Calls have been made for Helensburgh and Lomond’s flood prevention measures to be improved after severe weather last year.
Angela Anderson, who is chair of Plastic Free Helensburgh, asked for an update on gully cleaning in the town, which is due to be completed this month.
Severe rainfall on October 7 led to major flooding in the town centre and on the Rosneath Peninsula.
Gemma Penfold, chair of Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee, pledged to push for the work to be finished.
Ms Anderson told last week’s meeting: “I am following up on a question that I asked at the last area committee on gully cleaning and drainage. That was off the back of flooding going back to last year.
“I received a reply saying that gully cleaning would take place. The town has been flooding since August and drains are being overwhelmed because they are not designed to cope with streets flooding.
“Gullies are taking three days to clear. Our campaign to take better care of the drains is still on hold, because we know the council is strapped.
“My question is whether they can ensure our streets are adequately husbanded, and going forward gullies are cleaned to prevent them blocking?
“Some of this will be expensive, but there are predictions that the weather conditions will become the norm through climate change.”
Cllr Penfold responded: “I agree on the drainage situation. It was bad last year and it is still getting sorted, so we will push on that.”
There is a drain on the corner of Sinclair St and West Lennox Drive that is almost always blocked. This has been the case for many years. When there is heavy rain a river normally runs down the pavement to the xext drain on Munroe Drive.
Every so often the council clear out the pot in the drain and within a couple of weeks it is totally blocked again. Yesterday evening that drain was clear and running freely, for now. We shall see how long it lasts this time.