Arwen in Clacks: 'As windy as I can recall for many-a-long-year'

A powerful extra-tropical cyclone, the storm brought high winds on Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27, with amber and yellow weather warnings in place for Clackmannanshire.

Staff at the council worked into the late hours to clear fallen trees and get roads re-opened as quickly as possible.

Scottish Power highlighted that there were a number of power cuts across the county, including Tullibody and Forestmill, and it is understood supply has since been restored in most areas.

Roads affected included the A91 between Tillicoultry and Dollarbeg, where a fallen tree was causing an obstruction.

Others included the B913 at Dollarbeg, B9140 Coalsnaughton to Dollarbeg, B910 at Riccarton in Clackmannan, Muckhart Road, Shovelhaugh and Westhaugh.

All were made passable with care apart from the A91, where the tree fell on a power line and a diversion had to be put in place.

Ewart McAuslane – of Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton and Devonside Community Council – explained he has seen damage to fencing and roofing in the area after the highest winds he could remember for years hit Clacks.

Luckily, the town's festive lights – which were switched on just a day after the storm passed – were quickly fixed so everyone could enjoy a Christmas glow.

Ewart said: “There was some really quite bad general damage to fencing and roofs, quite apparent if you walk about.

“The Dollar road, at the cemetery, a big tree came down there and took the electrical cable down.

“That's still down [as of Monday afternoon] a traffic light controls traffic there.”

STORM ARWEN: A tree brought down a power line, closing the A91 near Tillicoultry Cemetery at the weekend - Picture by Jan van der Merwe

He added: “It could have been worse, at least it was dry – but certainly, that was as windy as I can recall for many-a-long-year.”

Thankfully, the town's Christmas lights switch-on event still proved a hit with families with Clackmannanshire's in-land location shielding the county from the worst of Storm Arwen.

Indeed, coastal areas in the east of the country saw a rare red weather alert in place with some 80,000 homes losing power across Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perthshire and the Moray Coast.

In Clacks, home car staff were out and about to look after vulnerable people in communities.

The gates at Gartmorn Dam remained closed on Monday as council teams were dealing with a large number of fallen trees and hanging branches over paths.

People were being advised to avoid the area, taking extra care and caution.

A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: "Storm Arwen presented a significant challenge across Scotland on Friday and Saturday.

"Clackmannanshire Council's emergency response was mobilised on Friday evening and remained on call throughout the night in to Saturday and Sunday.

"A number of homes suffered structural damage, with many more experiencing loss of power supply.

"Key roads, including the A91, became impassable due to fallen trees and debris. All road closures have now been cleared.

"Gartmorn Dam remains closed to allow fallen trees and debris to be cleared.

"We continue to work with local partners, including energy companies, to support households who remain without power, while our home care teams continue to support vulnerable households.
"Thanks to everyone for their support while our teams continue to deal with the disruption caused by Storm Arwen.

"We expect some work to be ongoing over the next few days."