Ballater, Aberdeenshire floods

Brigodoon
Brigodoon Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited January 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Unfortunatl, the Ballater Caravan Park has been devastated by the recent floods. 

https://www.facebook.com/visitballater/posts/1107989462584952

Comments

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2016 #2

    What devestation.Surprised Feel very sorry for all the van owners. Looks like a tornado has ripped through the site.

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #3

    Absolutely terrible, I hope that no one was hurtSurprised.....Cool

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited January 2016 #4

    Total devastation by the look of it. Very sad for those whose property was damaged and site owners are going to have trouble getting people to site another there.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #5

    Good grief!  I think that's about the worst devastation on a caravan park I've seen.  Feel so sorry for all concerned.

    150 pixels photo ba9efc87-643d-42da-9817-e5b5ead08e3e_zpsf5f9425f.png

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2016 #6

    I wonder if it was the same caravan site they showed on BBC News a couple of days ago? More akin to what happens in the Mid West of America!

    David

  • kellysdad
    kellysdad Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited January 2016 #7

    Worse than the destruction of their holiday homes for owners, according to one of them, is that they are not insured for flood damage as the site is in a flood plain. Lot of pretty new vans on the site and from pictures locally none escaped the torrent.
    Kellysmum

  • kellysdad
    kellysdad Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited January 2016 #8

    The owner who said they had no insurance for an event like this says it will have a terrible effect on the local community as the site generated a lot of income in the town over the summer months. Kelysmum

  • BrianandElaine
    BrianandElaine Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited January 2016 #9

    My heart goes out to all the families in Ballater.  The vans that were destroyed were all statics that families use from April to October.   every single one of them is destroyed.   We visit Ballater several times per year with our touring van.  It used
    to be a council run site but it was taken over several years ago by the community and it is run by them, very well. The site is a big source of income for the village as it is always busy.   On Tuesday night I just booked our annual May long weekend there!
     They were in the process of updating the toilet/shower block so not sure how that has held up.   The play park which they updated for last season has been wrecked.   We know several families who have lost their family holiday van and not sure how they will
    be covered.    This is such a tragedy for all in Ballater.   The site was flooded in August 2014 when the river burst its banks - first time in 100 years, tents, tourers and statics were rescued and site closed.   It re-opened seveal days later and we were
    able to enjoy the rest of the week although was slightly wet underfoot.  Several weeks ago there was another slight rising of the river but nothing to worry about.   This latest flood has caused total and utter devastation to so many residents and business's
    up there.  It will not put us off visiting once the site is finally up and running although not sure when that will be.    It is a wee gem of a site if you are ever up this direction.  

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited January 2016 #10

    I wonder if it was the same caravan site they showed on BBC News a couple of days ago? More akin to what happens in the Mid West of America!

    David

    It was shown on the news here, but not sure if it was the Scottish news or the national.

  • BrianandElaine
    BrianandElaine Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited January 2016 #11

    it possibly was it has been on local news here, ITV national news and BBC news.  The site is no more. caravans floating down the river the site was wrecked.  A friend whose family have had a static there for ++++ years are in deep shock.   There was 110
    caravans destroyed.  She is not sure what will happen to the site as insurance companies will not cover them now as site has flooded twice.   Family memories and treasures collected over the years gone in 20 minutes.   So sad.   

  • Lenchen
    Lenchen Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited January 2016 #12

    It was heartbreaking to see the destruction, even part of the road between Balllater and Braemar has been swept away.

  • Grumblewagon
    Grumblewagon Forum Participant Posts: 246
    edited January 2016 #13

    The old Royal Station in Ballater was destroyed by fire last year, so they've had a hard time of it there. 

    I'm also wondering how long it will be before the A93 can be rebuilt.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2016 #14

    It was heartbreaking to see the destruction, even part of the road between Balllater and Braemar has been swept away.

    Would that affect anyone trying to get to Greenpark CL coming from the East?

  • Lenchen
    Lenchen Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited January 2016 #15

    It was heartbreaking to see the destruction, even part of the road between Balllater and Braemar has been swept away.

    Would that affect anyone trying to get to Greenpark CL coming from the East?

    Write your comments here...Aberdeen council is constructing a 'temporary road' until the road can be re-constructed. If going to Greenpark from south of Braemar the best way to go is via Stonehaven.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2016 #16

    It was heartbreaking to see the destruction, even part of the road between Balllater and Braemar has been swept away.

    Would that affect anyone trying to get to Greenpark CL coming from the East?

    Write your comments here...Aberdeen council is constructing a 'temporary road' until the road can be re-constructed. If going to Greenpark from south of Braemar the best way to go is via Stonehaven.

    Thanks, Lenchen. I've just had a message from Kellysmum outlining the whole picture. We certainly won't be heading up there till we're sure that we can get through easily with the caravan. There's a photo on the BBC's Tayside news site showing the road completely
    gone.