A North Coast councillor has criticised North Ayrshire Council for failing to respond quickly enough to damage caused by Storm Boelo, which brought heavy rainfall and flooding to Largs.
Cllr Ian Murdoch said the storm created a "perfect storm scenario" that overwhelmed parts of the town, affecting businesses and prompting a major clear-up.
Flooding hits key streets
Murdoch said flooding occurred in and around Union Street, Bath Street, Main Street and the Pier head, affecting many businesses. He noted that while the new flood defence had held back many storms, the combination of tide, wind and rain at the weekend proved too much.
"The Main Street has had a history of flooding, however it is over 20 years since it flooded the last time. The new flood defence does work and has held back many storms until now," he said.
Sandbag delivery criticised
Murdoch questioned why sandbags were not brought when council teams installed flood defences on Friday. He said he tried to get sandbags on Sunday morning, but they did not arrive until the afternoon, when they were needed on Saturday night.
"I don't know if North Ayrshire Council thought it would actually flood at that point. We always suspected if the tide, wind and rain aligned it would flood," he added.
He called on residential and commercial premises to consider installing floodgates, suggesting timber slide gates at doorways could help hold back water. He also asked the council to provide a local supply of sandbags, as has been done in Millport.
A78 road remains partially closed
Murdoch praised volunteers and Network Rail for helping with the clear-up, including bailing out a flooded Thai restaurant and distributing sandbags. He also urged the full reopening of the A78 trunk road from Largs to Inverclyde, which was closed after the storm and is only partially accessible to residents and carers.
"The road is in dire need of an upgrade," he said, noting that one section was undermined and other areas may have weak sub-structures. The A78 between Largs and Skelmorlie was also closed in both directions following damage to the carriageway and sea wall.
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: "In advance of the storm, council teams followed established resilience procedures and worked closely with emergency service and partner agencies to prepare for the severe weather."
The spokesperson added that almost 300 sandbags have been distributed in Largs and Saltcoats, and that the council will review reports of flooding with partner agencies and consider any lessons that can be learned.
