Published: Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 11:46am

Call for action to stop play park flooding

by Hamish Hutchinson

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TILLICOULTRY Community Council are calling for urgent action to be taken by Scottish water to prevent further flooding at play park across from Devonvale Hall on the town's Moss Road.

Work was carried out in the area last year to stop it flooding, however following that work the play park has been left surrounded in water and rubble has been left on the site.

The community council has received a number of complaints from residents who are angry that it has been out of commission for over a year and are concerned for children's safety.

Ian Millar, from the community council, told the Advertiser, "We held an on site meeting with a rep from Scottish Water along with a rep from the council last year.

"The council were very supportive and we don't blame them for the reinstatement work not being carried out.

"The council asked them to get the work carried out last year however Scottish Water contractor has failed to do so.

"We feel this has gone on long enough and have also contacted the Health and Safety Executive for Scottish Water failing to keep the site safe.

"Following the work to put new pipes in the football pitch, the play park has been left in a complete mess with rubble and other rubbish left lying.

"Also when it rains there is a big pool of water, which can be up to 24 inches deep if there is heavy rain, beside the play park which is surely a safety concern, especially for young children as the kids play in that area.

"The play park has been out of commission for over a year now and if the reinstatement work doesn't start soon it could be next year before the kids can use it again, which isn't fair on them.

"We are all just fed up with nothing happening as work should have started by now."

Councillor Bobby McGill who was at the site visit with representatives of the community council and Scottish Water, said, "The council had a commitment from Scottish Water to remedy the site and put it in a better state than it currently is.

"I visited the site and got agreement that Scottish Water would fix a number of issues over a period of time.

"I think the problem has been the severe weather which has held things up but I would be angry if things haven't started moving on now that the weather is better and it is certainly something I will chase up."

A Scottish Water spokesperson said, "We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of vital work carried out within a grassed area next to the play park on Moss Road.

"We have attempted to complete the reinstatement work on a number of previous occasions, however, due to continuous poor weather conditions since October this has not yet been possible.

"It is vitally important that we allow the ground to dry out adequately before attempting to carry out the reinstatement of the area as the use of heavy plant and machinery while saturated would result in destroying the ground."