GLASGOW has started drawing up plans to help the city cope with the threat of major flooding, which experts say will be as a result of climate change.

Climate Ready Clyde has been set up to ensure the city can cope as world temperatures and sea levels rise, bringing heavier and longer spells of rain to Scotland.

It is claimed sea levels could rise by up to 30ins by the end of this century.

One of the schemes planned to avoid flooding involves creating natural wetland areas that excess water can run into. Other measures to prevent homes being flooded include creating more green areas and expanding woodlands.

The Evening Times has previously revealed details of a city council plan for linking seven lochs in an area of around six square miles. The lochs are Hogganfield, Frankfield, Bishop, Woodend and Lochend in Glasgow, and Johnston and Garnqueen in North Lanarkshire.

The city has also already spent £53million on the White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme, which has given extra protection to more than 1700 homes and businesses in the city's South Side.

The torrential rain of the last few weeks have illustrated how rain is affecting the city, with drivers having faced delays because of flooding on city centre roads.

The M8 slip road was partially blocked at Townhead. The Clydeside Expressway was also partially blocked near Anderston Cross.

City plans for coping with the effects of climate change were outlined at the SECC by Gordon Matheson at the Base conference into sustainability.

The council leader also announced the city would replace thousands of orange streets lights with energy efficient white lights.

Mr Matheson said the first phase would involve 10,000 of the city's 72,000 outdated sodium lamps.

He told hundreds of delegates at the conference that the continuing refurbishment programme would result in the majority of the old lamps being replaced by 2018 - the 200th anniversary of the year municipal street lighting was first introduced in the city.

It costs Glasgow £8.5m a year to power and repair its ageing network of street lights.

The new lamps are expected to use at least 50% less energy than the old ones and, over 20 years, they will cut the council's carbon emissions by more than 52,000 tonnes.

Fluorescent and LED lamps use less energy and provide more controllable white light.

The first 10,000 lamps, which are expected to cost about £9m to install, will be fitted along main roads and will eventually pay for themselves through the savings generated.

Mr Matheson told the conference the replacement programme was a key element of the council's drive to make Glasgow one of Europe's most sustainable cities within the next 20 years.

He said: "The city's commitment to reducing emissions is without question.

"However, we are also facing up to the reality that global climate change is already happening.

"For Glasgow, this is likely to mean increases in rainfall, severe weather incidents and long-term increases in temperature."

Mr Matheson said the council had been working with partner agencies in the area to look at the problems caused by climate change. He added: "We know we need to work together to build resilience and adapt.

"Our response to these challenges is called the Climate Ready Clyde Vision. It will drive action and real change."

Mr Matheson also officially launched a website that brings together a mass of information and statistics about the city.

It contains more than 85 sets of data, including information on electric car charging points, public transport, food hygiene reports and population statistics.

There is also information on health, hospital admissions, the environment, cycling and pedestrians.

The information is open and easily accessible to all.

The website is part of a £24m project, funded by the UK Government, to show how technology can make life in the city safer, smarter and more sustainable.

Future City Glasgow, which involves the council working with a range of other organisations, came in ahead of 29 other cities to secure the cash.

The website covers general, not personal, information.

Other public, private, academic and voluntary organisations are invited to share their information on the same site. It can be found at: open.glasgow.gov.uk

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk