SINCE early October last year the Dumbarton East and Central Community Council has had flooding constantly on its agenda.

On October 10, the usually quiet meeting room was full to overflowing following the previous weekend’s flood, and there were some heated exchanges between residents and councillors.

It was pointed out that this area had been subject to flooding for many years and the long-promised Gruggies Burn Flood Alleviation Scheme had not even been started, and yet again this known flood area was hit by flooding from Gruggies Burn.

The immediate concerns were, that despite weather warnings approaching the weekend, there was no apparent contingency for the floods that followed blocking Glasgow Road and Castlegreen Street, nor were any emergency services in attendance and residents were left to cope alone.

This flooding was exacerbated by motorists travelling at inappropriate speed, diverting down side streets to Castlegreen Street and further causing bow waves and risking even more properties, all actions that WDC or police could have managed.

It was put to councillors that the Gruggies scheme had been announced to have started in 2023, yet nothing had happened. The response was that the Scottish Government had withdrawn funding.

In the interim, a meeting of interested parties including residents, councillors and our MSP was arranged on October 31 and again residents pressed for the funding for the Gruggies Burn Flood Alleviation Scheme to be re-applied for.

On February 5, 2024, a letter arrived from WDC to all residents in the flood-affected areas inviting them to a Gruggies Burn Flood Alleviation public information meeting on February 15 at Dumbarton Football Club where WDC officers and their lead contractors were there to discuss and explain the scheme options, in anticipation of funding from the Scottish Government.

If successful, the construction of the culvert diverting Gruggies Burn (details on the WDC website) is proposed to commence 2026 and complete 2028.

Dumbarton East residents await further details of the scheme but urgently require other mitigation actions carried out in the meantime.