CARDENDEN needs new flood risk assessments to be made following the results shown by the five hours of torrential rain in the early hours of August 12.

The village's community council believe that while it was an unprecedented natural happening it did flag up where there are weak links in the flood prevention system.

More than 20 homes in Cardenden Road were devastated by the Den Burn and River Ore bursting their banks and there were many other incidents of homes being flooded, from Auchterderran in the north to Dundonald in the south.

And they have backing from the convener of Cowdenbeath Area Committee and local councillor, Linda Erskine, who feels that the happenings of that day means that a flood prevention scheme is needed for Cardenden.

The community council secretary, David Taylor, said: "As a result of the devastating flooding in Cardenden, following the recent thunderstorms, Fife Council and SEPA need to review their flood maps and reassess the flood risks in this area.

"The major issue was the bridge over the Den Burn, on Cardenden Road, which struggled to cope with the amount of water in the burn. Debris swept into the burn then blocked the flow, causing the water to back up and overflow into the adjoining houses and onto the road.

"Proposals have been put forward by Fife Council to increase the capacity of this bridge, and some form of up stream grill needs to be put in place to prevent debris from impeding the flow of water".

Mr Taylor added: "Although other areas of the village suffered flooding, none were as badly affected.

"The field at Woodend, which has just been granted planning permission for 45 houses, was again completely flooded.

"This water is presently contained within the field until it eventually subsides. However, during the storm existing water in the ditch and burn behind the Woodend houses, caused more damage to adjoining property. "This ditch and burn are now expected to carry all the storm water from the housing development, to the Jamphlars Pond and Kirk Burn, until it reaches the River Ore.

"This is causing major concerns regarding future flooding, and both the housing developers and Fife Council, have made it clear they will not accept responsibility for this.

"With the climate changing, more rain fall is likely in the future, and these problems need to be resolved. We need to eliminate the present flooding risks, rather than create new ones".

Councillor Erskine said: "This was an unprecedented rainfall that caused this but it certainly has shown weaknesses in our flood prevention cover in Cardenden.

"I believe that we need to seriously consider our current flood prevention measures and if we have to look at an improvement scheme."

The councillor said that the flow of the water to the bridge on Cardenden Road was impeded by all sorts of debris flowing down the course, including fencing, which helped cause the back up of water and caused homes to be flooded.