A CHARITY which supports vulnerable people throughout Inverclyde has been forced to temporarily close after floodwater caused thousands of pounds of damage at its base.

The Phoenix Community Health Project HQ in Newton Street, next to Greenock West Railway Station, was ankle deep in dirty water after the deluge on Tuesday morning.

Project co-ordinator Duncan Shaw told the Tele that the damage will cost about £3,500 to repair.

As a result, he has been forced to close for up to 10 days as vital repairs take place, meaning 12 vulnerable clients have had their appointments cancelled.

Duncan said: “It was horrendous — I got in about 7am and there was about 4ft of water outside and about a foot-and-a-half of water inside.

“The burn overflows and the water comes up through a single drain outside.

“We do have a floodgate but it wasn’t strong enough to stop the water getting through.

“About £3,500 worth of damage has been caused and the problem is that because we are located in a floodplain, insurers will not pay out.

“Last year the same thing happened and we had to pay for the damage out of donations, which was hard as we work on a tight budget using funds from the Big Lottery.” Duncan says that the vulnerable people they support have also suffered.

He said: “This year alone we have supported 170 vulnerable people through different emotional issues they have, from trauma to bereavement.

“Sadly because of the damage we’ve had to cancel appointments with 12 clients.

“I’m worried that we’ve lost some of those clients, as it can be difficult to engage with them and get them here in the first place.” Duncan also says he is ‘disappointed’ with what he describes as a lack of help from Inverclyde Council.

He is now calling for a ‘strategic’ meeting to take place to address the problems facing his organisation.

Duncan said: “I’m really disappointed that no-one from the council came out to visit us, especially as they visited other businesses in the area.

“I phoned them up constantly all morning and couldn’t get through.

“When we were flooded last year a senior council engineer came out and reassured us that this would not happen again, but it has.

“I think a meeting should take place to discuss what can be done as there must be a way to manage this.”