Renfrew flooded after council failed to activate barriers during Storm Boelo
BBCA crucial part of a flood defence system that cost millions of pounds to install in Renfrew was not activated by a council ahead of Storm Boelo, despite an amber weather warning.
Renfrewshire Council said "predicted tide levels and available forecast data" for the storm did not meet the threshold needed to use flood barriers.
Water from the River Clyde burst through on Saturday night and swamped shops and homes in the area, causing serious damage to local businesses.
The North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme cost about £10m to install. When it was launched in 2016, officials declared it would provide protection against any extreme flooding events.
The flood prevention scheme includes both a three-metre high embankment and an underground pumping station.
However, while the pupping station was in use, the council said its data - which included predicted tide levels for the Clyde - did not reach a required threshold for using the barriers.
It said water levels on Saturday then rose far higher than had been predicted.
Locals described being being knee deep in the water as it surged through.
Maureen Gray works in the Ferry Nice Food takeaway on Ferry Road, a business owned by her daughter.
The flooding on Saturday caused the shop's electrical equipment to go out, their fridges to break, and stock to be lost. It will now be shut for days.
She said: "The damage is devastating. It was very sudden, within 15 to 20 minutes we were knee deep in the water. The banks broke and it was gushing in.
"It's absolutely terrible the barriers weren't used. We've never actually seen them used before and all that money was spent on it. No-one knows yet what happened.
"We know this is a flood area, but we expect help from the council."
She added local businesses were now "rallying together" to help each other, but insurance would not cover them due to them being in a flood area.
Gray said some of the businesses had also requested sandbags ahead of the storm hitting but the council had not provided them.
In 2016, the embankment was described as providing a barrier against direct flooding from the Clyde. It runs westward for 0.62 miles (1km) from Ferry Road.
The pumping station was intended to ensure tidal surges on the Clyde did not cause the Mill Burn to overflow and flood local properties. It was in operation over the weekend.
The flood barriers were being tested and raised when BBC Scotland News was in the area earlier on Monday.
Tarun Wadhwa, who runs the Green Gates Indian Restaurant in Renfrew, was checking the restaurant after closure when he saw the water coming in and rising rapidly.
He said: "It was a disaster. I have never seen the water like that before.
"This will be a big loss for me financially."
He hopes to have the restaurant open again by Tuesday or Wednesday.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "The available forecast data and information for the severe weather at the weekend, which included the predicted tide levels for the Clyde, did not meet the currently set threshold for activating the flood barriers in Renfrew.
"Unfortunately, the water levels which affected various locations on the estuary, raised significantly above predicted levels resulting in some local flooding.
"We will review the arrangements in place to ensure these procedures reflect the impacts of a changing climate environment."
Tens of thousands of homes across Scotland remain without power after the storm struck, with wind gusts in some areas of up to 85mph (137km/h).
