Local Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Annandale South Councillor Sean Marshall have welcomed the progress made by Scottish Water in tackling flooding problems that occurred on Rose Street, Charles Street, Greenlea Road and within Newington Park in Annan last July.

Scottish Water have confirmed that site investigations for planned flood mitigation measures will begin in the town in early September.

This work will involve digging a number of trial trenches and boreholes in and around the Newington Park area of Annan over the coming months.

For the first three weeks, Rose Street will be closed from just before the junction of Drummond Road to the junction with Newington Avenue and Charles Street. Newington Avenue will also be closed at this junction, and Charles Street will be closed from the junction with Rose Street for approx. 50 metres.

Scottish Water will be sending full details of the work to all customers in the area informing them of the work and will also be out knocking doors in the Rose Street area on Monday 3^rd of September to speak to residents directly.

Last July flash flooding occurred after heavy rainfall hit the region. At the time Colin Smyth MSP and Councillor Sean Marshall met with residents and called for action from both Scottish Water and Dumfries and Galloway Council. As a result Scottish Water have agreed to invest in storm storage and upgrades to the sewer network in the Annan. Scottish Water have confirmed that they will fund a proposed solution which will consist of:

·      the construction of a large underground storage tank in the south western part of Newington Park

·      upsizing sewers within the park to transfer storm flows to the tank

·      upsizing sewers and related structures on Rose Street/Charles Street to transfer storm flows to the tank

·      some sewer upsizing on Greenlea Road to transfer storm flows away from the area.

Colin Smyth MSP said, “I am pleased to see that progress is being made in delivering the measures we called for to hopefully prevent future flooding. Last year local residents had to battle to ensure that no water entered their homes and this work is vital to ensure we do not get a repeat of the problems. Scottish Water will be starting work next month and Sean and I will continue to press them to ensure a comprehensive solution is put in place as soon as possible. Until work has been carried out local residents will understandably feel anxious that they could be hit with flooding again.”

Annandale South Councillor Sean Marshall said, “This is a welcome step forward by Scottish Water in delivering the flood mitigation measures we have campaigned for. The work will inevitably lead to some disruption but in the long term delivering a solution to the flooding is vital. When completed the measures should ensure that residents in this area of Annan do not experience again the shocking flooding they endured last year”.