Building Briefs – May 12th

Communities along the A96 are to being given the chance to have a first look at early assessment work to dual the road between east of Nairn and Aberdeen, on the day a design work programme for the road was published.

With work at a more advanced stage for the section between Inverness and Nairn, including a Nairn bypass, the initial engineering and strategic environmental assessment work from east of Nairn to Aberdeen is now complete, and a range of possible road improvement strategy options to be taken to the next stage of design will go on show from 11-21 May.

The programme for the next stage of design for east of Nairn to Aberdeen is also to be split into three sections (see above image), with design work for the first from east of Nairn to Fochabers to get under way early next year.

Details of the A96 Dualling public exhibitions:

West Harris Enterprise Centre underway

Construction work started last week on the new West Harris Community Enterprise Centre at Pairc Niseaboist, Horgabost, Isle of Harris.

The 500m sq centre will incorporate a community venue and meeting place, restaurant, office space, business/studio space and exhibition area.

This is a major project for the West Harris Trust to provide 21st century facilities for the local community. At the time of estate purchase by the community in 2010 there were no bespoke community facilities and no business space to stimulate economic development.

The build contract worth £1.55m is being delivered by Stornoway-based John Murray & Co following a competitive tendering process and is due to be complete by March 2016.

Orkney building firm is top youth employer

One of the country’s most respected construction companies has been named Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Youth Employer of the Month.

Orkney Builders (Contractors) Ltd received the award at their headquarters in Hatston, Kirkwall, in recognition of their long-standing commitment to employing and training the Islands’ young people.

As well as offering work placements to school pupils, Employability Fund candidates and college students, the company also gives work trials. It played a very active role in last year’s Learning Through Work Week, when its apprentices had time away from the business to speak to pupils about this type of training.

Chairman of SDS, John F. McClelland CBE, said: “The Youth Employer of the Month Award acknowledges Orkney Builders’ commitment to the community, young people and the Modern Apprenticeship programme and I am delighted the company’s efforts over many years have been recognised.”

£2.6m GP unit opens in Blairgowrie

Deputy first minister John Swinney and NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson officially opened the new state-of-the-art GP unit at Blairgowrie Community Hospital yesterday.

The unit provides a modern environment for patient care which incorporates a purpose-built minor injury and illness unit, a day case area and a new rehabilitation facility.

The unit has a new enhanced physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation area, which gives clinicians scope to deliver new treatments locally, as well as a Minor Injury and Illness Unit (MIIU).

Scottish people power energy campaign launches today

A Scotland-wide people power campaign to cut the cost of electricity and gas in Scotland is being launched today.

The Big Energy Switch campaign, supported by a national TV and radio campaign, aims to use the huge buying power of 20,000 Scottish households to unlock group-discounted energy in Scotland.

One Big Switch said it is launching the campaign today because average fuel bills in Scotland have risen nearly four times faster than household incomes since 2003.

The Big Energy Switch campaign aims to drive competition in the Scottish energy market by:

This campaign will be the first exclusively Scotland-wide campaign of its type, focused purely on unlocking group-discounted energy here in Scotland.

New town hall in Renfrewshire complete

Renfrewshire Council is to host an event celebrating the completion of a new town hall.

The £14.5 million Johnstone Town Hall officially opened at the end of March.

The new hall contains modern facilities including a theatre space, a library, a dance studio, a ceremony suite and café, meeting rooms and conference facilities.

The council is hosting an afternoon-long party on 16 May from 12-5pm.