Dozens of storm-damaged houses could be demolished

Dozens of council properties in Brechin that were badly damaged in Storm Babet last year could be demolished, BBC Scotland News has learned.

The Angus town's River Street bore the brunt of the flooding when the South Esk burst its banks last October.

Residents were evacuated - and those living in the 58 council houses are still out of their homes 10 months later.

Angus Council said all options were being reviewed and that "speculation was unhelpful at this stage" - but admitted that demolishing the properties was one of the options being considered.

Independent housing consultant Arneil Johnston is preparing a report on options, which will go before councillors next month.

Hundreds of council and private tenants had to be evacuated when the town's £16m flood defences were breached during the storm.

Euan Clark lived in a privately-owned house on the street surrounded by council homes until the flood. When he spoke to the BBC last October, he predicted "the end of River Street".

He said: "Now we're a year later and we still don't know what's happening.

"Maybe now they're deciding to demolish them when they should have demolished them at the start."

Mr Clark, who has been living in temporary accommodation in Montrose, said it was "common logic" to demolish the properties.

He said: "Nobody knows how stable those houses are, there's been a lot of water in here over the years."

Mr Clark said the last 10 months had been a "living hell".

He added that communication between the authorities and his father, who owns the property, had been "non-existent".

He said: "I don't know what's happening with this area, no-one does.

"All these promises after it happened - nothing's happened."

All 58 of the affected council properties have been stripped and dried out.

Angus Council said any decision on whether to complete further work was on hold until the outcome of the Arneil Johnston report.

A council spokeswoman said: "This a very complex process, involving detailed analysis of flood patterns, the likely impact of climate change increasing in the future and housing supply and demand across Angus, and, of course, the relative costs."

The council has received £6.9m from the government's Bellwin scheme to go towards damage and repairs.

Some local businesses say they are also still in the dark over their futures.

East Mill Caravan Park, which is near River Street, was also flooded. It is still closed, and has missed out on the lucrative summer season.

Owner Scott Murray said: "Every business down here got £3,000 but that didn't actually last very long.

"We're looking at tens of thousands of pounds for these units and chalets."

Angus Council has also commissioned JBA Consulting to undertake a study of the flood defences following the impact of Storm Babet.

The study will cover areas including the current level of protection provided by the flood defences and the likelihood of them being breached in the future.

The council said it expected the final report on the study soon.