Flooding In Dumfries & Galloway – UPDATE

Emergency services and the local council are still busy across the region dealing with the aftermath of the recent heavy rain.  Major roads across Dumfries and Galloway have been badly affected by flooding including the A74(M) at Greenhillstairs, the A76 at Kirkconnel, which is currently still closed, and the A75 at various points through the Stewartry and into Galloway.  A landslide on the A7 just south of Langholm closed the road for a short while and it is now passable with care. Many other minor roads are still flooded and only passable with care.  Motorists are still being advised to only travel if necessary and to check routes prior to setting off.

Around 40 houses in the St Conal’s Square area in Kirkconnel have been evacuated and a rest and welfare centre has been established at the Miners Hall in the Village. Electricity supplies to the village may be affected later this evening.  Likewise in Moniaive, the village was almost cut off at one point due to flooding on the A702, and a family had to be evacuated from a bungalow which was cut off by floodwater.  Fire and Rescue Service personnel have been on hand with rescue boats to assist with these evacuations.

The Whitesands area of Dumfries is still closed with flooding starting to reach some of the buildings and businesses in the area.  Electricity supply to this area has now been affected.  Traffic congestion has been experienced across the town centre as a result of this and the closure of some neighbouring streets.  Police are advising motorists to avoid Dumfries town centre where possible until further notice.

In the west, houses in Port Logan and Newton Stewart have had to be evacuated.  About four houses in Port Logan were evacuated this morning, and later in the day a number of properties in the Arthur Street area of Newton Stewart were evacuated.  A rest centre has also been set up in the town.  Again Fire and Rescue personnel were heavily involved in this work.  Heavy flooding has been experienced in the Crossmichael and New Galloway area throughout the day.

For a full update of roads closed or affected by flooding then motorists should log onto www.trafficscotland.org for current information.