Building Briefs – January 20th

The Highland Council has sought views from the public on art installations proposed for the banks of the River Ness in Inverness.

The works include The Gathering Place, a giant see-saw-like structure and also a child-friendly water feature.

River Connections, another of the proposals, includes seating areas and poetry set into stones.

The public art project forms part of the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The multi-million pound scheme has been built to in an effort to better protect the city from flooding.

Highland Council had sought views on the art last year, but has consulted again following the addition of the child-friendly water feature and a location being given for The Gathering Place - Friars Shott near Huntly Street.

CALA to build over 50 homes in Midlothian

Planning permission has been granted for a new development of over 50 homes in Midlothian.

CALA Homes said the approval for the housing development in Bonnyrigg will unlock vital investment that will safeguard the future of a historic and popular golf club.

Local councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the CALA Homes development, which will see much needed family homes created on land currently used as a practice area at Broomieknowe Golf Club, Bonnyrigg.

The plans were supported by the golf club, whose members mostly come from the local area and that support was mirrored when Midlothian Councillors voted 13-2 in favour of the development, which is included in the council’s proposed local plan.

The Broomieknowe plans are for 42 detached homes, eight cottages and six terraces. Acknowledging the importance of maintaining the wider greenbelt for the community, CALA has ensured its development will include open space.

CALA Homes (East) hope work could start as early as the summer, following the purchase of the practice area from the golf club. That would then enable the golf club to press ahead with its proposals to enhance both its course and clubhouse.

Major delays expected on M74 due to emergency repairs on pothole

One lane of the M74 southbound at Junction 5, Raith, remains closed for emergency repairs due to a large pothole on the bridge over the A725 Raith roundabout.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the M74 southbound approaching Raith and to expect major delays.

The junction closed completely from 10pm last night to allow the repair to continue. Preparations are underway to carry out a permanent repair tonight to allow 2 lanes of M74 southbound to reopen to traffic before tomorrow’s morning peak.

Inquiry into closure of the Forth Road Bridge to begin at Holyrood

A Holyrood inquiry into the closure of the Forth Road Bridge after a crack was found began today.

Transport Scotland and bridge operators Amey will give evidence to the infrastructure committee on the first day of the inquiry at the Scottish Parliament.

The inquiry, led by the infrastructure and capital investment committee, will attempt to determine the circumstances that led to the discovery of a cracked truss in the bridge’s undercarriage.

This forced the closure of the bridge for much of December until early 2016 while repairs took place. The structure remains closed to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

MSPs will also hear evidence from the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) and transport minister Derek Mackay, as well as engineers and officials from Amey.

Consultation on Dundee development area

The future of one of Dundee’s economic development areas is to come under the spotlight next week.

City council planners are hosting a drop-in consultation on January 27 looking at options for the Blackness General Economic Development Area.

Consultation on the Blackness GEDA will contribute to the wider Main Issues Report consultation, which discusses key planning issues and informs the preparation of the next Local Development Plan.

The Blackness GEDA drop-in event will take place at Verdant Works on Wednesday (January 27), from 12 noon to 7pm.

Planning officers will be on hand to outline the options for the area, discuss any issues and gather as many thoughts and ideas as possible from attendees.

Further information on the event is available at: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/localdevplan2.

Plans for major new indoor football centre for Glenrothes

Sport in Fife has received a huge boost after plans for a major indoor football centre were announced for Glenrothes.

Fife Council and SportScotland will joint-fund a £2.3 million indoor football training facility, to be built at the Michael Woods Leisure Centre in the town.

With a particular focus on training and development, the new centre will also play home to the Fife Football Performance Academy and the Fife Elite Football Academy.

Work is expected to commence later this year.

North Lanarkshire Council leader to step down

North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim McCabe has announced he is to stand down from the position he has held since 1998.

Councillor McCabe, 75, will resign at the Labour group AGM on February 29, which will follow the council setting its budget for 2016/17.

Councillor McCabe started work as a miner in 1955 and then became a fitter erector before working offshore. Between 1985 and 1997 he worked in the social work department of Strathclyde Regional Council.

He was elected to Motherwell District Council in 1992 and became depute leader of North Lanarkshire Council on local government reorganisation in 1996. He was elected leader of the council in 1998.

Engineering magnate donates £600,000 towards restoration works for church

A philanthropist and businessman has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to a fundraising bid to save one of Scotland’s most historically significant churches.

Les Hutchison, who made his fortune in engineering, is a member of Bothwell Parish Church, and he and his wife Virginia have handed over £600,000 to a £2 million project to preserve its 600-year-old quire.

The refurbishment work has previously won backing from the Prince of Wales, who gave a substantial donation to the fund.

The appeal was launched after the heavy stone roof slabs over the medieval quire, built in 1389, began causing the supporting walls to bulge.