The Ayrshire Roads Alliance has trialled a new bitumen material that is stronger and more resistant to the severe and wet weather experienced in East Ayrshire.

Created by Scottish company, MacRebur, the new bitumen has been specially designed to withstand the extremes of weather often experienced within Scotland.

The company has created plastic pellets, made from recycled waste plastic, that are added to asphalt along with bitumen. This gives the asphalt flexibility so that it can expand and contract reducing the chance of cracking and potholes.

500m of road on the C7 Dunlop to Neilston road, has been resurfaced using this new technique. Over the coming weeks, we will take samples from the road surface for UKAS lab testing and our inspectors will monitor the surface for any defects.

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Councillor Jim Roberts, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure said: "Councillor Jim McMahon attended a briefing event at the Scottish Parliament where we were introduced to this really exciting new product. The company was invited by the Council to East Ayrshire to make a presentation to fellow councillors, employees and our bitumen suppliers. East Ayrshire Council councillors also visited Dumfries and Galloway, the first Scottish local authority to trial this material, to view the roads already resurfaced.

"Bitumen really hasn't moved on from the days when tar macadam was developed near to Muirkirk. This product is an interesting development and a technological advance that we wholeheartedly welcome.

"We have trialled the material on 500m of road on the C7 at Dunlop and will monitor it closely before making any decision on whether this product will be used widely across East Ayrshire."

(MH)