‘Flooding catastrophe’ warning over 200-year-old Wick property
Highland Council is being urged to act quickly to prevent a potential “flooding catastrophe” affecting a 200-year-old property in Wick.
David Buchanan is concerned about the amount of grit and other loose material that gathers in a gully outside his front door at the top of the historic Black Stairs.
Mr Buchanan, a private chef, bought the adjacent Blackstairs House in August 2023.
In an email to Highland Council’s head of roads, Tracey Urry, Mr Buchanan told of a “colossal downpour” a few weeks ago that caused the gully to fill with water.
He said he was trapped inside the building until the water subsided after some two-and-a-half hours.
Mr Buchanan has found that heavy rain causes small stones to be washed down the slope from Lower Dunbar Street as well as from Miller Lane, directly across from Wick Youth Club.
The Black Stairs were reconstructed around 2005 as part of a Lower Pulteneytown heritage project and Mr Buchanan believes the problems stem from that time.
He wrote: “My property is at risk of flooding despite being at the top of two flights of stairs. The issue is the road surface from Lower Dunbar Street, across Breadalbane Crescent, continuing up to Argyle Square.
“When it rains, all grit, sand, garbage and detritus from all of these roads funnel down Lower Dunbar Street and get stuck outside my front door.”
He claims it took the council eight years to unblock other drains on the road.
“Whilst I am thankful those works were done, the problem remains and I have personally bagged and binned most of the Miller Lane surface which has slowly been deposited outside over the course of the last year,” he said.
Mr Buchanan, who made his name as a chef to billionaires and royalty, spends only some of his time in Wick.
“Each time I visit my home I have to worry whether or not I will be returning to catastrophe, and I subsequently spend hours each time moving, emptying, bagging and cleaning the entire gully system at the top of the Black Stairs,” he wrote.
“Each occasion sees me lift 20 kilos or more of dirt and road surface. I would reckon that I have done this monthly since I purchased the property and therefore have lifted more than a quarter of a tonne!
“Prior to the Black Stairs being reworked any additional rainfall would have naturally cascaded down the steps, as had been the case for almost 200 years.
Top stories
“The steps were refurbished I believe circa 2005 and I believe problems began almost then, according to the previous owner of my property.
“When I purchased and began renovating my property I installed a flood gate as a precautionary measure. I am very thankful that I did now. Clearly it is much needed.”
Calling for a “speedy resolution”, he said: “It isn't acceptable for complaints to fall on deaf ears.
“If no acceptable response is received, I will begin remedial works myself in order to protect my property and have alerted my insurers to the problems as well, so it falls squarely on Highland Council to act in order to prevent a three-floor flooding catastrophe, trashing not only my house but also two small businesses in the town.”
Mr Buchanan is aiming to open high-end rooms at Blackstairs House and make it a key food-and-drink destination for North Coast 500 tourists. However, he has been left frustrated by planning delays.
After he bought Blackstairs House he began running a series of Secret Shebeen supper clubs.
Mr Buchanan’s investment in Blackstairs House has so far come to around £330,000.
