GREENOCK families whose homes were swamped in two bouts of severe flooding are unlikely to ever return to the properties, it has been confirmed. 

A total of six families were forced out of their properties on Kilmacolm Road in December 2022, and then again in October last year, following a dramatic deluge during heavy rainfall. 

Landlords Cloch Housing say they have rehomed all six families in alternative association properties. 

The housing provider says the Kilmacolm Road homes have been dried out but there are 'no immediate plans' to move families into them.

Following a series of meetings with Inverclyde Council and Scottish Water, a feasibility study has now been launched to reduce the risk of the homes being flooded again in the future. 

Cloch Housing Association chief executive Alana Durnin added: "All our families affected by the flood event in October 2023 have been rehomed within Cloch houses.

"There are a couple of families who have intimated that they may want to move back, but the decision will be theirs, and only once we know risk of future flooding has been mitigated."

Of the six families affected, Cloch has confirmed that two are now in 'permanent, suitable alternative accommodation'. 

The other four families are in 'interim homes', which Cloch describe as 'not the families' optimal permanent solution'. 

Cloch worked with Oak Tree Housing Association and Larkfield Housing Association to secure 'gold passes' for these four families to put them at the top of the common housing register for six months. 

Two of them require larger homes, which Cloch bosses say they are actively searching for at the moment. 

READ MORE: Residents in Kilmacolm Road flooded out for second time

The housing provider said the Scottish Government has provided grant funding to help with the purchase of these larger homes. 

Since the flood in October, Ms Durnin says there have been 'very productive' meetings between Cloch, Inverclyde Council, Scottish Water, Stuart McMillan MSP, Ronnie Cowan MP and their teams, alongside councillors Colin Jackson, Michael McCormick, and Pam Armstrong. 

Some of the actions now being taken to counter the floods include reducing the water level at Whinhill reservoir, using hydraulic modelling to recreate the flooding event, and installing deeper gullies in the road outside the homes.

Approval is also in place for the demolition of the old nursery building which sits right across from the properties.

Cloch say this could be used for a site for potential flood mitigation solutions. 

Ms Durnin says the housing association hope the six properties affected will be rented by families again at some point in the future. 

She added: "We know the impact the flooding events had on the families and extended families. 

"Our housing and property maintenance teams worked hard to provide support and identify and refurbish alternative accommodation options for our families. 

"Local contractors worked extended hours to ensure no families were in hotels over the festive period. 

"It has been an extremely traumatic experience, particularly with this occurring twice in 10 months, and we do not want to risk putting anyone else through a similar experience. 

"We are grateful for the action being taken by Scottish Water and Inverclyde Council and are hopeful that in the future, the six properties will be available to let again, as they are high quality family homes."