Owner Billed GBP70K for Dam Rescue Job Council Refuses to Pick Up Tab for 11-Day Operation

By JONATHAN PAISLEY

THE owner of a reservoir at the centre of a major public safety scare is facing a bill for more than pounds-70,000.

Engineers and the emergency services worked round-the-clock for 11 days to shore up The Maich Trout Fishery, near Lochwinnoch, as it threatened to engulf 20 homes and hundreds of acres of farmland.

The alarm was raised after the 100-year-old reservoir’s banks started to subside following a bout of torrential rain last month.

Seven houses were evacuated as experts battled to contain 20,000 tonnes of water.

The A760 Lochwinnoch to Kilbirnie road was closed as a precaution and drivers and pedestrians were warned to stay away from the area.

Now officials at Renfrewshire Council will demand the costs incurred during the massive salvage operation at the private reservoir, which is situated within the 300acre Ladyland Estate and is owned by Peter Ross.

David Martin, chief executive of the council, said: “To date, the provisional spend costs for the incident response are just in excess of pounds-70,000, mainly made up of plant, materials and labour.

“When the final incident spend is determined, it is our intention to request reimbursement of the emergency response costs from the landowner.”

Crews from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue were based at the site from August 1 to 11, as specialist pumping equipment was used to decrease the water level.

The reservoir is around 50ft at its deepest part and is spread over 2.2acres. At one point the banks of the reservoir had largely been washed away by heavy rain, leaving less than 5ft of earth to hold back the water.

The Maich Dam was formerly owned by West of Scotland Water and lies on the border of Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire, just west of Lochwinnoch.

Mr Martin added:

“Although access to the area and the terrain were both very difficult, large stocks of sandbags and a number of high-volume pumps, from contractors and the fire service, were all brought in.

“Our roads division officers and staff toiled to provide and construct engineering solutions under the most difficult circumstances.”

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

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