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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Thom

How South Ayrshire Council is dealing with devastating explosion at Ayr housing estate

Council teams have vowed to handle a major clear up at an Ayr blast site with 'sensitivity'.

Clean-up crews at South Ayrshire Council are awaiting the go ahead to enter the current no-go zone at Gorse Park in the Kincaidston area where an explosion affected four homes and left a trail of debris and destruction.

Locals were evacuated from their homes as a major incident was declared in estate after 7pm last night.

Four people were injured in the blast with two adults and two children rushed to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.

Residents sought refuge in nearby Queen Margaret Academy with floods of donations and essential supplies arriving at the secondary school as the community pulled together.

Today, the council has thanked the community for their support but has asked people to stop dropping off donations as they seek to get residents back to their homes.

The local authority say they will provide support to rehome those whose houses have been deemed unsafe to return to.

A statement from South Ayrshire Council said: "The council is grateful for the support of the community but would ask people at this stage to stop dropping off material support at Queen Margaret Academy.

"We will clarify in due course if any support is needed and how people can contribute. At the moment, the council is working with emergency services to determine who will be able to return to their house and who will not due to ongoing building safety concerns.

"We are working to establish a reception centre in the area for anyone returning who stayed with friends or relatives as well as those who were accommodated overnight in a local hotel.

"Our aim is to get people back home as soon as possible but we can only do this once we are confident properties are safe. Once we know who may still require accommodation, our housing teams will work with residents to support them."

Council teams are awaiting instruction on where the inner cordon lies so they can begin a major clear up operation.

A spokesperson added: "As soon as we are clear where the inner cordon lies we will start the clear up operation which requires to be done with sensitivity due to personal effects being included among general debris.

"Council staff are at the Mercure Hotel working with those accommodated there.

"Anyone else affected can contact the council at 0300 123 0900. Meetings are taking place this morning on a number of issues that require immediate attention and further updates will follow these meetings."

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