Published: Wednesday, 16th January, 2008 12:30
Storms cause travel chaos
By Bob Lovik
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A fallen tree blocks the Alloa Road at Causewayhead.
Pic by: John McConnell
HIGH winds and rain hammered Central Scotland last Wednesday, leaving a trail of damage and causing major travel disruptions.
As 80mph gales forced the closure of the Forth Road Bridge for much of the day, commuters scrambled towards the Kincardine crossing, causing gridlock in the village and massive congestion on all approach roads.
A five-mile tailback stretched all the way to the outskirts of Alloa as people struggled to make it to work on time, while queues on the other side over the river reached seven and eight miles long at their peak.
High winds near Causewayhead knocked down trees, partially blocked Alloa Road, and flooding on the River Devon closed the Glenfoot Bridge in Marchglen.
Conditions on the roads hardly improved as the day went on, with motorists facing further lengthy delays on their journeys home. Police advised motorists to avoid the Kincardine Bridge, suggesting diversions via Stirling, which lengthened some commutes by up to 70 miles.
The fierce winds were responsible for more than just traffic disruptions.
Minor damage was reported throughout Alloa with fences blown down, tiles torn from roofs and wheelie bins running down streets being some of the nuisances caused by the storm.
Clackmannanshire, however, appeared to avoid the worst of the storms.
A spokesperson for Scottish Power said that although over 10,000 people across the country had lost power due to the storms, only around 40 homes in the Wee County reported problems with their electricity supply.
For residents unlucky enough to suffer damage to their properties, the social enterprise group C-MEE is offering low cost minor repairs to the elderly and families and individuals on low incomes.
The strong gales were another example of unusual weather experienced throughout Scotland over the past year.
According to WWF Scotland, 2007 was one of the warmest years ever recorded. In addition to the rising temperatures, average annual rainfall has also been increasing.
Acting director of WWF Scotland, Dr Dan Barlow, said, “Last year was the third warmest year ever recorded in Scotland and a year during which the country experienced dramatic or unusual weather patterns.
“The changes in our weather patterns that we are witnessing are in line with scientists’ predictions that Scotland will become warmer and wetter.
“Last year saw considerable disruption in Scotland as a result of the weather and is a taste of things to come in the next few decades.”
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