TRANSPORT minister Derek Mackay has again snubbed Inverclyde Council’s plea  to speak to them about  flooding.

He previously knocked back an appeal by Inverclyde Council leader, Councillor Stephen  McCabe, to discuss the issue.

Now Mr Mackay, whose Scottish Parliament constituency included part of Inverclyde, has refused an invitation that was authorised by an all-party council committee.

And his latest rebuff comes after he told the Tele that he would be ‘happy’ to meet with the local authority.

Inverclyde’s environment and regeneration committee instructed its convener, Councillor Michael McCormick, to ask the minister to speak to them about the long-running problems affecting the A8 through Greenock and Port Glasgow.

But Councillor McCormick has now received a reply from the minister’s private secretary.

The official said: “Although the majority of the work is  required on the local roads network, the minister has asked Transport Scotland, in the spirit of partnership, to assist Inverclyde Council with any  improvements that can be  carried out on the trunk roads, if funding is available.”

Councillor McCormick said he was disappointed with the reply.

He said: “Given the inconvenience that flooding has caused recently to the residents of Inverclyde, it is disappointing that the transport minister could not find time to come and discuss how we could work collaboratively to address the problem.”

The minister’s rejection of a meeting has surprised councillors because, in a recent interview with the Tele, he seemed to be keen to hold talks.

Mr Mackay, who represented Renfrewshire North and West until the Scottish Parliament was dissolved yesterday, told the Tele: “In terms of the flooding issues of the water courses, I’ve asked officials for the detail on this. 

“I know there’s some surface water coming off other council roads, so I’m happy to work in partnership with the local authority and others, and officials are doing that.

“There has been budget allocation in terms of flooding, so I don’t have a problem in working together to address the flooding and surface water issues that are prevalent in the Inverclyde area.

“I’ll work in partnership with the local authority to address the issues.”

The council maintains more than 150 watercourse grills, 10,000 gullies and numerous other drainage systems, and has carried out a series of upgrades and repairs as well as regular clearing of the drainage system.

Mr McCormick said more needs to be done, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.

He said: “Now is the time to work together to address the issues specific to the main road, which can only happen if everyone involved – Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Transport Scotland and other agencies – sit down and discuss the practicalities.

“Now is the time to resolve the ongoing and all-too-regular problems affecting the main route in and out of Inverclyde.”