Water problems in Barrhill

Feb 12 2010 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A FLOOD of complaints from an Ayrshire village has prompted MSP Cathy Jamieson to give Scottish Water a rocket.

And she says the giant utility company must meet villagers in Barrhill, after more burst pipes.

Ms Jamieson said: “I can understand why local people are so angry about this.

“There have been problems with water pressure in Barrhill over a period of time.

“Then a series of burst pipes left residents without water supplies once again, and they are just fed up with it.”

Barrhill resident Tog Porter said Scottish Water’s response has so far been ‘abysmal’.

Mr Porter said: “My family has been without water on three occasions already this year, due to burst mains.

“Twice we had no water for a week, and we had to wait for three days to get bottled water from Scottish Water, even though we had a house full of sick people.

“Another house had two people over the age of 90 without water for a week and another had a baby.”

Cathy Jamieson insisted: “Scottish Water now needs to do more than just patch things up.

“It’s time for the system to be completely overhauled so that Barrhill can have the same level of service that people elsewhere enjoy – after all, they are paying the same amount of water rates."

Ms Jamieson has now arranged for her next surgery in Barrhill to focus on the problem, and is inviting local residents to come along and meet Scottish Water.

The surgery will take place on Wednesday, February 17, at 10am in the Memorial Hall.

The MSP said: “Constituents who are unable to be at the surgery can email, or write to me with details of how the water problems have affected them, and I will pass on their concerns."