Irvine Bay Improvement Scheme
A Cleaner Environment for North and East Ayrshire
Q. Why does Scottish Water need to do this work?
A. Scottish Water’s working to improve the environment for those living in North and East Ayrshire. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has identified water quality and aesthetic failings in inland and coastal waterways within the River Irvine, Kilmarnock Water and Irvine Coastal Water.
Q. What are the benefits for Kilmarnock, Irvine and the surrounding region?
A. This is a significant project for everyone living in the North and East Ayrshire area. We are improving the quality of the local River Irvine and Kilmarnock Water and the Coastal Waters, creating an instant and long term benefit to the River and Coastal water quality and environments.
Q. Will this work affect my current water and waste water services?
A. No, we plan to carry out the work in a structured way which will allow you to continue to use your current services, i.e. taps, toilets etc. with no interruption to these services. Therefore we do not envisage any interruption to your water or waste water supply.
Q. What is the cost of this project?
A. This is a multi-million pound investment in the area designed to protect the natural environment in North and East Ayrshire region. We anticipate much of this spend will be to deliver improvements to the Irvine, Kilmarnock and surrounding area.
Investigation work is currently underway to identify the requirements for each project and more information will be available on-line or through the local media until the projects are completed.
Q. Will this mean road works?
A. Scottish Water is required to upgrade its assets and some of our pipelines follow existing road routes therefore there will be a requirement for some road excavations and road works. We will liaise closely with the local authorities, road departments and other utilities to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
We will also endeavour to keep you, the community, informed of all works in advance of them happening where possible.
Q. When do you hope to start and finish this work?
A. As we are only at the planning stage, we will not start work until early 2009. However, there will be some site investigation works taking place prior to this date.
Due to the nature of the works and the geographical scale of the delivery, work is likely to be ongoing at various times throughout the area for some time. We will finalise the planning stage in late 2008 and definitive timescales will be available then.
Q. How will you be communicating with the communities affected?
A. As part of the consultation process we will be meeting with relevant MSPs, Councillors and officials, Community Councils and other representative bodies. We will also be liaising closely with local media to ensure the local communities are kept up to date with the project and where appropriate open days will be held.
Q. How many options are you considering before deciding on exact delivery routes etc?
A. We have engaged a number of design and consultation companies to work with our own internal specialists to assist us in making the right choice for our final plans. Our partners in this project will also advise on environment and land issues during the planning stage.
Q. Once you complete this work, what benefits am I likely to see?
A. This project is one of a number of such schemes across the country as Scottish Water rolls out its vision for 2010 of an improved environment for communities. One of the main drivers for this project is to improve the water quality of watercourses around Ayrshire and to stop sewerage debris, commonly referred to by Scottish Water as ‘rags’ from turning up on your beaches and in your rivers.
This significant project delivers tangible benefits to the local environment. It is hoped this will have a positive affect on the community as a whole and allow families to enjoy Irvine Bay and the riverbank paths.
Once complete a major environmental improvement will have been achieved and will offer cleaner bathing waters and hopefully encourage tourism.
Q. Does this mean our beach and watercourses will be completely clean following this work?
A. Our work will significantly reduce debris found in the sewerage system in your area. Scottish Water can only address their network improvements and have no responsibility or liability for local businesses or fly-tippers who may have an impact on the watercourses.
Also, as Irvine Bay resides on tidal waters, we cannot control any debris washed ashore.
The work will vastly improve the area and make a cleaner environment for everyone, as customers, your needs are uppermost in our minds in delivering these projects.
Q. How much disruption will there be when this work is taking place?
A. Until the exact nature of the work required is known, it is very difficult to say. In all projects we undertake, we do our utmost to ensure any impact and disruption is kept to a minimum for our customers.
Whatever option is selected we will carry out a proper assessment of inconvenience, noise, dust and additional traffic etc. before any works start. We will liaise closely with the communities and Licence Providers for each of the businesses surrounding the project.
Q. Where can I get more information or find out more about this project?
A Phone us: Customer Helpline 0845 601 8855 quoting Ayrshires Water Improvements
Write to us:
Ayrshires Water Improvements
Scottish Water
Alba Business Centre
Kirkton Campus
Livingston EH54 7HH IT
e-mail us: ayrshireswater@scottishwater.co.uk
