A major gas main and other utilities have been diverted to allow the second phase of the ongoing New Cumnock flood protection scheme.

The 18-month project, which started in April, will protect residential and commercial properties near the Afton Water and River Nith through a combination of engineering measures including 900m of earth embankments, 1200m of reinforced concrete walls and 600m of riverbank strengthening.

Phase two, due to the extensive and complex nature of the work, has been split into six work areas. Work area one is upstream of the A76 Afton Bridge and steel fixing and shuttering is currently being installed for the bases of the new walls behind the houses at Mason Avenue. It is anticipated that the earthwork embankments will start shortly.

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Councillor Jim McMahon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Roads and Transport and Community Cohesion was joined onsite by local elected members, Councillors Billy Crawford, Jacqui Todd and Walter Young to view progress. He said: "Work is now well underway on phase two of New Cumnock's £8.2m flood protection scheme and I was very pleased to be joined at the site of the works by my fellow local elected members for Ward 8, Cumnock and New Cumnock.

"The flood protection scheme, due to its extensive nature and cost, has been a long time in the planning. Together we have worked on behalf of our communities with the dedicated team from the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, ensuring that the scheme meets the needs of New Cumnock. No one would ever want to see a repeat of the devastating floods of 2015 or the heartbreak it brought to so many good people. This extensive scheme will help to protect homes and businesses from the devastation of flooding and will bring security to the local community."