Council reviews flood defences after Storm Boelo damage in Renfrew

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 06:55 · Archive

Renfrewshire Council will review its flood prevention procedures after Storm Boelo caused the River Clyde to reach a record 4.49m, flooding 13 businesses and damaging Renfrew Bridge.

Storm Boelo struck Renfrew on 24 and 25 October, causing the River Clyde to reach 4.49m, its highest recorded level since digital records began in 1998. The flooding affected 13 businesses in the area, with 10 now back operating. The southern plant room controlling the £117 million Renfrew Bridge suffered extensive damage, leaving the swing bridge inoperable for months.

The council's flood barriers, part of the £10 million North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme completed in 2016, were not deployed. This was because the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued no flood warning before the storm, and forecasts had predicted water levels between 2.2m and 2.42m, well below the 3.9m threshold at which barriers are raised.

Renfrewshire Council will undertake a comprehensive review with SEPA and other agencies to establish why actual river levels differed so sharply from forecasts and whether warning systems, forecasting arrangements, operational protocols and wider flood resilience measures need to change. The council's leader described the flood barrier system as 'fundamentally flawed'. Opposition councillors proposed an external figure lead the review, but the SNP-led administration rejected this proposal, with nine administration councillors voting against it while six opposition councillors backed it.

How it is being reported

• Renfrew flood barrier system 'fundamentally flawed' amid Storm Boelo falloutRenfrew flood barriers called ‘fundamentally flawed’ after Storm Boelo flooding on October 24 and 25; review launched as bridge damage leaves it closedThe Herald · 5 Nov, 06:30
• SNP council accused of 'marking its own homework' over Storm Boelo flooding reviewRenfrewshire Council rejects an independent review of Storm Boelo flooding and Renfrew Bridge damage, prompting claims it is ‘marking its own homework’.The Herald · 4 Nov, 14:33
• Council launch review after flood barriers not used during Storm BoeloA report to Renfrewshire Council confirmed forecasts before Storm Boelo 'significantly underestimated tidal levels on the R110iver Clyde'.BBC Glasgow And West · 3 Nov, 19:16
• Council to probe Renfrew flood defence after Storm Boelo damage and bridge closureRenfrewshire Council to review SEPA flood warnings after Storm Boelo saw the River Clyde reach a record 4.49m, flooding 13 businesses and damaging Renfrew BridgeThe Herald · 3 Nov, 17:16

In this story: Renfrewshire Council · Scottish Environment Protection Agency · River Clyde · Renfrew · Renfrew Bridge

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