Amey is to begin a £17 million waste water infrastructure project in Renfrewshire.

The contractor will start building a one-mile long sewer tunnel under the streets of Paisley on Monday, 10 October.

In addition, the firm will install Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in the town centre.

The two-year scheme aims to reduce the frequency of spills from the sewer network into the Espedair Burn and White Cart Water in storm conditions, as well as improving the river quality in the River Clyde.

Works involve building a large diameter interceptor sewer beginning at Bridge Street car park and going across the Watermill Hotel car park and Lonend, before travelling along Saucel Street, beneath Saucelhill Park and the railway line near Canal Street Station, Espedair Street, Rowan Street and Kilncroft Lane/Neilston Road.

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The sewer tunnel will be installed using the 'closed face' method, with pipe-jacking used to install the pipes behind a Microtunnel Boring Machine (MTBM). A total of 15 shafts will be installed along the sewer route, with the MTBM tunnelling between them.

A large powered screen CSO will be installed on the opposite side of the White Cart Water from Paisley Abbey, while another CSO will be developed at Causeyside Street/Forbes Place, opposite Dunn Square.

The development is part of Scottish Water's £250 million investment in the Greater Glasgow area's waste water network.

Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water's regional communities team manager, said: "This important project will significantly improve the environment on the White Cart and the Espedair Burn and, in turn, the River Clyde.

"Scottish Water has liaised with all relevant organisations and stakeholders, including Renfrewshire Council."

(LM/MH)