Raw sewage worsens flood woes for Oban business

LMS Auto Services owner Lachie Strathearn, who was left £55,000 out of pocket after last October’s floods, has been waiting for over a year for Argyll and Bute Council to root out the source of the toilet paper and excrement that threatens to flow into his business when heavy rains and high tides clash.

As yellow warning-strength rain fell and water levels rose earlier this week, Lachie and his seven staff were once again on flood alert and having to clean up the stomach-churning waste lapping at their door.

Sewage was also seen coming up from drains near Mill Lane.

Lachie, who rents the premises and yard from the council, has also been in touch with Scottish Water about the ongoing issue.

’We are coming to work in wellies’

He explained: "It’s more than unpleasant, it’s an environmental health issue. It’s over a year since this problem was first raised with the council and it’s still not sorted. We’re having to come to work in wellies."

When he asked the council to see a detailed plan of Lochavullin’s sewage system, he was told none existed and they had no idea what lay beneath the surface.

Lachie said: "They told me they would get a new survey carried out but that was ages ago. Just 12 days ago, after I contacted them again, they said a contract had been given to a firm to do the survey but it hadn’t happened yet. I don’t want this survey to be done in the spring, it should’ve been carried out months ago. We’ve put up with this long enough.

"They need the layout plans so they can source where the problem is coming from. I think another premises somewhere might be connected up wrong. We need action but the council is showing no sense of urgency."