Parents kick up stink as play park sold for sewage pump

A PLAY park in the heart of a local community which has been maintained by residents for more than 30 years is under threat after it was sold off to Scottish Water.

Residents of the quiet cul-de-sac in Bankhead Grove, South Queensferry, say they fear the company will now get rid of what they describe as a safe haven for their children.

They say they have fitted climbing frames and swings at their own expense and the land is also used for community barbecues.

The future of the land has been thrown into doubt after residents were told Scottish Water was taking it over.

The land houses an underground pumping system, which passes sewage to a treatment works in the town. The system was installed by the developer who built the homes and is now looked after by the Crown Estate, which owns the land.

After years of negotiations, Scottish Water is finally set to acquire the pumping station - and the surrounding land.

Valerie Atkinson, 56, who has been living in Bankhead Grove for 20 years, said she was concerned the new owners would sell off the site and there were few other amenities for children in the area.

She said: "Scottish Water have said the pumping station occupies only part of the land and it is very possible they will sell on the rest of the land.

"We have looked after the land for many years and so we are angry that it looks like it is going to be sold from under our noses.

"We have two weeks before the sale goes through we have been told. There are no other play areas around here and we have put expensive play equipment in ourselves."

Neighbour John Jarman, 49, a technical writer, said he was annoyed by the lack of communication from The Crown Estate

He said: "We don't know what they are going to do. It's a lovely swing park - very, very safe for local kiddies.

"We heard Scottish Water are buying the land.

"There is a pumping station underground there, but we are afraid they could sell off the rest of the land."

Scottish Water said it had been approached by the Crown Estate to adopt the pumping station and it was keen to buy it to ensure waste water services in the area were maintained and operated effectively.

A spokesman for Scottish Water said it would decide in the coming weeks whether or not it needed all the land in question.

The spokesman said: "Our priority is to maintain effective waste water services for the local customers.

"Acquiring this pumping station will allow us to do this.

"Until our technical teams have made a full assessment of the site, we are unclear what extent of land we require.

"We will inform the community as soon as we come to a decision."