Let’s get this Prestwick sewage shambles sorted

Jan 14 2011 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

MSP John Scott has urged Scottish Water to stop the buck-passing over sewage in a local street.

And he wants the utility giant to face the public in Prestwick.

The town’s Grangemuir Road has long suffered from sewage spills following heavy rain and Mr Scott insists Scottish Water should fix a date for a public meeting.

He said: “We need to hear potential options to stop this flooding and residents should have their say.”

The Tory MSP for Ayr has previously raised the issue with both Scottish Water and the Scottish Government.

He added: “The Scottish government says it’s a problem for Scottish Water to resolve and Scottish Water claim it is not funded to deal with external flooding.”

But Mr Scott insisted: “Local people aren’t interested in seeing the buck passed – all they want is for the problem to be fixed.”

The MSP says Scottish Water chief executive Richard Ackroyd has told him it will cost £6million to fix the problems at Grangemuir Road. He said: “In correspondence, he has confirmed that there is a hydraulic incapacity problem in the area.”

But the MSP believes something should be done in the meantime, until major investment is secured, if required.

Prestwick resident Andrew Fraser has been sending emails and letters to Scottish Water for 18 months.

The retired chartered surveyor is disgusted that nothing is being done about raw sewage pouring into the street.

And he believes there is a lower cost solution as the main Ayr/Prestwick/Irvine sewer is just 200 yards away, under Prestwick prom.

However, there is no sign of Grangemuir Road on Scottish Water’s repair programme for the next five years.

Mr Fraser told The Post: “It appears that Scottish Water is perfectly happy to see sewage running down Grangemuir Road for the next 10 years at least, possibly forever.”

He added: “I am now handing over my complete correspondence with Scottish Water to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.”