Published: Friday, 5th January, 2007 13:48
Hogmanay Chaos
By Rachel Lamb
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FIRE and rescue services had a busy start to the New Year when violent storms ripped through Helensburgh and the Rosneath Peninsula — leaving a trail of destruction.
Nine flats had to be evacuated when powerful gales tore a chimney stack from the roof of a block of houses at Glenfinlas Street.
Stuart McDonald, watch manager at Helensburgh Fire Station said residents at the properties were lucky to have escaped uninjured.
He added: “The whole chimney stack had broken free and was resting on the roof. People were quite lucky. If that roof had given way it would have gone through three floors.
“A car was crushed when bits of falling masonry landed on the bonnet. Thankfully there were no casualties but it could have been a lot worse, especially if the chimney had collapsed.”
High winds blew 20 square metres of roof off Hermitage Academy and brought a tree crashing down on Stafford Street near Lomond School. Heavy rain caused flooding on a section of East Clyde Street and at the Gully Bridge nursing home.
Stuart said: “The water was two feet up against the side of the building at Gully Bridge. If the tide had been coming in, we would have had to evacuate.”
Lightening storms on New Year’s Eve also caused power cuts on the Peninsula, plunging hundreds of homes into darkness. Some households were without electricity from early afternoon until 1.30am on January 1.
Richard Reeve, organiser of the Cove Burgh Hall Hogmanay Ball said: “It was really quite dramatic. The first bolt of lightening was accompanied by loud, instantaneous thunder. The power went out immediately and there was strong wind and torrential rain.
“All the village to the east was left without power but fortunately the Burgh Hall was not affected. We got through it by the skin of our teeth. I don’t know what we would have done if we’d had to cancel.”
Stormy weather failed to dampen the party spirit as revellers braved the wind and rain to welcome in the New Year.
Richard added: “People had to prepare themselves by candle or torch light but they were obviously determined to make a go of it.
“They arrived wet and weather blown but once the band started playing the party atmosphere quickly took over.”
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