South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth and Annandale South Councillor Sean Marshall have welcomed “game changing” plans by Scottish Water to invest around £3 million to reduce the risk of flooding in Annan.

The local Labour politicians have been campaigning for the investment since flash flooding hit the town in July 2017 and this week met up with Scottish Water at the planned site for the work in Newington Park ahead of a public exhibition on the plans.

The proposals would involve the provision of significant storm water storage tanks in the Park as well as improvements to the local sewer network.

The work in Newington Park is expected to start in early 2020 and be completed by Summer 2021 and aims to reduce the impact of flooding by providing protection to a 1:10 year storm event.

Once the work is completed in the Park, as a bonus new park equipment will also be installed by Scottish Water. The proposals went on display at a drop in event in St Andrew’s Social Club in Annan earlier this week.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said, “These proposals from Scottish Water really are game changing and are exactly what Sean and I have been campaigning for. This is a major investment that will significantly reduce the impact of any flooding in and around Newington Park and is long overdue. Since I was contacted by residents hit by the flash flooding in July 2017 and Sean and I have urged Scottish Water to take action. We are pleased they have responded so positively with these plans.  The scale of the work proposed will inevitably cause some disruption during construction including closing the park and will take more than a year to fully complete but will make a real difference in the long term. In the meantime, we have urged Scottish Water to work with residents to keep them fully up to date as work progresses and provide any temporary support they can such a pumps in gardens, should we see have any flooding before the work is completed”.

Annandale South Councillor Sean Marshall said, “Having met with concerned residents on a number of occasions who are desperate for a long term, permanent solution to the flooding of their properties and in light of the most recent flooding that occurred in this area only weeks ago, I am delighted that after meeting Scottish Water Officials along with Colin Smyth MSP this week, Scottish Water have confirmed they will be investing £3M on a project that will “hopefully prevent any more flooding in this part of Annan”.

Whilst work is due to commence in January 2020 and parts of Newington Park will not be able to be used for over 12 months due to the extent of the project, it will be well worth it as not only will there be a solution to the flooding at the end of the works the project also includes an extra bonus of the the installation of a new playpark and equipment at Newington Park”.