Shattered residents in Kincaidston have demanded answers from gas bosses after spending three weeks living in fear.
A campaign has been launched to ask for “transparency and the truth” from SGN with residents being told by engineers that iron gas mains pipelines are eroding underneath their homes.
It comes three weeks after an explosion which rocked the Ayr community and left a family of four fighting for their lives.
Residents at crisis point have told how they fear their house could be next.
At an emergency meeting, all 25 residents admitted that they felt unsafe as they backed calls for change and clarity from their gas supplier.
It is understood that some elderly residents are so on edge they have refrained from turning their gas on despite colder weather creeping.
Gas engineers have swooped on the Ayr neighbourhood in the weeks following the explosion which ripped apart four houses in Gorse Park on Monday, October 18.
At least three gas leaks have been confirmed in the community by SGN.
A family of four continue to recover from horrific injuries after they were saved from the rubble.
Community leader Robert Dunn, who runs the Kincaidston Community Centre, gathered residents on Monday where some relived the horror of that night.
Army veteran Robert rallied the community and vowed they are “stronger together” as he launched a petition.
Robert, who spent 21 years in the forces, had a gas leak repaired two years ago at his home in Cranesbill Court where engineers removed the gas meter from his home and placed it in the garden.
Robert, who is now a driving instructor, wants to see gas meters — traditionally placed under cupboards in Kincaidston — to be moved outside so the gas board can identify leaks easier.
He told Ayrshire Live: “I want a campaign where we can get these old pipes replaced and to have meters moved to a safer location so they are outside the property.
“This will allow engineers to identify a gas leak a lot quicker.
“They have been down there for more than 40 years. The first brick was laid in 1974, the gas mains have been the same since then."
Robert told the panicked residents to band together to get answers to make life safer.
Speaking to the residents, Robert said: “We have had an accident here [Kincaidston] and we are not going to get answers today, but I want you to back my campaign so we can make life safer here.
“I want to fight for this campaign, we are all stronger in numbers, I want to get regulations changed not just for Kincaidston but all over the place.
“We need to keep the pressure on, we need to see change and we need the truth.
“I hope you can join my campaign to make this community safer, we can all sleep better at night knowing something like this will never happen again.”
Residents expressed concern that iron pipes uplifted in recent works were eroded.
One resident took it upon themselves to grab some of the ancient iron pipes from a site near Celandine Bank.
The dated pipes were placed in the front of the hall for shocked residents to inspect.
Another resident told how engineers discovered eroding iron pipes running under his home as he told the community he feared his family’s home was at risk of a disaster.
Steven Graham, 45, who lives in Primrose Park with his wife Shona and their five-year-old daughter, says his whole family are on edge with his daughter constantly asking about explosions and gas leaks.
The dad who had both of his cars damaged from the blast in October told Ayrshire Live: “Engineers found gas pipes that run from underneath my floors to the back lane which were full of holes.
“It was filling up with gas pockets underneath my back garden next to my house. Basically if they never found it, we believe we were next.
“We could always smell gas in our cupboard, we were told 10 years ago we were just getting the smell from the meter but it was coming from the gas leak underneath.
“It’s a danger underneath your house — we are a walking time bomb.
“Those gas pipes are eroded, that is what the engineers keep telling everyone and they need to be replaced.”
Ayrshire Live has this week spoken to another resident who was told by engineers that their gas pipes were eroding.
Robert said after the crisis meeting: “When I look at the blast site I feel physically sick.
“There were three houses there and now there is nothing.
“A family has been lying in hospital with major injuries, their life will never be the same again.
“I told everyone today that a family of four were wiped out in the explosion in Larkhall in 1999. They changed regulations; well, those regulations have to change again.
“I am not backing down now.
“I was ex-forces, if I can be a voice for people and people are willing to back me then I will go all the way.”
Local SNP councillor Chris Cullen was there to listen to views of residents and promised to feed back concerns to SGN.
No representatives from SGN were at the meeting.
Councillor Cullen told Ayrshire Live: “After what’s happened I can’t blame anyone for having reservations and being afraid.
“I’ve been assured by SGN that they are working hard and all the gas leaks have been contained and the supply is safe to use. We can only go on what they say.
“Instead of doing a patch they have cut the whole section of gas pipes and replaced the full length, they are putting brand new pipes in, that is what they are doing.
“Hopefully in the next few weeks there will be more answers on the investigation.”
Police have confirmed that enquiries are still ongoing and were unable to confirm the cause of the explosion more than three weeks on from the blast.
SGN has, when asked on several occasions, refused to comment on gas pipes eroding.
A spokesperson for SGN said: "The incident at Gorse Park has shocked SGN, and our thoughts are with those who have been impacted.
"We are deeply concerned there has been an explosion, resulting in serious injuries and wish to reassure the public we are and will continue to work closely with the Police and HSE to establish the cause of the explosion.
"We’d like to reassure all the residents that as a result of the safety checks, and the remedial work we then carried out, their gas is safe to use.
"Given the ongoing Police and HSE investigation, it is inappropriate for us to comment any further at this stage."
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