THE risk of flooding to homes in Musselburgh may be far higher than estimated, one of the town’s councillors has claimed.

A Flood Risk Assessment report has warned 1,400 residences in East Lothian’s biggest town are in danger, with only Edinburgh facing higher damage in the event of an incident on the Forth Estuary.

But Musselburgh councillor Fraser McAllister said the report did not take into account the impact of underground water in abandoned mines under the town.

And he said he feared the situation was far more serious than was being estimated, warning East Lothian Council’s budget could fall short.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s cabinet this week, Mr McAllister said he believed Musselburgh homes were at a higher risk than reported.

He said: “I am concerned that, severe as it looks for Musselburgh, it is underestimated because it does not include subterranean water, as historically floods have shown underground mineworks have an effect.

“I am wondering if the £300,000 budget is sufficient.” The Forth Estuary Local Plan, which covers East Lothian’s waterways and coastline, looks at the risk of flooding across the communities and highlights areas most at risk.

It estimates Musselburgh residences are in the most danger, with the River Esk and coastline.

It says 53 per cent of flooding is caused by rivers, 35 per cent by the sea and only 12 per cent by surface water.

However, at the cabinet meeting, councillors voiced concern about old mines across East Lothian, many of which were connected to the Firth of Forth.

Councillor Peter MacKenzie revealed it was not uncommon during heavy rainfalls to see “orange water” from mines running down the streets in Longniddry, demonstrating it can appear miles from where the underground pits were based.

Some councillors, including Musselburgh East member John Caldwell, called for the Coal Authority to take responsibility for some of the costs of flood damage and prevention which was required.

He said: “We need to get the Coal Authority involved in Musselburgh. The problem comes from the mine working in Pinkie, in particular, and there is work to be done which they should be involved in.” While Mr MacKenzie told the cabinet he had written to Paul Wheelhouse MSP, the Scottish Minister for Environment and Climate Change, asking him to intervene to bring the Coal Authority into help with costs.