Village's controversial flood field to be returned to council control

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Fed-up residents who say that the development of the village recreation ground had led to flooding of their properties have been handed an unexpected boost.Dundonald Community Sports, Recreation and Heritage Association had denied its work had caused flooding and gave assurances that the problem would end when the drainage was connected.But just a couple of weeks on, it has been announced that South Ayrshire Council would be taking over responsibility for the village site.In a statement from the council’s depute chief executive Mike Newall read out at Dundonald Community Council last Thursday night, it was stated that the land was being returned to the council ‘by mutual agreement’.Margaret Sloan, secretary of the community council, said: “He confirmed by mutual agreement the council will take back the responsibility for the maintenance and management of the green open space around the castle, including drainage.”Mr Newall wrote that the council would write to the association, who are the leaseholders, to terminate the lease at the ‘earliest available opportunity’.He stated that he had visited the site last month, where he was told that the drainage had not been connected.However, he said that residents had questioned this assertion and provided photographs that indicated the drainage was in fact complete.Resident, Bill Fleming said: “I would like to congratulate Mike Newall for taking up the baton on this.“It is over two years since this whole situation got started.

I would also congratulate Julie Dettbarn for getting involved from day one. I think the fact that she was up to her knees in her wellies proved she was up for the fight.”Community councillor Scott Allan said that there were still a lot of questions to be