Glasgow’s gullies to be cleaned more regularly to stop flooding

There have been a number of reports over the last year of Glasgow residents facing flooded roads across the city, with people blaming blocked drains.

Now following a review, the council has agreed that every gully susceptible to flooding will be cleaned three times annually. Gullies on arterial and city centre routes needing attention will be cleaned once a year while those in neighbourhood areas will be cleared once every two years. The gullies will be inspected in communities before gully cleaning vehicles enter the area.

Meanwhile locations covered in fallen leaves will be swept weekly during autumn.

The changes are included in a road investment strategy report, which is being presented to council Area Partnership meetings.

During a presentation of the report, head of roads Andy Mollon told the Baillieston Area Partnership on Tuesday: “The team have undertaken a review of our gully cleaning process. It is now being recommended we follow a risk based approach to undertaking gully cleaning.”

He added: “Any gullies that are clear with no debris within them, which are working correctly, will not be attended to. That way we can get round much quicker and deal with the gullies we need to deal with.”

The new risk-based drainage strategy kicked off last year.

The city has 74,000 gullies, 2,500km of road drains, manholes, pumps, kerb drains and a variety of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).

The road investment report also said £25.1 million would be poured into maintaining carriageways in the city over the next three years and revealed 88 kilometres of main roads are in poor condition.

The paper said Glasgow is one of the best performing road authorities in the country with 70 per cent of roads in acceptable condition compared to a Scottish average of 64 per cent.

Over the next three years £16 million will be invested in active travel incorporating footpath improvements Mr Mollon told the Baillieston Area Partnership.

The council paper said 81 per cent of footways are in either a good or fair condition while just under three per cent covering 92 kilometres have major or structural deterioration.

The council has replaced 24,000 street lights with LED lanterns so far, which reduces electricity use.

Mr Mollon said over the next three years £7.5 million is to be spent on improving street lighting across the city.