Building Briefs – February 19th

Work on a new £3.8 million community sports facility for Clydebank has officially started – with the state-of-the-art hub due to be up and running later this year.

Clydebank Community Sports Hub (CCSH) is being built on the site of old playing fields at Dean Street in Whitecrook and will result in the delivery of a world-class sporting facility for rugby, Gaelic football and a range of other sports and activities.

Ground was broken at the site with Councillor Iain McLaren, West Dunbartonshire Council’s convener of infrastructure, regeneration & economic development, and Councillor Diane Docherty, vice convener, joined by Scottish minister for local government and housing, Kevin Stewart, in cutting the first sod.

Facilities including a new full size, flood-lit, all-weather synthetic pitch, two re-developed grass pitches, 10 community allotments and newly renovated indoor sports facilities − with room for clubs and community groups to meet – are all part of the project.

The CCSH project has been driven by three sports clubs working closely in partnership to secure a new home and has received backing from the Scottish Government, West Dunbartonshire Council, sportscotland, the Gaelic Athletic Association, Cashback for Communities, Scottish Rugby, The Robertson Trust and Barr Environmental Limited through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

Glaschu Gaels Gaelic Football Club, Clydebank Rugby Club and GTF Tae Kwon do club will all utilise the facilities for training, competition and community events. And the team behind CCSH hopes to attract more local clubs and teams once the facility is opened.

The synthetic grass pitch is suitable for rugby, Gaelic football and football and − due to the different pitch dimensions required for the three sports − it is thought it will be the biggest synthetic pitch of its kind in the UK.

Central Building Contractors (CBC) have been appointed to deliver the development.

North Lanarkshire launches consultation into tower demolitions

The first stage of consultation is now beginning on North Lanarkshire Council’s plans for the demolition of its 48 residential tower blocks over the next 20 years.

These plans form part of the council’s strategy to provide better homes, regenerate town centres and create jobs, while investing around half a billion pounds across North Lanarkshire.

Tenants living in the properties initially identified in the first phase are being contacted to discuss long term plans for their properties.

The towers highlighted in this stage are:

The council wants to gather a clear understanding of people’s needs and aspirations for future housing in their towns and communities, and it said that all individual views of tenants will be fully considered.

All future reports will be submitted to committee for approval following consultation, investment proposals and programme for all tower blocks.

Highland shinty club scores community facility funding goal

Work is set to begin to build a new community facility in Kiltarlity.

An award of £129,369 from the Highland LEADER Programme is the last piece of the financial jigsaw required to enable Lovat Shinty Club to proceed with a new sports and recreational pavilion.

MSP visits Angus stone firm

Graeme Dey MSP paid a visit to Denfind Stone Ltd last week where he heard from owner Brian Binnie about the firm’s plans for the future and learned about how Environmental and Climate Change responsibility is woven into these.

Mr Dey said he was looking forward to highlighting Denfind Stone in a Member’s Business Debate that he is leading this week on the Scottish stone industry.

Falkirk Council unveils strategy to protect Historic Environment

A new strategy has been unveiled to help better protect Falkirk’s historic environment.

The updated Historic Environment Strategy, ‘Our Future in the Past’, sets out the suggested way forward for the promotion, management, appreciation and protection of the environment from this year up until 2023.

As well as consulting with larger partners such as Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Falkirk Community Trust, the document was shaped by an online survey where around 90% agreed with the approach favoured by Falkirk Council.

Scotland TranServ to start £600,000 M8 barrier replacement project

Work is to begin on a £600,000 motorway barrier replacement project on the M8 near Glasgow Airport.

Scotland TranServ will start replacing central reservation barriers between Junction 28 and 30 on Monday, 19 March.

Work will be carried out Sunday to Thursday overnight until Thursday, 29 March. Road closures and signed diversions will be in place.

Council seeks views on plan to manage Ayrshire coastline

Residents in Ayrshire are being invited to submit their views over future plans to manage the region’s shoreline.

A draft Shoreline Management Plan has been developed in partnership with North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils which assesses the risks to the people of Ayrshire and its historic and natural environment from coastal flooding and erosion.

The document also identifies suitable policies for the management of these risks and covers the entire Ayrshire mainland coastline from Skelmorlie in the north, to the northern shore of Loch Ryan in the south, and the coasts of the islands of Arran and Great Cumbrae.

A consultation on the Plan is now underway and will run into 20 April.

Consultation events will take place on the following dates;