A total of £339,000 has been invested so far in West Dunbartonshire Council’s flood prevention scheme for the year 2024/25.

The local authority is planning to contact residents about steps they can take to protect their properties from severe flooding and weather situations this year.

West Dunbartonshire Council says that in extreme circumstances they will support properties in imminent danger of being flooded with the provision of sandbags or make them available for collection at their Elm Road Depot.

A report presented to the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee (IRED) advised that there has been a limited uptake on property level protection however the scheme is set to be continued throughout 2024/25. 

During the meeting, Councillor Clare Steel said: “I would like some more information on the valuation of the surface water plan.

“Obviously with the summer we have had, which has probably been an early winter with the amount of rain we have had – there have obviously been instances and pretty bad flooding again and I am just wondering what stage we are at with [the surface water plan].

“With the [low] uptake on property protection, that is still an ongoing fund.

“I am just wondering if you are looking at lettering or putting out again to the affected areas of flooding before autumn comes in and going into winter that those affected areas are reminded that funds are there.”

A council officer confirmed that they would engage with residents to make sure they knew their options.

They said: “We are looking at doing communications through social media to compliment that because there will be some people that will be in a hot spot at the moment or an area that hasn’t flooded previously but we are becoming aware of the change in weather and climate change and how that is having an impact on us in the way of surface.

“We will be doing not just a letter drop but also complementing it with a wider engagement strategy.”