Building Briefs – May 22nd

Work is set to begin on the £2 million project to transform Bishopbriggs Library.

Construction work to extensively upgrade the facility will begin in June and is set to run for completion in December 2017.

The work will involve enhancing the current library facilities through a full refurbishment and upgrade of the current accommodation.

Library services and the Hub will operate from Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Balmuildy Road while the work is being carried out. The move to the War Memorial Hall will take place between Friday 26 May and Friday 9 June and there will be minimal disruption to services during this time.

The combined £3m investment in the area will see the completed War Memorial Hall and new Library and Community Hub building available to the local community in winter 2017.

LDA Design to draw up Newtongrange centre ‘masterplan’

LDA Design has been selected to spearhead plans for the regeneration of Newtongrange’s town centre.

The team will carry out work to explore opportunities for beneficial changes to the central area, including around Newtongrange Railway station.

A ‘masterplan’ will be drawn up to promote thriving, vibrant neighbourhoods and bring longterm social and economic benefits to the local community. It is anticipated this work will be complete by the end of this year, with implementation to take place over a number of years.

The Borders Railway Blueprint partnership has approved a major funding contribution towards this and three other ‘masterplan’ locations along the railway corridor.

Jedburgh schools campus plan submitted

Plans for a new education campus in a Scottish Borders town have moved a step closer.

A pre-application notice was submitted on Friday, paving the way for full proposals for Jedburgh in due course.

The project would see Parkside and Howdenburn Primaries and Jedburgh Grammar School closed.

It would see the creation of a new campus with all education for children aged from two to 18 in the area taking place on one site at Hartrigge Park.

The ground was bought for housing by Jedburgh Town Council over 50 years ago but has not been developed.

Scottish Borders Council has said the campus would have state-of-the-art classrooms and learning spaces, the very best IT infrastructure and first-class leisure and dining provision, as well as the very best sporting and PE facilities.

Consultation into the proposals is currently ongoing in the area.

The project could be approved later this year with the new Jedburgh campus operational by 2020.

Russell Roof Tiles celebrates 45 years of successful service

Roofing manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles has just presented two of its hardworking employees – who have a combined service of 45 years – with Long Service Awards.

With sites in Lochmaben, Scotland and Burton-on-Trent, Russells’ Long Service Awards are designed to honour the loyalty of employees who have worked at the company for over 10 years, celebrating the hard work and commitment of those at the firm who have seen the business grow over many years.

Ian Jones (works manager) and Paul Cooney (production chargehand) – who are both based at the firm’s Lochmaben site and live in Lochside, Dumfries – have been awarded the accolades for their work at Russells for 25 and 20 years respectively.

Russells is committed to recognising and rewarding its staff to help maintain skills in the construction industry. The roof tile manufacturer has also run a bursary programme to help encourage youngsters.

Ian and Paul were presented with specially designed tile shaped awards by Russells’ production director, Bruce Laidlaw. In addition to their awards, both employees will receive long service benefits including additional days of annual leave and a cash bonus.

Work on West Lothian bridge reconstruction project complete

Work on a bridge reconstruction project in West Lothian is now complete.

The A71 road bridge next to West Calder station has fully reopened following a 16-week work programme to demolish and replace the previous structure.

The scheme was carried out as part of the electrification of the Shotts line, which will be completed in 2019.

Other works involved extensive mining remediation work under the bridge abutments to ensure the ongoing integrity of the rebuilt structure.

Overnight weekend closures for A90 Charleston

The A90 is expected to close for three nights from Friday 26 May to enable the contractor to undertake road surfacing works near to and on the new bridge at Charleston, as part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project.

The A90 will close at 8pm on Friday 26 May and reopen the following morning around 6am. The A90 will close slightly later on Saturday 27 May at 10pm to enable football fans returning from the Scottish Cup Final to use the A90 at Charleston in advance of the road closure. The road will reopen around 6am. The road will again close at 8pm on Sunday 28 May and reopen at 6am the following morning.

CIOB helps members visit schools to promote construction careers

Britain’s schools are being targeted in a major new recruitment drive by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) which aims to address the poor image construction still suffers among pupils in the 14 – 19 age group and their teachers.

The just-launched ‘Think Construction’ toolkit from the CIOB has been developed in partnership with teachers and young people to help CIOB members structure careers advice sessions.

The kit contains film, presentations, case studies, games and content to describe the many managerial career opportunities on offer across the sector that are open to those without a degree, as well as graduates.

To help put schools and CIOB Members and their firms in touch with each other, the CIOB is working with Inspiring the Future to provide a match-making service which facilitates introductions.

Investigations to begin ahead of Balfron Station bridge repairs

Investigatory work is to take place ahead of a bridge repair project in Stirling.

A bridge on the A81 at Balfron Station, which is owned by Scottish Water, was struck and damaged by a vehicle last September.

Investigations will take place ahead of the repairs project over three week period from Tuesday, 30 May.

To carry out the work, a short stretch of the road will be closed. Local diversions will be in place.

The repairs are expected to begin in September.

Interserve to start building link road in North Lanarkshire

Interserve is to begin building a new link road in North Lanarkshire.

The contractor will start developing the Glenboig Gartcosh link road on Monday, 22 May.

The 34-week scheme is being delivered as part of the council’s City Deal Infrastructure Investment Programme.

The new route will support the delivery of the residential developments and associated amenities planned for the area, supporting the Gartcosh/Glenboig Community Growth Area.

As part of the project, traffic management will be set up on Glenboig Road, just before Glenburn Gardens for about 200 metres east to the end of Glenheath Drive. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and controlled by traffic lights for around 16 weeks.

Work will also continue on the new link road to Gartcosh Business Park, crossing Gartcosh Local Nature Reserve.

New chill room built at Aberdeenshire Harbour

A new chill room has been developed at Macduff Harbour in Aberdeenshire.

More than £16,000 was invested to develop the automatic facility, which has the capacity to store 400 boxes of fish or prawns.

The scheme is one of many improvements and facilities being added to the harbour to benefit the local fishing industry.

Various improvements include a new road layout at the harbour and additional car parking facilities. A number of new safety and operational systems of work have also been created to optimize harbour and slipway use. Investigatory work is also ongoing to consider the viability of installing an ice plant.

Council publishes programme to deliver Local Development Plan

East Dunbartonshire Council has published a new programme setting out actions needed to deliver key infrastructure and developments in the Local Development Plan (LDP).

The East Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan LIVE Action and Delivery Programme has been unveiled following the adoption of the LDP earlier this year.

The initiative monitors progress, helps to co-ordinate work with a range of partners and provides indicative timescales.

To view the LDP and the Local Development Plan LIVE Action and Delivery Programme, visit here.

Balfour Beatty begins Dallas flood alleviation scheme

Balfour Beatty has started work on a £300,000 flood alleviation scheme in Moray.

The contractor is building a 440-metre-long embankment between the River Lossie and the village of Dallas.

In August 2014, a major flooding event caused approximately £600,000 of damage to properties and infrastructure in the village. A total of 27 properties were flooded internally and a further 12 were flooded externally.

As a result, Moray Council approved plans in 2015 to build a 1.2-metre-high embankment to extend north east of the village, ensuring water does not return along the road.

Features include a Bentonite clay geotextile buried along the length of the embankment to act as a cut off for water seepage, while a filter drain will also be placed along the dry side of the embankment to allow surface water to drain.

Work is scheduled to be completed by early in June.

Council to host consultation on Galashiels ‘masterplan’

Scottish Borders Council is to host a consultation on a new ‘masterplan’ for Galashiels.

The document forms part of the Borders Railway Blueprint programme, which aims to maximise the economic benefits presented by Borders Railway.

The scheme aims for the railway to become a catalyst for development in Galashiels and Tweedbank, bringing economic and population growth through new and affordable housing, commercial and tourism development, a diversifying business base and new demand for learning and skills.

Work is now underway to create a ‘masterplan’ for Galashiels and Tweedbank which sets out a medium to long term strategy for both communities through the allocation of spaces for commercial, retail, residential and community facilities, as well as roads and utilities.

The consultation will take place on Wednesday, 24 May. A team of architects and urban designers will take participants for a brief walkabout in Galashiels town centre, starting at the Volunteer Hall from 5pm to 6pm, for the retail and business community to discuss and identify the local needs and opportunities as well as what within the existing townscape should be protected.

A similar tour with the cultural and creative sector will be held at 1pm, again meeting at the Volunteer Hall. In addition, an open forum will be held between 6pm – 8pm in the Volunteer Hall where visitors can consider the current masterplan drawings and information boards to collate the comments and ideas gathered during the town centre tours.

A9 rock investigations to begin near Blair Atholl

Engineers are to begin carrying out rock investigations on the A9 in Perthshire.

Investigatory work near Blair Atholl will be carried out using ropes on the existing rock outcrops next to the A9. The two-week project will get underway on 22 May. Traffic management will be in place.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said the work is necessary to gather information for the stretch of road ahead of the next phase on the £3 billion A9 Dualling programme.