's geotechnical team leader, said: "The council responded to several reports of incidents of flooding last week following heavy rainfall. In Croy, there was some flooding near Weldon Place. In Queenzieburn, our roads team dealt with flooding at Mill Road, and flooding was also reported at Gavell Road.
"In Cumbernauld, a large quantity of water flowed across Forest Road and into Hawthorn Road where Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Services attended to pump floodwater away. We are currently investigating the source of this problem. Other reports of flooding in Cumbernauld included Raith Drive.
"The council also received a report of water overflowing from the canal feeder to Banton Loch, south of Colzium House, Kilsyth. It is understood that a surge of water flowed down the Colzium Burn from the Kilsyth Hills overwhelming the lade to Banton Loch."
By JOHN McILVEAN