VICTIMS of the catastrophic New Cumnock flooding have been able to see how an elaborate protection scheme will work.

Council officials and engineers answered questions and presented detailed overhead photographs and drawings of the work which will be carried out.

They had set up an presentation explaining the scheme, which was held at New Cumnock Working Men’s Club on Tuesday, August 30.

One set of images showed the areas under flood water while others depicted the same places, but how they will look after the work is complete.

Stewart Turner, implementation officer for the scheme, said: “What we are doing here is showing two areas undefended — and defended — from flooding.

“New Cumnock and the Leggate are both shown and people have been able to come here, see their house in an aerial photograph,and how the defences in place will protect their homes.

“The work itself consists of embankments on either side of the burn and, where it is too narrow, there will be enforced concrete walls put in.

“What we are doing upstream is take the water and train it, down the Afton Water, until it gets down to the bottom and meets the River Nith.

“The project itself is in two parts - New Cumnock is a much bigger scheme which will cost about £2.5m, while the Leggate is a completely different scale, at around £400,000.

“Hopefully when the work is all done, the people in these areas will feel protected.”

At the current stage a steering group, including members of the community,local councillors and Transport Scotland, meets every six weeks.

Meanwhile, the planning process is underway which involves public notices, council meetings, followed by a six-week period of the scheme being advertised. Nothing can be done on site until the various procedures are complete in accordance with legislation.

“We will be ready to start work on the Leggate around the middle of November, while the New Cumnock part was always going to start later.

“That is expected to be built in the next calendar year. Everything is in place, it is just the process to be completed,” added Mr Turner.

Among the interested residents were a local couple whose property was affected by the floods, Ian and Mary Harper.

Mrs Harper said: “What people want to see now is to see the scheme happening as we seem to have been talking about it for so long.

“If we could just even see the first move, I think it would help a lot. We are in Connell Park and were quite badly flooded.”

Mr Harper added: “We are quite happy with the plans and we understand exactly what is happening.

“There is nothing there to complain about, it is all positive.”

Several people took the opportunity of speaking to Chris McAleavy, deputy chief executive of East Ayrshire Council.

He told the Chronicle that the council appreciated the patience that people have shown that have allowed the project to get to this point.

“We are also grateful for the support that they have given us right through this whole process. People have come to regular meetings with ourselves and the other agancies and credit to them also for getting involved.

“The photographs and drawings make it clearer what is involved. It maybe has taken much longer than people wanted. But it is making sure that the work that we do is effective in protecting houses in the community,” Mr McAleavy said.