Businesses in Renfrew that were flooded during Storm Boelo have been offered a flat rate of £2,500 each by the Scottish Government, an amount Labour councillors have called "alarmingly low".
Thirteen businesses in the town had water come in when the River Clyde rose to its highest level since digital records began in 1998, during the storm on 24 and 25 October. Ten of the 13 are understood to have reopened since.
At Monday's special meeting of Renfrewshire Council, councillors heard that some of the affected businesses have estimated their damage at between £200,000 and £300,000.
'We are alarmed that this offer is so low'
Councillor Iain McMillan, leader of the Labour group, which called the special meeting, said: "During the meeting we heard very concerning estimates of the value of the damage done to businesses in Renfrew. So far, the Scottish Government has offered a flat rate of £2,500 worth of compensation, and we are alarmed that this offer is so low, considering the extent of the damage. We will be monitoring and scrutinising these developments closely."
He said the group felt "vindicated" the meeting went ahead, adding: "We have listened to Renfrew residents who want answers as to why the flood barriers weren't opened, and Monday's meeting allowed for that. The meeting secured our outcome of getting more information into the public domain, although this is just the start of the process of investigating the decision-making that led to the barriers not being raised."
The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.
Why the barriers stayed down
The flood barriers that form part of the £10 million North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme, completed in 2016 to protect more than 300 homes and businesses, were not put up during the storm.
Council officials say established procedures, based on past flood events, risk assessments and operational experience, did not indicate the barriers were needed. They note that since 2016 there have been 45 amber and red weather warnings in the Strathclyde area without a flood alert reaching the level that would trigger the barriers.
Councillor Ben Smith, Labour's spokesperson on the council's infrastructure, land and environment board, said: "To have flood barriers unused during such severe flooding in Renfrew is unbelievable and I hope the council's internal review will give local residents proper answers and solutions."
He added that it was "vitally important that the Renfrew Bridge is opened as soon as possible", as people have come to rely heavily on it, and said: "Given the growing threat of climate change, Renfrewshire's flood defences and the council's ability to respond to floods must be closely scrutinised. Many areas across Renfrewshire are susceptible to flooding, particularly in our villages."
Bridge still closed
The storm also flooded the plant room on the Renfrew side of the £117 million Renfrew Bridge, which controls the swing bridge's hydraulics. The bridge has been closed to road users since 28 October and no reopening date has been given. At Monday's meeting the council said the bridge is "effectively insured twice". Read our report from the special meeting.
The council's own review of its response to Storm Boelo is expected to look at the decision not to raise the barriers.
Photo: Renfrew Bridge, by Gordon Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph / Wikimedia Commons.