FLOODING problems in Rosyth could be alleviated after prevention works worth around £32,000 were approved by councillors.

Fife Council engineers identified five low-cost mitigation measures for consideration and two will now go ahead to help reduce instances of flooding along the Brankholm and Keithing burns.

The first project, worth around £17,000, proposes a diversion at Keith Place in Inverkeithing using the old mill lade.

Vegetation and silt will be removed from the channel and pond and the existing outfall upgraded, resulting in decreased water levels in both burns.

However, this option will require further investigation by Fife Council’s legal services as the local authority does not own the land and it’s not been possible to determine the owner of the pond and lade.

The second option, costing £15,000, proposes additional drainage within the existing carriageway at Park Road, Rosyth. This is expected to provide an increased level of flood protection to adjacent properties and could be in place by the end of the year.

Ian Jones, Fife Council’s roads network lead professional, told councillors, “Once the detailed design is complete, it is envisaged this work will be issued for construction and completed by the end of 2014.” Discussions are also ongoing with Scottish Water about improving the capacity of their sewer network which has an impact on the level of flooding in the area.

Councillors also agreed that a third option, which proposes removing infill material at Kirkgate in the Belleknowes industrial estate, would be resolved through planning legislation.

Officers will now determine if the landowner has breached regulations by allowing the area to be infilled.