Building Briefs - May 24th

• Revamp planned at Cambuslang Rugby and Sports Club

A sporting partnership with Cambuslang Rugby Club allowed the club to utilise the facilities at the clubhouse, as well as the training area.

• Toft Pier construction completed

The construction of the £3.5 million pier at Toft has been completed, providing an important new facility for aquaculture and commercial fishing industries in the North Mainland.

The new pier has been built on the site of the previous jetty, originally built as a ferry terminal in the 1970s which had reached the end of its serviceable life and was closed in 2016. Shetland Island Council agreed in early 2019 to rebuild and extend the pier to support economic opportunities in the area, including fishing and renewable energy projects.

Compared to the old jetty, the working area of the new pier is around three times larger, with a working area of around 1100 square metres, including shore power and lighting. The pier design includes a 30-metre ‘dog-leg’ extension that will provide more berthing space for boats and better shelter in poor weather, as well as increased water depth on both the inside and outside of the pier. 

The pier has been constructed using sheet piles and internal tie rods, filled with crushed rock, and a reinforced concrete deck slab. Additional deck furniture including fenders, bollards, lighting and other services have also recently been completed. Prolonged spells of poor weather and the coronavirus pandemic led to unavoidable delays in the project completion. 

The principal design work for the Toft Pier has been carried out by NIRAS Ltd, and the main contractor has been Teignmouth Maritime Services (TMS) Ltd.  Local subcontractors involved include EMN Plant Ltd, Malakoff Limited, Ocean Kinetics Limited, and Frank L Johnston (Shetland) Ltd.

The total construction cost is expected to be around £3.5m, which has been assisted by a grant of £1m from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

• Portree roads improvement works ongoing

Works by the Highland Council to improve various roads in Portree are ongoing this week.

The timescale for the works has been extended into this week as progress on the project was delayed due to circumstances outwith the council’s control. The anticipated timescale for completion has been extended for at least a week.

Motorists are advised that there will be traffic management and/or temporary road closures in the Portree area due to resurfacing works at Home Farm Road; and York Drive.

• Glen Clova Hotel proposes eight holiday lodges

Glen Clova Hotel and Lodges has unveiled plans introduce eight holiday lodges as part of an ambitious expansion project.

Plans would see the new lodges built on an existing track between Parkhead Cottage and Arntibber near Glen Clova Hotel.

Plans submitted to Angus Council by Archid Architects Limited have said the site earmarked for the development would have “minimal impact” on the natural heritage of the land.

The “eco”-designed lodges would be a mix of two-bedroom and one-bedroom properties, including sauna and hot tub facilities.

Properties will be powered by an exiting hydro turbine, with solar water panels installed on the roofs, which will feed a hot water cylinder shared between the lodgings.

The south-facing accommodation will also have balconies which have been described as the most prominent feature of the potential dwellings.

• Moray roads get dressed

Road users in Moray are being urged to take care over the next eight weeks as roads in the area undergo surface dressing as part of Moray Council’s £3 million annual Road Maintenance Programme, starting today.

The 43 miles of roads being dressed this year will be marked with signs and drivers are urged to keep their speed down to 20mph within these areas for their own and workforce safety, and also to minimise damage to newly laid surfaces.