A MAJOR summit has been called in a bid to try and get to the root of Inverclyde’s serious flooding problems.

Flooding specialists and businesses affected by repeated road closures, train cancellations and damage to property will make presentations on Friday at the event in the RBS mortgage centre at Cartsburn.

It has been arranged by Greenock & Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil, who said the aim was to try and get a better understanding of the issues and more effective co-ordination to try and prevent flooding.

The organisations taking part are the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water, Inverclyde Council, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, local employers RBS, EE and Cigna, plus Greenock Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.

There will be presentations and a question and answer session.

Mr McNeil said: “The summit is being held right at the heart of one of the main areas affected by flooding, where the main road into and out of Greenock becomes blocked.

“Thousands of workers at RBS, EE and Cigna are caught up in the road chaos and train cancellations every time there is flooding in that area and, of course, many other smaller businesses and individuals are also affected in this part of Greenock and elsewhere in Inverclyde.

“I hope this summit will help to achieve more effective co-ordination among all the bodies involved.

“Different organisations have their own responsibilities and competing priorities, so it’s important to bring them together in one room so that they can all recognise the impact that flooding has on Inverclyde and the investment that has been put in to try to tackle it.

“We have to understand the challenges of climate change, as well as being a coastal community with the river on one side and hills on the other.

“Progress has been made, but we need longer term, sustainable solutions, and that’s why I wanted to bring experts together with those affected.

“We need to enhance our knowledge and make the best possible argument for support from potential funders so that we can make a significant improvement to this recurring problem.”