Prestwick street is awash with sewage

Jul 23 2010 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

HE takes no satisfaction in saying “I told you so.”

Especially with sewage regularly spewing on to a Prestwick street.

But the powers-that-be don’t seem to be listening to Andrew Fraser.

And all kinds of nastiness is gushing on to Grangemuir Road.

Pressure from Mr Fraser finally led the sewage pipe being unblocked by Scottish Water in October last year.

But he had been complaining since August.

“Now Grangemuir Road is awash with sewage again,” Mr Fraser is telling Scottish Water.

Heavy summer rain has caused more flooding.

And once more sewage is discharging on to the street.

“What is Scottish Water intending to do about it?,” he asks in his latest email to the utility giant.

“I have not received one word from you. Perhaps you think it will just disappear by itself?

“This position is not acceptable in a Third World country,” he blasts.

“Yet you appear to find it acceptable here. I can assure you that the public do not consider that it is acceptable.

“This problem will not go away,” adds Mr Fraser.

“And the excuse that you have no money to carry out remedial works is also unacceptable.

“I have been raising this matter with you for over a year and you will have known about this situation long before that.

“You have had ample time to make repairs – and sewage in the streets is an emergency.

Mr Fraser also thinks Councillor Margaret Toner could be doing more for her constituents.

He tells South Ayrshire Council’s deputy leader: “I have the impression from your lack of follow-up that you do not consider this to be a priority within your constituency.

“If this is the case then I think you would find that your constituents think differently. We cannot have human sewage on our streets.”

Bill McIntosh, leader of South Ayrshire Council said: “Carrying out any work to try and rectify this situation is the responsibility of the water board.

“Whenever there is excessive rain over a short period of time Grangemuir Road in Prestwick is prone to flooding and problems with sewage.

“Councillor Toner is very aware of this situation and has over many years, along with other local councillors, tried to get this matter addressed.”

A Scottish Water spokesman said: “Heavy rainfall and the build-up of silt might have been factors which contributed towards this flooding in the Grangemuir Road area of Prestwick.

“Scottish Water will monitor this part of our network and, when necessary, carry out work to clear any blockages.”