Scottish Water is about to start a £280,000 flood alleviation scheme in Inverkip.
The project, which is due to start on March 30 and is expected to be completed in June, is designed to address flooding incidents experienced at properties in the area and the external flooding of Main Street, which has led to the internal flooding.
The investment will remove four properties in the Main Street area from Scottish Water's list of properties at risk of flooding.
The project, which will increase the capacity of the local waste water network, is part of Scottish Water's ongoing commitment to improving our service to customers and our long-term programme of improving the waste water network.
Mr Paul Maxwell, Scottish Water's regional manager, said: "Scottish Water is very pleased to be starting this important project in Inverkip.
"We take our responsibilities to deal with flooding issues very seriously and fully understand the disruption and inconvenience that any flooding can cause.
"Funding to resolve flooding in our current investment period, 2006-10, is allocated strictly on the basis of addressing internal flooding but in Inverkip we will address the external flooding issues because they are the cause of the internal flooding.
"Main Street is at the heart of the Inverkip community so we are committed to tackling this issue and sure that Scottish Water's investment will be welcomed by all customers in the area.
"Scottish Water is committed to providing a first-class service to our customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week and to ensuring that issues such as this sort of flooding are tackled so that people can enjoy a cleaner, fresher environment."
The project will be carried out for Scottish Water Solutions by contractors Carillion.
Project manager Mr Peter Faulks said: "We will upgrade and increase the capacity of the existing sewer from 450mm to 650mm and replace existing manholes.
"We will use the traditional open trench method of excavation and this will involve excavating the full length of the sewer from the surface to the full depth required on Main Street from the junction of Station Road to Cameron Place and on a private road nearby.
"We have consulted with Inverclyde Council's roads department and it has been agreed that temporary traffic lights will be required for this work to help minimise traffic congestion and improve overall safety. The work will stop short of the A78 road.
"There will be some traffic disruption and short-term impact on vehicular access to properties but we will make every effort to minimise the impact of this. The use of toilets, sinks and other water-using appliances will not be affected by our work.
"We appreciate our customers' understanding and co-operation while this import work is carried out and we are confident that they will appreciate that any short-term inconvenience will be far out-weighed by the long-term benefits of this investment."
The project will include 120m of 450ml diameter pipeline and 50m of 750 ml diameter pipeline.
Mrs Dawn McDermott, Scottish Water's regional community manager, has liaised with Inverkip and Wemyss Bay Community Council about the project and will continue to do so.
MSP DUNCAN NcNEIL WELCOMES SCOTTISH WATER INVESTMENT
Mr Duncan McNeil, the MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, said: "It is great news for the people of Inverkip and those residents who will directly benefit from this investment.
"I am very pleased that Scottish Water has responded to the requests and lobbying and have found this amount of money to allow the work to go ahead."
If customers have any questions about Scottish Water or this project they can contact our Customer Service Centre on 0845 6018855.
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For further information please contact the Scottish Water Press Office on 01383 848236 or Keith Sinclair, senior press officer, on 0141 355 5225.
Notes to editors: Scottish Water Solutions is an innovative joint venture of utility companies and contractors which was set up by Scottish Water in 2003 to manage and deliver the majority of it Capital Investment Programmes. Comprised of 8 companies, it is one of the biggest partnerships of its kind and brings a commercial approach to delivering publicly funded projects in the water sector ensuring value for money for Scottish Water's 5m customers. Scottish Water owns 51% of the shares and retains overall responsibility for delivery of its Capital Investment Programmes.
