Renfrew flood barriers not activated despite storm warning

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 21:04 · Archive

Renfrewshire Council did not activate flood barriers during Storm Boelo on Saturday because predicted tide levels did not meet the required threshold, though water levels subsequently rose higher than forecast.

Water from the River Clyde burst through into Renfrew on Saturday night during Storm Boelo, flooding shops and homes and causing serious damage to local businesses. Renfrewshire Council said the predicted tide levels and available forecast data for the storm did not reach the threshold required to deploy the flood barriers, which form part of the North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme installed in 2016 at a cost of about £10m. The scheme includes a three-metre-high embankment and an underground pumping station. While the pumping station was operational during the storm, the council did not activate the barriers. Water levels subsequently rose far higher than predicted.

Business owners affected by the flooding have described the speed and severity of the inundation. Maureen Gray, who works at Ferry Nice Food takeaway on Ferry Road, said water gushed into the shop within 15 to 20 minutes, causing electrical equipment to fail, fridges to break and stock to be lost. Sukhjinder Singh, owner of Foundry Gym, said the flooding happened 'so fast' and most of the premises were underwater within an hour. He estimates he will need to spend more than £10,000 to replace matted flooring and has already spent nearly £1,000 on dehumidifiers.

Business owners have expressed anger at the council's decision. Singh said the council 'failed' the community and questioned the point of spending millions on a system that did not work when needed. He called for compensation, stating: 'We're paying our business rates for the council to be doing their job, and they've obviously failed.' Renfrewshire Council acknowledged that water levels exceeded expectations and confirmed that a review would be undertaken.

How it is being reported

• Renfrew businesses 'failed' as council refused to raise £10m flood barriers in Storm BoeloTraders in Renfrew described wading through knee-deep floodwater as they desperately tried to protect their premises on Saturday night.Glasgow Live · 27 Oct, 20:40
• 'The council failed us by not deploying flood barriers - we're picking up the pieces'Renfrew business owners who are picking up the pieces after their premises were submerged during Storm Boelo say the council "failed them" after multi-million pound flood prevention barriers were not raisedGlasgow Times · 27 Oct, 14:43
• Renfrew flooded after council failed to activate barriers during Storm BoeloRenfrewshire Council said "predicted tide levels" for the storm did not meet the threshold needed to use the flood barriers.BBC Glasgow And West · 26 Oct, 17:58

In this story: Renfrewshire Council · River Clyde · Renfrew · North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme · Maureen Gray · Sukhjinder Singh · Storm Boelo

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log