23/09/2010 – Local shopkeepers had been hit with repair bills totalling thousands of pounds after flash floods brought Inverclyde to a standstill.

In Greenock’s West Station, traders spent the evening trying to protect their properties and keep the waters out as torrential rain battered the area.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Operations Control received 117 calls between 5.45pm and 11pm on September 22, 2010, with a number of road closures across the area which police had to cordon off.

Devastated Gordon MacLeod, who owned a carpet store in Inverkip Street, admitted he was looking at relocating after losing £3,500 of stock in one night alone.

Some local businesses hit out at Inverclyde Council for failing to put measures in place to help prevent any future wash-outs.

(Image: Newsquest)

Gordon said: “I can’t take any more. I will have to move. This has happened twice a year for the last four years.

“I am disgusted that there are no sandbags locally. I have lost £3,500.”

Next door, the hairdresser’s salon was facing a similar heartbreak situation.

Owner Ninian Smith was alerted to the flooding by his cleaner and was quickly on the scene as chaos erupted around 6pm.

It looked likely his new £2,500 floor could be permanently damaged.

Fed up Ninian said: “This year the flooding is actually earlier than usual.”

Commuters were met with chaos in Greenock as Nelson Street remained closed after a Scottish Water manhole burst, causing damage to around 30 square metres of road surface.

Other roads which were flooded in Greenock included Holmscroft Street, Inverkip Road, Hilltop Road, Brougham Street and Cumberland Road.

Year after year, Inverclyde had been deluged by flooding — despite ongoing reassurances that the problem will be fixed.

The previous November, the area virtually ground to a standstill after it was battered by an incessant all day downpour.