Defiant residents of Kincaidston have demanded justice after being told no one will be prosecuted over a devastating gas explosion.
The traumatised Ayr community was made to wait almost 10 months for answers as to who or what was responsible for the blast which ripped apart four homes last October.
A major probe was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which delved into the explosion in Gorse Park.
Investigators searched through the rubble and examined underground pipes in a bid to come up with answers.
But despite compiling two specialist reports, they concluded they would not be taking any further action.
Campaigning resident Robert Dunn, who rallied the community in its darkest hour, says he was stunned by HSE’s stance.
Robert told Ayrshire Live: “I am absolutely devastated by what I heard, somebody is to blame at the end of the day.
“It is shocking that no one is being held responsible for what happened.
“People are at a financial loss because of this, families have lost their homes and their livelihoods have been taken away from them in an instant.
“You can’t help but think there is no further action because there were no fatalities. Thank God there wasn’t. But it so easily could have been far worse.
“When you look at ones that have happened in Scotland in the past, people have died.”
Robert believes that whilst a criminal prosecution has been ruled out, residents can still fight for reimbursement after thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by the explosion.
Robert added: “The war's just started but the battle's not over. We’ll not rest until something has been done about it. I want justice...justice for Kincaidston.”
MP Allan Dorans has called on HSE to make public the full report into the blast.
The SNP MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock told Ayrshire Live: "The Health and Safety Executive have announced that no individual or organisation will be prosecuted by them in connection with this extremely serious incident.
"In the interests of transparency, it is only right that the community are provided with access to the full report of the investigation in order that they may understand why this happened, who was responsible, and what steps are being taken to ensure it never happens again."
Ayr SNP MSP Siobhian Brown has joined Mr Dorans in calling for HSE to make their findings public.
Ms Brown said: “I have long called on the HSE to make the findings of their investigation public to help the people of Kincaidston heal from that night.
"I again call on them to do this and provide residents with answers and reassurances.
“My thoughts continue to lie with the people of Kincaidston and I praise them for the community spirit and resilience they have shown.”
A spokesperson for SGN said: "SGN’s thoughts remain with the family and those impacted by the incident last October.”
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