Flooding causes continuing and increasing concern in Aberfoyle and Strathard. The Community Council Flood Group has been working hard to persuade the authorities to take action to reduce the problem. Unfortunately, progress is slow.

The Scottish Government produced a national plan requiring local authorities working with SEPA to produce regional flood risk management plans. They have now concluded that this approach is unaffordable. They now say that in future the main effort must be resilience, or recovery from flooding, combined with individual responsibility to prevent flood damage.

Whilst these are important, they are of limited help here in Aberfoyle where frequent  flooding causes serious difficulty. Owners of property affected by floods are well aware of the need to protect it and do so where this is practicable. But there is a limit to what individuals can do when faced with massive flood flows entering the village. The Forth Inn is closed. The Loch Ard Road is impassable several times a year.

Stirling Council’s Flood Risk Management Plan was based on building a high flood barrier through the village close to the river. Although this was contrary to the wishes of the Community, it was put to the Scottish Government for funding but rejected because the cost was said to far outweigh the benefits.

After this rejection Stirling Council in 2023 commissioned a Report on measures which would prevent low level flooding. The report was published in October 2024. It recommended construction of a low flood barrier between the Manse Road bridge and the telephone exchange and opposite the school on the South side of Loch Ard Road. No decision has yet been taken to carry out this work, but there is hope that the work will be done. If and when it is done, it will prevent most of the frequent flooding on Loch Ard Road and the spill over into Main St. It will not but prevent flooding from severe floods, which are sadly now also fairly frequent.

The Community Council Flood Group is pressing for investigations into the cost and effect of peak flow flood water storage high in the Duchray catchment where the land is suitable for this. Along with the Loch Ard Road flood barrier, upstream storage should be able to contain all but the most extreme floods. Stirling Council has not yet agreed to commission this study. Pressure on them to do so will continue.

Unfortunately, the story is one of the need for patience and persistence.

How the Community Can Help

Although many of the major decisions rest with Stirling Council and national agencies, the voices and experiences of local residents carry significant weight. The Community Council Flood Group believes that community involvement can directly strengthen the case for action. There are several practical ways in which residents can assist:

• Share evidence of flooding – Photographs, videos, dates, and descriptions of flood events help build a clear record of impact and frequency.
• Report recurring problem areas – Local knowledge is invaluable for identifying where water first appears, where drains back up, and which access routes become unsafe.
• Participate in consultations and surveys – When studies or proposals come forward, community input helps shape solutions and ensures they are suitable for residents and businesses.
• Attend Community Council meetings – These provide updates on progress and allow residents to ask questions or raise concerns directly.
• Support calls for further investigation – The Flood Group continues to press for upstream storage studies and prioritisation of the Loch Ard Road barrier. Public backing helps demonstrate the urgency of these measures.

By contributing local insight, evidence, and support, the community can play a vital role in accelerating progress and ensuring that effective long-term solutions are delivered.