Flooding issues will be ‘top priority’ for Inverclyde MSP

In his first week in office, Stuart McMillan has put the wheels in motion on a bid to finally end problems with the trunk road, which is regularly closed during heavy rain.

The newly-elected SNP MSP has contacted top officials at Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland, which is responsible for the A8, requesting urgent talks in a bid to resolve persistent flooding.

Mr McMillan is seeking a ‘long-term’ solution and has put the A8 at the top his in-tray following feedback from residents during the election.

He told the Tele: “I’m taking forward issues raised during the campaign and issues that are important to the Greenock & Inverclyde constituency.

“A couple of things have been raised and there’s a couple of things I’ve said I want to do.

“The first thing is Transport Scotland and the A8, and the problems we’ve had for about 70 or 80 years along the A8 corridor.

“This is something I will be in contact with Transport Scotland about.”

On his first day in the job on Monday, the former regional list MSP wrote to Transport Scotland chief executive Roy Brannen.

He said: “As the new MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, I want to ensure that all options are being explored in order to mitigate the effect of flooding on the A8.

“I have now written to the chief executive of Transport Scotland to request a meeting in order to consider a strategic long-term approach to ease the recurrent flooding problem.

“I have already written to Inverclyde Council, Transport Scotland and Scottish Water to see what procedures they are taking to confront the problem of persistent flooding in Inverclyde, and to ask what progress is being made by the council in implementing the Flood Action Plan.

“The annual flooding that affects Inverclyde has a hugely detrimental effect upon the area.

“One single project may not solve the annual flooding but multiple actions, some of which may already be deployed, could well improve the outcome.”