Warning over new sewage problems
Campaigner accuses builder of breaching planning conditions
A campaigner against a massive housing plan has accused developers of potential planning breaches.
Harry Middleditch has alleged that house builder Persimmon breached planning conditions by allowing surface water to seep into the sewerage system.
Persimmon are building 286 new homes in Monkton after they got the go ahead by South Ayrshire Council in October 2019.
Mr Middleditch said: “I campaigned against the houses as it is detrimental to the community and the infrastructure is not robust enough to support the number of houses being proposed.
“Part of the conditions were that all the surface water from the site would be piped to the Rumbling Burn at the bottom of Station Road, Monkton, and that no surface water would enter the Monkton sewer system. I believe Persimmon have been releasing surface water into the sewer system, as their SUDS pond has not been completed.”
In the building industry, when rainfall lands on a surface, builders can employ sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) techniques to control run-off at, or close to, the source.
Mr Middleditch believes that if surface water is going into the sewage system, then it willl cause big problems for the Station Road end of the village, where excess sewage has caused problems in the past.
He added: “I have reported this to my local South Ayrshire councillor on June 24, 2021 who wrote to the planning department highlighting this.
“Nothing appears to have been done.
“From the erection of the first Houses’ For Sale sign, the people of Monkton are of no concern to Persimmon.”
A council spokesperson said no breach of planning controls has been identified and added: “We are satisfied that the development is being undertaken in accordance with the planning permission granted to Persimmon Homes.
“We continue to be in regular contact with Persimmon Homes to ensure that the development is being developed appropriately.”
A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said they were working with the council to discharge the relevant planning conditions in “full accordance” with the permissions granted.
The spokesperson said: “A short-term arrangement was agreed with the relevant authorities to enable early delivery of much needed new housing and drainage.
“Technical approval from Scottish Water has been received for the surface water connection to the Rumbling Burn
“Persimmon Homes has been in dialogue with the planning authority and the Ayrshire Roads Alliance to ensure all its obligations are met.”