05/01/2016 Reporting Scotland

The floodwaters may have receded, but the misery continued today

for homeowners and businesses in Perthshire and the North East.

Heavy rain during December makes it the wettest since records began.

This report first from Steven Duff in Ballater.

Overnight, this place became the latest community to be affected by

flooding. This morning, water was still threatening homes. Many

residents have already left. Because the water was so high, it is coming

residents have already left. Because down and it is just under the

floorboards, so we are trained to get as red as much of that we can.

You have the fire brigade here to help? Yes. I have been trying to

pump out the water and the government officials have been down

and I spoke to them and they are coming down to help and try to save

some of these properties from getting totally wrecked. The rural

affairs secretary visited this morning, speaking to those affected

by the flooding. It is still very distressing for those who are

affected. No-macro they have had damage to their homes or had to be

rescued. The aftermath and people clearing up, it is important that

everybody works together to help those affected.

You mention the Environment Agency. You are putting the budget by almost

7%. Is that wise question You are putting the budget by almost

their role in Scotland is to give warning to understand the threat to

committees from flooding and make sure people are given proper

information. That will continue unaffected in terms of the budget

situation. For communities among the River Dee, some good news for a

change. This bridge should be open again in two weeks. The village is

currently inaccessible from the east because of damage. Part of the A93

that was swept away by the floods, should be replaced by a temporary

road within the week. Police divers have been searching

in the flooded River Dee in Aberdeen for a man who officers fear may have

been swept away in its waters. Two bags containing the belongings

of Terence Kilbride were washed up beside

the river on Saturday. The 48-year-old from Warrington

was reported missing yesterday. Police say he's known to go

camping in the area. People in much of Perthshire have

spent the day dealing with more rain, and flooding from the Tay

and its tributaries. This was the centre of Perth this

morning. After days of rain, the drains

simply could cope no longer. Firefighters joined council teams

to protect property and people. Ten homes were evacuated -

mainly basement flats. Perth hadn't seen this kind

of flooding since 1993. This is all caused by coming up

through drains because the water We can get away with some things,

but water, I am afraid, Pumps were quickly put to work,

firing the water away, turning this parkland

into a reservoir. North of Perth, rain water

was thundering down the rivers. This is the River Isla north

of Perth, difficult to see where the river bank once was,

it's a massive expance of water, more like a loch than a river

and with all the mud stirred up by the force of the water,

it's running chocolate brown. A number of homes in Perthshire

have been flooded out. Those who work this now flooded land

trying to get on with it. In Perth tonight, most

of the water has now gone. They're hoping that's

the last of it. The main route in and out of Argyll

is closed again tonight. A 150-tonne boulder

is threatening to roll down the hillside onto the A83

at the Rest and Be Thankful. Five days ago here at the A83,

the Rest and Be Thankful, there was a large landslide just

on the hill, you may be able to see the hillside behind me,

lots of rocks and debris came The road was shut

for a very short time. But what happened when engineers

went up to see what damage had been done, they found a 150-tonne boulder

hanging precariously All day, engineers have been working

to try and drill down into that boulder, hopefully to put

it into tiny pieces and then tomorrow they'll do a controlled

explosion and hopefully that There is only one way

up and that's on foot. The second challenge is obviously

the weather, the wind. So, this is the reason that we can

only work in daylight hours. At night, it's not

safe to work up there. The main problems they've faced

today have been bad weather, a very rocky unstable hillside,

and drill willing are to resume -- a very rocky unstable hillside,

and drilling will have to resume in the morning and hopefully that

controlled explosion will happen After that, hopefully,

again weather dependent, Police Scotland's new Chief

Constable has been formally sworn in during a ceremony

at the Scottish Police College Phil Gormley says the role

is the "pinnacle of his policing Here's our home affairs

correspondent, Reevel Alderson. Every police officer in Scotland

must swear the oath of constable, Phil Gormley starts work today

after a 30-year career in England, and he knows the new

job will be tough. I recognise the scale

of the challenge and importance of the role which I

have been appointed. I approach it with excitement

and a certain amount of humility. I will need the help and support

of people in this room and beyond, and I am determined, together,

we can deliver a police service It's unlikely Phil Gormley

will be doing much of this. These probationary officers are

learning how to arrest a suspect. But the newest recruit has a number

of problems awaiting his attention. The Chief Constable's already had

a meeting with the chairman of the Scottish Police Authority

to plan his way forward. The budget is at the

top of the agenda. Police Scotland's likely

to overspend by ?25 million Staff morale is low,

with a recent survey showing high levels of dissatisfaction among both

officers and civilian workers. And a series of controversies,

stop-and-search, armed officers, and the M9 tragedy have

sapped public confidence. I would say that I don't think

everything is broken, so let's not leave this

conversation with a sense this There are some really

significant challenges. You have described some of them,

there are others we can discuss. Actually, what we need to do is work

with communities and individuals to develop locally relevant

services, improve the quality of people's lives,

and that's my commitment. He has given himself 100 days

to familiarise himself with the force before he can plan

how to take it forward. Phil Gormley says it's the pinnacle

of his policing career. He says he approaches it

with excitement and humility. He has challenges, and those

challenges he will have It's over to Christopher now

with the weather forecast Good evening. As many will know only

too well, this 2015 was extremely wet. Here is the chart of the UK.

Where it is white, that is where we saw average rainfall in December.

Where it is blue, over and above. The dark blue indicates double what

we would normally see during the month of December, making it the

wettest December on record right across the UK. All because of a very

strong jet stream staying in a staggered position, delivering

rainstorm after rainstorm. The fast jet driven by cold out to the north

and warm to the south, the rain heavily or persistent and the

flooding worse. Tonight, still somewhat weather around. Certainly

for the Eastern bodies to budge. Exactly where we don't want it. That

is how we start things tomorrow morning. Away from these areas,

reasonably dry at times and probably a better better day than today. Here

are the temperatures at 8am. Still some patchy rain towards the south,

but up towards Tayside, Perthshire, Angus, Aberdeenshire, the rain will

continue. Snow on the hills. Further north and north-west, reasonably

dry. Some patchy light rain at times. A windy day tomorrow.

Decreasing the south through the course of the day from the

south-east. The Rimmel continued through the north-east, not heavy

but persistent. The wet weather stretching towards the north-east of

England. Elsewhere, reasonably dry. Further clouded, but temperatures

towards Devon and Cornwall up to these temperatures. On the wind,

cool feel. Into the evening, the wet weather reinvigorates, turning

heavier ahead of the next band of rain arriving as we had overnight

Wednesday to Thursday. That weather moving in and then becomes stuck

across Scotland. Wet and windy weather and cold weather, as well.

Potentially some snow to low levels, but the weather falling on saturated

ground, further problems likely and a cold feel, too.

Our next update is during Breakfast at 6.25 tomorrow morning.

But from everyone on the late team here in Glasgow,