Homes, businesses and roads were plunged into chaos on Thursday after Perth and Kinross was battered with heavy downpours and floodwater.
A number of streets in Perth had to be closed with many bus and train services cancelled due to the torrential deluge.
And many businesses - including Cherrybank Inn and Cherrybank Garage - are likely to lose thousands of pounds with renewed calls for Perth and Kinross Council to upgrade the drainage systems in the Fair City.
Trains running between Perth and Ladybank, and Perth and Gleneagles, were either cancelled or had to travel at reduced speed - causing delays - due to the disruption.
Murray Crescent, Hospital Street, Glenearn Road, Glasgow Road, Gray Street, Barossa Street, New Row and Queen Street all had to be closed by the council yesterday afternoon, with the A85 west of Perth also temporarily shut.
ScotRail said services between the Central Belt were “severely disrupted” with valid train tickets to be accepted on selected Stagecoach and CityLink bus services, though road conditions in the Perth area were described as “also very poor” by the national rail operator.
One Highland Perthshire resident described Perth Railway Station as “impassible” due to flooding after their service to London was cancelled.
They added that yesterday morning no trains were able to enter the station and were all being returned northward “without plans in place to get passengers onward”.
Stagecoach’s Perth services 5, 6, and 15 had to be suspended due to the flooding and a “lack of a suitable diversion”.
The 13 service was diverted before Queen Street, and the 7 service was diverted at Glasgow Road as attempts were made to keep public transport moving.
The South Inch flood gates were closed by council workers on Wednesday evening due to a further Met Office yellow weather warning issued for heavy rain on Thursday.
But despite this gullies and drains were completely overrun, especially on the south side of the city, with Cherrybank Inn owner Scott Findlay saying some areas were “flowing like a river”.
Mr Findlay saw his business devastated previously by the last major flood in 2020 - which he said lost him around £50,000.
He was also forced to close parts of the venue on the night of the Euro 2020 final in July 2021 due to heavy rain.
But he said this week’s floods were “even worse” than two years ago.
Speaking yesterday morning, he said: “I didn’t think I would see this again. The Low Road houses look like they have been wiped out by this.
“There is a massive hole in the hill next to us and it is flowing like a river. There is one car in the car park and the water is up to the roof.
“The beer garden has been totalled and there is water running down into the cellar.
“Something needs to be done by the council as it is getting beyond a joke. The council is just passing the buck - they don’t care.
“Drains are blocked on the Glasgow Road and the council said blocked drains don’t affect the flooding - then what else are they for?
“I could float a yacht in our car park right now.
“I have got a house I can go back to that is dry - but people will be flooded out of their homes again. We will have to close today and take it from there.”
Queen’s Avenue resident Julie Romano woke up yesterday to a light flood on her street before things took a turn for the worse.
“I have lived here eight years and it is the second time it has happened,” she said.
“I can’t leave my house. It has really affected some other houses on the street. We are lucky we are higher up.
“Anybody that had a car parked on the street, it would be done. I parked mine in the drive.”
When asked about if the council urgently needs to address the shortcomings of the drainage in the area, Julie said: “Absolutely.
“I don’t know if they knew it was going to happen but I don’t think they are going to do anything about it.”
Cherrybank Garage owner Hamish Storrar said sandbags were placed in front of his business to halt water from flooding in and said he could lose up to £2000 in one day.
“Cars are sitting out there we can’t get to and customers have had to cancel their appointments,” he said.
“I have contacted the council before about the gullies outside the garage. They are full and the council has a duty of care to its residents.
“They build these new houses where there used to be fields and now the water has nowhere to go.
“It is an absolute joke.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “Flood gates were closed yesterday (September 7) ahead of the predictions of heavy rain.
“Localised flooding is due to the heavy rainfall which means the capacity to drain surface water away is at capacity.
“The network has been checked and there are no additional blockages which have led to this, just the sheer volume of water trying to enter the system at the same time.
“Protecting properties from flooding is the responsibility of individual householders, however, where residents require additional assistance due to flooding they should call 01738 476476.
“The customer service centre will answer these calls and co-ordinate information to the roads teams.”
