INCREASING the capacity of the channel underneath the Cardenden Road bridge could help avoid the damaging flooding which hit the street in August and saw more than 20 homes seriously damaged.

In a letter from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to Cardenden Community Council, the organisation's Chief Executive, Terry A'Hearn, said: "Fife Council is undertaking a flood study to investigate potential options to reduce the risk of flooding in Cardenden.

"One of the options being considered is to increase the capacity of the bridge (on Cardenden Road) as stated in your letter.

"This study is ongoing and we anticipate Fife Council will communicate the various options being considered with the local community".

He added: "It is the responsibility of local authorities to implement and maintain flood protection actions.

"Local authorities also inspect, clear and repair watercourses to reduce flood risk and routinely maintain road gullies on public roads and highways. "The proposal by Cardenden Community Council for an upstream grill is best discussed with Fife Council".

In the early hours of Wednesday August 12 the narrow channel under the bridge at Cardenden Road had been fouled up by among other things fencing which had been washed down stream, and it intensified the flood problem.

The community council had contacted SEPA on various flooding issues in the ABCD conurbation of villages.