Building Briefs – June 9th

Stirling summer school aims to build on numbers of young people in construction

Stirling S4-S6 secondary pupils interested in a career in construction are being urged to sign up for an exciting new 4-day summer school which launches in their historic home town next month.

The Traditional Building Craft Skills summer school, funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), comes to Stirling for the first time this 3-6 July. Participants will learn the basics of a range of new craft skills including stonemasonry, decorative painting, traditional joinery and roof slating.

On the fourth day, students will put their new knowledge into a fascinating historical context with site visits hosted by Historic Environment Scotland to Stirling Castle, The Engine Shed – Scotland’s state of the art new conservation centre – and Tradstocks natural stone suppliers.

Organised by the Scottish Traditional Building Forum and Historic Environment Scotland, the event aims to encourage more young people aged 16-18 to pursue an apprenticeship or career in heritage craft skills or building surveying.

The summer school will also offer interactive workshops about traditional buildings, digital surveying and Stirling’s rich city heritage. Some mini lecture sessions will also provide an insight into why some buildings and conservation areas are ‘listed’, along with an introduction to Stirling City Heritage Trust’s ‘Healthcheck’ scheme for buildings.

The Traditional Building Skills summer school will take place at the Stirling campus of Forth Valley College on Monday 3 – Thursday 6 July from 9am-4pm.

Lunch, transportation from the college campus and protective safety equipment will be provided each day. Participants who successfully complete the programme will also be awarded a certificate.

To book a place, visit www.forthvalley.ac.uk/summerschools. The deadline for applications is Friday 16 June, 2017.

ALDI plans £22m investment in Bathgate HQ

Supermarket chain ALDI has unveiled plans to invest £22 million in new chill facilities at its Bathgate headquarters to service growing product ranges.

The new facility will create up to 200 new jobs in the Bathgate area when ready.

The investment is part of wider plans to boost its investment in Scotland, including a commitment to increase its range of Scottish products from 350 to more than 400 in the next two years.

By the end of 2017, ALDI’s total number of stores in Scotland will reach 78, bringing total employees in Scotland to more than 2,600. Launching at the end this month, ALDI’s new Dumfries store will be the first in Scotland to feature a new concept and design, including wider aisles and more space for fresh produce.

Aberdeenshire household waste and recycling centre to open

A new household waste and recycling centre (HWRC) is to open in Aberdeenshire.

The facility is located at Ellon’s Balmacassie Industrial Estate and will be unveiled to the public today.

The local authority moved the facility to a new site within Balmacassie as the land it was previously situated on was sold to boost the growth of craft beer company, BrewDog.

The new HWRC will be able to recycle large household items, glass, textiles and a range of other materials.

Broxburn football team scores strip sponsorship from Taylor Wimpey

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has shown its support for local community football in Broxburn by becoming the main away strip sponsor for the newly-formed Broxburn United Football Club’s 2008 boys.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Karen Armstrong, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting community football in the wider West Lothian area in this way, and we hope that our involvement will bring the team lots of luck in future matches.

“This sponsorship allows us to play our part in the local community, and it also gives us the opportunity to underpin our commitment to create a fantastic range of family homes across the West Lothian area including our current developments in Bathgate and Winchburgh.”

Rock maintenance work set for A890

Specialist contractor Geo-Rope Ltd has been selected to carry out maintenance works on the A890 Stromeferry Bypass.

The eight-week project involves the de-vegetation and light scaling of rock slopes, adjusting existing passive netting systems, clearance of rock material behind rock netting, installation of wire rope profiling cables, dowels, active and high strength active rock netting.

Work will begin on 10 July.

Two sections of the slope above the A890 are undergoing maintenance, both of which are situated approximately 1km west of the avalanche shelter.

Edinburgh pool set for £125k revamp

One of Edinburgh Leisure’s six Victorian pools, Glenogle in Stockbridge, is to undergo a £125k refurbishment to replace the poolside tiling.

Sauna and steam room facilities will close to the public at the end of day on June 27 and remain closed until August 21, with the pool closing to the public on July 1, reopening from August 14.

It’s a bugs life on the A9

A9 dualling continues to deliver benefits for the community – including local school children.

Wills Bros John Paul Joint Venture, the contractor tasked by Transport Scotland to upgrade the A9 between Kincraig and Dalraddy went back to visit Alvie Primary School last week to install planters to brighten the revamped playground they provided last year.

Along with the planter boxes, the contractor has also provided six bug hotels providing opportunities for the schoolchildren to enjoy watching the bugs building their homes. The bug hotels are attached to the fence within the school grounds and filled with materials such as fir cones which provide snug, safe places for the insects to hibernate.

The bug hotels are known to attract lacewings and ladybirds important species in the garden which should help protect the flowers that the schoolchildren planted in the five planter boxes with the help of the contractor’s team.

Having completed the revamp last year, contractor Wills Bros John Paul JV kindly donated and installed the planter boxes and bug boxes at their own expense.