A community councillor has repeated his concerns over public safety at a drainage pond at the entrance to a housing development in Fairlie.

David Telford previously voiced concerns after spotting fencing flapping open in the wind at the entrance to Regatta Apartments, on the A78, making the site easily accessible to young children near a deep pond.

The pond in question was put in place as a 'sustainable urban drainage system' (SUDS) for the Dawn Homes development, a drainage slution aimed at avoiding the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers.

Mr Telford has now flagged up another problem at the site.

He said: "I note that there is yet another section of the safety fence has collapsed on the south side of the temporary drainage pond at Fairlie.

"I am at a loss to understand why nobody in authority is monitoring this. Does anybody understand just how dangerous this facility is if young children can gain access?"

Over recent years Mr Telford has frequently raised concerns that a child could drown at the site by getting through the broken fencing, and has written independent North Coast councillor Ian Murdoch and North Ayrshire Council chief executive Craig Hatton to voice his fears.

Cllr Murdoch replied: "I have asked North Ayrshire Council if both SUDS ponds can be inspected and any safety issues addressed."

The News revealed four months ago that the fence around the pond was broken and had been spotted flapping open in the wind – with Mr Telford warning that it posed a risk to children.

Dawn Homes carried out a temporary fix – but the company has now insisted that the pond was never meant to be a permanent feature, and says that in the long term drainage is NAC’s responsibility.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The upkeep of the drainage pond is the responsibility of the landowner, and in this case the landowner is Dawn Homes.

“The council was made aware of the fence issue this week. Dawn Homes have been contacted and advised to repair the fence. It is understood Dawn Homes are currently in the process of commencing maintenance work to the fence as a priority.”

Dawn Homes Chief Operating Officer, Martin Egan, said: “We have been made aware of the damaged fencing around the temporary attenuation pond at the entrance of our development in Fairlie and have instructed our contractor to replace the full fence. In the meantime, we have arranged for temporary fencing to be installed and will carry out a full inspection to ensure the pond is operating as designed.”