Building Briefs – October 3rd

• Glasgow begins George Square conversation

The city-wide engagement, which will look at both how the landmark is currently used and how it should be used in the future, will continue until October 30.

Once the results of the consultation are collected, they will be considered by Glasgow City Council and a decision will be made on how best to implement what the people of Glasgow have said about George Square.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “George Square is part of the very fabric of Glasgow, an essential part of our civic life which has hosted so many of the most important days and events in the city’s history. We now need to think about the equally important role it can play in our future.

“We are opening up this conversation to find out about what Glaswegians really think and feel about George Square and what we all want from it. It’s crucial that we don’t impose anything, so to get as full a picture as possible I’m encouraging everyone in the city to get involved with this important conversation.”

• New substation approved in Firth

Orkney Islands Council has granted planning permission for a new substation in Firth.

Approval for the erection of a substation and associated works at land near Heddle Hill was approved on a vote of 10 to 4 at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

The proposal was for the erection and operation of a 220/132kV substation, comprising a platform area, electrical infrastructure and buildings, associated plant, ancillary infrastructure, drainage, landscaping access road and temporary construction compound areas.

The development site lies to the south west of Finstown.

• Number of Aberdeenshire bridge closes for repair works

Aberdeenshire Council has announced that repair works will get underway immediately after a number of bridges were damaged by flooding last weekend.
Affected areas include U12S Plaidy – Strocherie - Hawkhill Road at Mill Croft Bridge and Balmaud Bridge; C9S Foulzie - Fisherie Cotwells Road at Bridge of Fortrie; C7S King Edward – Gorrachie – Fisherie Road at Bridge of Gorrachie and B9105 Fintry – Cauldwells Road at South Mains Bridge (diversion via B9105 Fintry – Cauldwells Road to A98 at Woods of  Byth, A98 to Macduff then A947 at Banff Bridge, A947 to B9105 at Burnt Smithy).

Separately, the U17S at Burn of Litterty (Diversion via B9105, A947 (Turriff), C18S (Delgaty), B9170 (Cuminestown), C15s (Gardenstown), U17S Fintry) will be closed until further notice due to major repair works on the collapsed bridge.

C51L Outseat Road at Bridge of Bruntyards has been closed as the result of an unsafe bridge. This is expected to be closed for three weeks also.

• Major resurfacing works announced in Lanark

South Lanarkshire Council has announced the start of major resurfacing works in Lanark as part of its £126 million Roads Investment Programme.

Marking investment of almost £300,000, resurfacing will be carried out on Wellgate and Castlegate during October and November, with both roads to be closed for up to five days.

To reduce the impact on commuters the Wellgate improvement work will be carried out during the school October break when traffic flows are significantly lighter.