Work has started at Jamphlars Pond in Fife.

The £750,000 project will see silt removed and ditches cleared.

The Jamphlars Pond water treatment project is a one-off operation to demonstrate to private landowners the importance of undertaking regular maintenance of ditches on their land to prevent future flooding issues, the local authority has said.

Clearance and removal work has already commenced up stream in the Woodend Park area and includes the burn next to the local play park. Once this is completed, this will allow the construction of a water treatment plant, as well as silt removal and ditch clearance of the Kirk Burn to go ahead.

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Councillor Lesley Laird, Depute Council Leader, commented: "I'm sure seeing work begin on site will be a very welcome start to the new year for residents who've experienced a long period of distress.

"The council isn't legally responsible for carrying out these specific cleaning works. But we know the issue of flooding concerned people who live near the pond, so we've incorporated ditch clearance and sediment removal into the water treatment project works and this part of the project is already being progressed.

"The project management team have arranged for contractors to start upstream and work their way downstream in accordance with project plan requirements.

"Following installation of the water treatment pipeline, officers will continue to work with landowners to demonstrate to them the of the importance of maintaining ditches so that communities are not put at risk."

(JP/MH)