HIGH level talks aimed at preventing flooding on the A8 in Inverclyde are continuing.

Officials from Inverclyde Council, Scottish Water and Transport Scotland are holding discussions to come up with a way to resolve the recurring problem on the road.

Bosses at Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government agency responsible for the trunk road, are leading the charge and currently assessing the way that surface water drains on the key route.

Council bosses say they have provided Transport Scotland with locations of known flooding points along both the A8 and A78 network.

The issue was discussed by councillors at the environment and regeneration committee.

Willie Rennie, the council’s head of environment and commercial services, told the meeting: “Transport Scotland are leading on the A8.

“A catchment study into flooding is also being led by Scottish Water and obviously the A8 is higher on the priority list.

“There was a meeting due to take place but due to the weather it has had to be rescheduled.”

A study is being conducted by Scottish Water to examine the flooding hotspots in Inverclyde, including those at the A8 East Hamilton Street, with the council contributing £140,000 towards the study.

Meanwhile, the local authority has established a strategy for the ‘investigation, design and construction’ of various flood prevention schemes within Inverclyde.

Some of the flood prevention works already completed include schemes at Drumfrochar Road, Aberfoyle Road, King’s Glen, Mearns Street, Brougham Street and West Station.

Further work is planned for Crescent Street and the Eastern Line of Falls, while trash screens to reduce flooding have been installed at Lady Alice Pond, Craigknowe Burn, Bouverie Burn, Devol Burn and Crescent Street.

Some of the flood prevention which has taken place outside Greenock includes work at Glasgow Road in Port Glasgow along with a flood management study at Glen Moss in Kilmacolm.

Plans are also in place to carry out work at the Bouverie Burn in Port Glasgow and at Glenmosston Burn in Kilmacolm.

A major flood prevention scheme is also currently under way by Scottish Water to prevent problems at the Oak Mall and surrounding areas.

The first phase of the £2.8m Scottish Water project has started, with the Bullring car park closed until the end of March as a result.