CAMPAIGNERS and residents are calling for action on the rural road network in Helensburgh and Lomond as the impact of intense rainfall causes more frequent disruption.

Garelochhead Community Council (GCC) have written to the Argyll and Bute Council, the Ministry of Defence and local land owner Luss Estates over the drainage in parts of the local road network.

They said water can be left standing in some places for days before it dissipates due to the poor system.

GCC says it's particularly concerned about stretches of the A814 - near Faslane Peace Camp and the south gate of HM Naval Base Clyde, past the north gate of the base, and from Whistlefield to Arrochar - as well as on the B833 on the Rosneath peninsula before reaching Clynder.

The community council said other parts of the world would "laugh" at Scotland's inability to deal with rain and proposed a meeting for February with Argyll and Bute Council, the MoD and Luss Estates.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: "HM Naval Base Clyde will continue to engage with local agencies on the drainage issue. A suitable representative will attend the next planned community council meeting."

Argyll and Bute Council were asked for comment. Luss Estates did not respond.

A GCC spokesperson said: "One can only assume we can all agree that the intensity of rainfall events in the local area is increasing. Warmer air holds more moisture.

"The road drainage in areas of our local road network needs to be adapted with higher capacity culverts and road drains.

"The autumn rainfall events are surely testament to that.

"I'm sure you have all experienced encountering unseen surface water at night, driving at speed with oncoming traffic and with no way to avoid it.

"There is water ingress damage to cars occurring regularly, and there are delays, but more importantly it is creating very dangerous, high risk driving conditions.

"There are constant utility upgrades on our roads, and constant resurfacing. But with every single rainfall event, there arelarge amounts of standing water that in some places takes days to dissipate."

Roads across the region were turned to rivers with heavy rain in October, raising new focus on the impact of climate change and the ability of infrastructure to cope.

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The GCC spokesperson added: "Can the council, MoD and other key stakeholders meet with the community council to get these roads safe and fit for purpose during what are relatively small rain events?

"Cities in the tropics would laugh at our inability to deal with 50-100mm of rain without flooding.

"Can we utilise the significant engineering and manpower capability of the MOD to at least sort the incessant flooding on the roads adjacent to the base?

"Can major utility works on road stipulate an upgrade to a 24 or 48 inch culvert that can deal with a lot of water and doesn't block up with a few leaves as part of their statutory obligations?

"Can we pool resources and capabilities and start to get this sorted, or at least make an effort?

"The roads in our area should be the best-drained in the country, if you consider the capabilities in the local area.

"New road resurfacing is getting damaged by constant water flows, huge amount of council funds/resources are allocated to rodding drains, they are normally blocked again a week later."