Stalemate in fight to solve water problem

Residents in a Plains street are calling for action to resolve a long-running issue of water running across open ground and causing hazardous underfoot conditions.

The water has been flowing for months out of an area of grass at the junction of Kintyre Crescent and Craiglea Terrace, causing unsightly flooding across the adjacent pavement and road.

Pedestrians have slipped and fallen on the wet ground and on ice patches which have then formed in the recent cold weather.

Exasperated neighbours now want North Lanarkshire Council to ensure the problem is resolved.

Local resident Veronica Mcleod has highlighted the issue to the local authority but says she and her neighbours are still waiting for an outcome – and the local authority has now said they are “unable to carry out any drainage work at the location to prevent this happening”.

Veronica said: “Water runs down off the grass area onto the public footpath, which my neighbour and I need to cross every day, every time we walk the dog or put the bins out.

“It’s been an ongoing problem for a long while, but at Christmas time I nearly went up in the air and had visitors slipping on the ice that had formed and that’s when I decided I needed to report it.

“Just this month, an older gentleman walking his dog fell when it was icy again. I came straight in and contacted the council again as we need to who’s going to sort it.

“After I first contacted North Lanarkshire, they sent someone to test the water – their sample said it was drain water and nothing to do with those maintaining the paths, but then Scottish Water took samples, said it was ground water and sent it back to the council.”

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “An inspection of the site has shown there is an intermittent issue with groundwater seepage.

“Unfortunately the council is unable to carry out any drainage work at the location to prevent this happening, but a grit bin has been provided to help residents with any ice forming during the winter.”

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “Both our field and sewer response teams investigated this issue. Sample testing showed no trace of mains water or sewage and we can conclude that this is groundwater, which is an issue for the local authority.”