TACKLING the increased risk of flooding in Dumbarton and the Vale presents a “massive challenge”, councillors have been warned.

Members of West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) have heard details of a new strategy to tackle climate change and prevent flood damage to “at risk” properties across West Dunbartonshire.

The local authority has created a “better homes group” to look beyond local targets and reach net zero carbon emissions on time.

As revealed in the Reporter recently, Climate Central, a group of scientists and environmental journalists, has predicted that changing global temperatures could leave large parts of Dumbarton submerged due to the rising level of the River Leven unless action is taken to slow, and eventually to stop, climate change.

Dumbarton SNP councillor Karen Conaghan asked a meeting of WDC’s housing and communities committee last week, what had been done to prevent flooding damaging properties throughout the local area.

She asked the meeting: “How much work have we actually done on making sure we know what properties we actually have that are at risk?

“The main thing that affects us is excess rainfall and flooding.

“Do we know how many properties we have that may be affected and may need to adapt or in the worst-case scenario move out of?

"Will we need to relocate people?

“We do have a lot of new buildings but there is still an older stock that we need to look to.

“What are we doing to counteract the effects of climate change?”

Ms Conaghan was told work to protect housing from the elements could not be done on a short-term basis and that the council needed to find a way to protect and “future proof” buildings for decades ahead.

Peter Barry, WDC’s head of housing and employability, said: “We have formed our better homes group which is managing the asset bringing together different parts of the council to make sure we are looking beyond different parts of the local targets and expectations.

“We are looking at what we need to do to reach zero carbon emissions and prevent flood damage if that’s a risk.

“We are in a process of forming a plan for that, and we will come back to committee with updates on progress.

“The work has just begun so there is no clear answer, but this will be a massive challenge for us as a council and as a landlord.

“We must make sure we plan for the appropriate responses. We will keep the conversation going.”