if Scotland were independent this would have never happened.

On the contrary #1, what makes you think it's a coincidence that this happened in an SNP held constituency?

From the picture, it looks like a disaster waiting to happen

That's not one of these wind farms sliding off another hill is it?

http://www.swap.org.uk/Windfarms%20on%20blanket%20peat.pdf

Hope everyone involved is okay and thankfully there is a government in Scotland who will look after their best interests. Pity about the idiotic comments from #1/2

#5 Have you no sense of humour

what time is Gordon Broon arriving ? Will it be before Salmond ? Who will have the most expensive lunch ? Will it make the Englishcentric News at 6 ?

#7 - exactly - homes built in the wrong place there for over 5,000 years.

This event is a perfect example of the lack of coverage by the BBC.
A couple of still photos and a mobile phone video was what we were offered this morning.

Sounds like the likes of #5 is prepared to dish it out but cant take it back

Over a million people were left homeless by landslides in India last week. That didn't get much coverage either but it puts things in perspective.

Did you notice the 15 seconds of news coverage on TV last night..???
If this had happened in England.. the village would have been full of News Teams

#14 its a little more remote than home counties on sea isnt it ? all the scottish BBC reporters in London (and there are a lot) were probably arguing who had to drag themselves away from their lattes to go back to Scotland.

The previous comments are a little flippant , I feel sorry for these people as I would about storm damage in any part of the world . Pennan is a beautifull village like similar villages of the same setting along side of it like neighbouring villages of Gardenstown and Crovie who could have suffered the same fate . My family history goes back 200 years to this area as well as my marital connections . So come on people lets make any comments more human and constructive .

Alex Salmond has clearly never done a days physical work in his life.

What a great way to start - let's have a collection to buy him a No.10 Shovel.

These houses however pretty are bricks and mortar. Knock the down, move the people out and let nature take it's course. The place will still be picturesque.

Let's be glad no one is hurt and equally glad that a whole article has appeared in the "Scotsman"without any mention from Dr Dixon of WWF Green that climate change and global warming must be the
FALL GUY!.
The reporters and the editorial staff must finally be wise-ing up!
As for the"local authourity being responsible"? Wonder if they will play the CC GW card!

........or hows about blaming the ROMANS for building in such places in the first place,as Yvette Cooper the UK Housing Minister did a few weeks ago in respect of the appalling floods down south!
I accept the Romans probably never went anywhere near this wee corner of the planet, but let's blame them anyway.
Of course if that is ruled out, there's always GOD!

Ah, don't worry everyone, the good old beeb have now put some pics up just to keep all the moaners happy.
Must admit, I was somewhat amused by the scenes being described as "utter devastation". Have a look for yourselves and then decide. Not like us Scots to wallow in self pity. Not doubting it was a bit scary but c'mon.

As someone mentioned ealrier, the millions displaced and/or made homeless barely merited a mention in the Scottish Press yet I'm sure they'll be harping on about this for days. Yawn.

If the villagers had accepted our original offer, they would all have been millionaires by now and would not be facing this problem.

Serves them right!

If you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

The Miracle Of Pennan - Jesus Christ - a little bit of mud fell off a hill, no-one died , no-one was injured , and they all had a great excuse to sit in the pub all day.

"I'll have a PINT of Bells Sandy , I'm a bit shaky the day likes - and ma wellies are well caked ".

24 Wins the prize for best joke of the day.

"What's going to happen?" she said. "Are they going to condemn the village." ?

"Nah , youre okay Hen , you dont work on a Sunday , and it's not Harris"

I want to know what Ian Rankin has to say about this.

Okay, thats me finished.

#14/15 Strange that,how come the BBC couldn't get the weather girl,Carol Kirkwood,to cover it.After all they heve managed to get her on the Cairngorms at 3.00am in the middle of winter to tell us it's snowing!
Perhaps she's on holiday??

With reference to 1st Post.

Actually. it would have been far worse if Scotland had it's independence. and that is not scaremongering.

And it would be a fallacious assumption to deny that truth.but if over the border want to encourage self-delusion so be it.

Has the phone box been sandbagged ?

17 - Buckinghamshire is a beautiful county, you should come down and spend some of your money supporting our tourist industry.

I see the council have managed to find a fall guy as and when he "identifies him or herself"
Naughty naughty landowner! When's the hanging.
I bet that would get some press coverage.

Actually the homes do look rather newly built:-)

Obviously 'Local hero'was out when our lord above went to rent the DVD from Holyblockbusters.
Its reported in the 'Heavens Above Herald' that the words 'Ah'll show them,its no in today n why dont you try again ra morra' !! were muttered as he left the shop....

The houses are not new. The first harbour was built there at the beginning of the 18th century. The houses were built for fishermen, not just on a whim for holidaymakers! So for everyone saying they shouldn't have been built there, it was because of necessity years ago. Not like nowadays when the government allows new housing to be built on flood plains.

#22 you're right, we can't blame the Romans. We can try and blame the vikings though. ;)

#43 you're right about Mt.Pennan! Never noticed that before. :D

Why does virtually every post on this Scotsman site usually start off focused on the subject in question and then degenerate very quickly into silly, giggly, irrelevant nonsense?

Particularly so when the irrelevant nonsense consists of taking the mickey out of the original topic which, in this case, is a matter of people losing their homes or at least facing gross intrusion into their lives and great expense to get back to normal. Nothing particularly funny in that sort of situation.

So the photo is recent, or is it media stock? It's a bright, sunny day!

Is this home placement usual? The towering sea wall (not that bitty thing out front) suggests the event is just the latest of many over millenia.

Well, we spend our lives struggling to keep up, may as well live where the house has to do it, too!

#46

Well, you'll not be laughing or joking if some nasty thing happens to you - and, incidentally, I hope nothing nasty does happen to you

It never ceases to amaze me how negative so many people are. So few seem to have anything good to say about Scotland on these comments. I loved the "Local Hero" movie as much for the scenery as anything and still pull it out of my DVD collection to watch it now and then. As a born and bred Aberdonian who still loves my native land, I cannot understand the mindset of anyone who could suggest that the houses should be torn down. These are peoples homes you are talking about, apart from the fact that it is a lovely wee village. It was good to know that no-one was hurt - amazing in itself - and I hope that work can be done so that nothing like that can happen again.

Ian #9
I totally agree with you, I visited Pennan a couple of years ago so actually know what it looks like rather than just see a picture of it.
# 29 thru 32, 34, 36 Kane-O,
What has your silly comments have anything to do with the subject of this discussion.

As the weather becomes more erratic,including changing rain patterns,it would be quite prudent for municipalities built on the side of a hill or at the bottom of steep braes to review and update their existing storm drainage plan.
Bob

The photo caption reads, "The sea of mud was so slick after hours of torrential rain that the force of the landslips was dissipated as it flowed through the gaps between the houses."
Well, forgive me for laughing, but, does Frank Urquhart not have any idea of the meaning of 'dissipated' or of the properties of the semi-solid liquid? Sweet Jesus, he is slow? What next? Water slows down on flat bits shocker! Landslides seem to happen on steepish hills - revelation!! Prize numpty in 'writing a whole Scotsman article by himself' scandal!!!!?

#42 Love it! Mt. Rushmore! AND a UFO!
You guys are so much fun! Even GC, bless his heart. Then there's eddylongshanks...I LOVE British humor! Scots, as well!

But,seriously, it IS a shame and a tragedy for those people. I have been to some of those beautiful fishing towns and hope that they can rebuild/repair and have some sort of protection that is not a monstrosity of an eyesore to help divert future problems.
Tragedy can strike anywhere. We have tornadoes here and flooding in the spring (usually). Be thankful that it was not worse and pray that nothing happens to you.

Wish the Scotsman came to my email box earlier in the day...

It still looks pretty - what did it look like before the mud?
Was it painted white as a contrast or an edict of Devolved Irresponsibility that nothing could be painted blue, red or vomitous orange?

Fire can be put out or fled from but never again despite centuries of inhabitation will anyone ever again feel safe in Shore Street - how sad & Good luck.

The most likely cause is rain! NOT the flattulence, dishonesty and carbon footprint of Al Gore or Tiny Blur nor Boredoom Broon.

Greg L-W.

For goodness sake - make love, not war.

#52 +53 How very patronising..

Of course its a shame for the locals, do you have anything worthwhile to say or are you just getting cheap thrills from our "humour". If you knew anything about Scotland, youd know we often refer to it as "banter"

Maybe you could pray(because thats sooo useful) for some guidance on how not to write stupid comments.

#52 +53 How very patronising..

Of course its a shame for the locals, do you have anything worthwhile to say or are you just getting cheap thrills from our "humour". If you knew anything about Scotland, youd know we often refer to it as "banter"

Maybe you could pray(because thats sooo useful) for some guidance on how not to write stupid comments.

Get a life, Saltiregirl.

Thanks to the many posters who have helped to save me 20 quid. Because the Scotsman permits your moronic, irrelevant and nationalistic drivel to appear in print I have decided to permanently cancel my subscription.

Gay Gordon!!

HA HA HA!!!

#58
It was not meant to be stupid; just friendly. I do love your country and did not mean to be patronizing. And the word "banter" is in our vocabulary, as well. I did not realize that enjoyment of humor was something evil. Sorry.

I despair at the generic global warming comments here and the advice to take "steps". Scotland's never had a history of torrential rain, ever. My experience of the place going back 37 years is that it makes the Gobi Desert look drenched. For goodness sakes, the bottom of any steep hill or cliff is going to be at risk any time it rains - Lynmouth in 1952 and Boscastle a few years back are prime illustrations of that.

As for #1's comment, anyone who reads these comments regularly will understand it. I'm surprised nobody's had a go at this being a non-story.