Lack of action over sewage leak stinks

Oct 9 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

SEWAGE in the streets is okay by us.

That’s what the powers-that-be seem to be telling Andrew Fraser.

And the Prestwick man is becoming more and more exasperated.

“I’m beginning to think I’m living in a Third World country,” said retired chartered surveyor Mr Fraser.

“This is a massive risk to heath – with raw sewage pouring out on to a main route for schoolkids, shoppers, dog walkers and motorists.”

Mr Fraser has waged a six-week campaign to try and get something done, after seeing all kinds of nastiness spewing from a manhole cover in Grangemuir Road.

And although he was finally told the sewage pipe will be cleaned this week, he fears the problem will return.

“Yes, cleaning silt and any blockage in the pipe will be a good thing,” said Mr Fraser.

“But if this sewage pipe is also a storm drain, then we’ve got an onging problem.

“And an additional pipe should be inserted as a matter of urgency.”

It was back in August when Mr Fraser first noticed raw sewage under the railway bridge in Grangemuir Road.

He phoned Scottish Water, and although workmen came and identified a problem on a Friday, nothing was done.

“There was more heavy rain on the Sunday, and once again the street was covered in raw sewage,” said Mr Fraser.

“I phoned Scottish Water to ask for a street clean-up, and they said they didn’t have anyone available,” he added.

Undeterred, Mr Fraser went on to phone the police and South Ayrshire Council.

And he has kept on emailing the authorities to try and get something done.

A Scottish Water official actually asked Mr Fraser to stop sending him emails.

But the determined Prestwick man won a battle – if not the war – when the same official emailed back this week.

The official, Ejaz Rasool, emailed Mr Fraser this statement on Monday: “I have just been told that contractors will go out either tomorrow or on Wednesday, and will clean the sewage pipes in the area.

“Hopefully this will help to clean any blockage/silt from these pipes, and the flooding problem will be rectified.”

Mr Fraser is pleased about that, but believes cleaning the pipes won’t be a solution if the drains simply can’t cope with heavy rain.