Finnieston businesses count the cost after flash flooding causes major damage

Business owners in Glasgow’s West End say they have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after flash flooding hit the area.

Five days’ worth of rain fell within just a couple of hours on Tuesday, flooding businesses and homes in Finnieston.

Owners say it’s a repeated problem and want more to be done to stop it from happening again.

The popular Kelvingrove Cafe on Argyle Street was one of the worst-affected by this week’s flooding.

Owner Kirstie Oattes told STV News: “I’ve never ever known the flood to affect every single room. It was the worst by far.

“On Tuesday, it was in the cellar, it was in the kitchen, it was in every room downstairs, completely submerged.

“And you can really smell it. How can I charge people £15 for a breakfast and a cocktail while they’re sitting in….you know?

“In my nine years at these premises, this has happened over ten times. Conservatively, we’re out of pocket about £20,000. It’s completely unsustainable and I also think unforgivable.”

It’s estimated that around 10 to 15mm of rain – around five days’ worth – fell within just a few hours on Tuesday, paralysing Glasgow’s transport network.

But it was nothing new for people living and working in the city’s West End. They say flash flooding has been an ongoing issue for years.

One local resident said: “It certainly wasn’t pleasant. When I went downstairs, it was literally splunging with sewer water. I just felt dreadful, I felt a bit embarassed actually. It’s certainly not the first time and I doubt it’ll be the last.

Scottish Water says it has referred “localised sewer flooding reports” to its “flooding investigation team for review.”

Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council says it’s only responsible for streetside gullies and roadside water drainage – not overflowing sewers.

Kirstie said: “It’s completely demoralising to know that you’re not protected by two public bodies that we’re paying for.

“We’re holding up our side of the bargain, why aren’t they holding up theirs?”

In the meantime, Kirstie and her team are already steeling themselves, as more wet weather is forecast this weekend.