Locals are concerned about plans to dig up and remove a temporary haul road in New Cumnock.

In the coming weeks, it is understood that Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) intend to remove the stone and associated material from Afton Road in a project that is estimated to require around 50 HGVs each day, over a period of 40 weeks.

Residents are worried about the consequences of this work, namely the high volume of traffic that will be travelling up and down Afton Road and the noise and disruption these vehicles may cause in terms of damage to property. They also insist the work will be a big polluter for the area.

One man said: “My main concern is the disturbance that will come from the amount of lorries. It says 50 lorries, but is that 25 up and 25 down? Or 50 each way, so 100 lorries?.

“We need clarity over what is happening. They talk about carbon footprint and the environment so why not reuse it up there, and put it back into the burrow pits that they got it out of, or use it with Pencloe Wind Farm?

“We feel like we’re getting walked all over. It’s nothing against local jobs, it’s just the amount of traffic going up and down.”

A spokesperson for SP Energy Networks said: “We’re currently finalising our plans for the removal of the temporary road, which was required to support our essential works to create a new electricity transmission network in south-west Scotland.

“As a responsible business, we can assure local residents that we’re working closely with East Ayrshire Council, SEPA, Scottish Water and our contractor to ensure we have appropriate environmental and traffic management plans in place to minimise the impact of the works on the community.

“Once everything is in place, we will be able to confirm the timings and details for the work programme.”

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “A Traffic Management Plan was submitted in February 2021, which sets out how stone is to be removed as a result of the restoration of tracks and hardstandings used for the construction of the SPEN overhead line project, which was consented by Scottish Ministers.

“A Traffic Management Plan was required by a condition of the overhead line consents and was approved by East Ayrshire Council, following a decision by the planning committee, on 4 May 2021. “

The spokesperson added: “The plan proposes the use of Afton Road to transport

some of the stone with an average of 72 combined two-way transport movements per day over a 40 week period.”