Building Briefs – December 17th

• No chimney, no problem as housebuilder hands out Santa’s ‘magic key’

David Wilson Homes, responsible for the housing developments across the Central Belt, is helping Santa deliver festive cheer to children whose houses do not have a chimney.

All houses at Lauder Gardens in Strathaven and Weirs Wynd in Brookfield are chimney-free, so children who live at the development and in the surrounding area can visit the development’s sales office throughout December to collect their special keys.

So Santa will still be able to deliver seasonal magic, despite not using his traditional entrance way this Christmas Eve.

• Christmas comes early for Leamington Lift Bridge

The Leamington Lift Bridge received a festive windfall thanks to £350,000 awarded through Sustrans Scotland’s National Cycle Network Development Programme.

The historic structure, which spans The Union Canal at Edinburgh Quay, was identified as an operational risk in September and was then closed to boating traffic and restricted to pedestrians and cyclists.

Funding will preserve the existing structure of this 122-year old lift bridge with works beginning in early 2019 and scheduled to complete by the summer.

The works will include upgrading the lifting mechanism and creating alternative pedestrian access across the canal while the bridge is closed to public access.

The towpath will remain open throughout the works and boats moored in the basin will get an opportunity to move through the bridge. Although the pedestrian access across the bridge may need to close at some point during the works, Scottish Canals will create an alternative route which spans the canal.

• Moray cycleway reopens following repair works

Moray Council has announced the Portknockie to Cullen cycleway and footpath has reopened following repairs.

Remedial works began earlier this year, following a survey by Sustrans, and the path is now open to the public again. Signage is being installed along the route to advise users that it is a temporary repair.

A flood risk assessment is due to be carried out between January and March 2019, followed by a review of all repair works needed.