12 February 2010

Loch Ryan project - further works

Not only will we be constructing new pipelines, pumping stations and a waste water treatment works but a sewer study is also going to be carried out in Stranraer to make sure we understand how the existing pipes are operating.

This element of the project will be carried out by the main contractor, when they are appointed, and is essential to ensure a smooth transition when the new works are operational.

The study should not involve disruption to roads or footpaths in Stranraer.

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Cairnryan Pumping Station approved

4 February 2010

Approval of the Cairnryan pumping station is another step forward for the Loch Ryan project, which will facilitate economic growth in Stranraer and surrounding communities while protecting the delicate shellfish waters the area is famous for.
 
Scottish Water will fully communicate with the local community on the design and configuration of the pumping station at Cairnryan in the months to come. Our project team is aware of the concerns of the community and is working to reduce the impact on the waterfront views from Cairnryan and to construct a mutually agreeable facility. 
 
We have plans to involve the community in a variety of ways with the Loch Ryan project in the coming months and years in addition to the open events, briefing sessions, e-letters and media work we have performed to date.

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Scottish Water: Loch Ryan Strategic Solution: E:Letter Nr. 05

Port Rodie Pumping Station Planning Application

The planning application for Scottish Water’s Pumping Station located in Port Rodie was approved at the Dumfries & Galloway Committee Meeting in Stranraer on Wednesday 6th January 2010.
 
The Port Rodie facility is a key part of the proposed Loch Ryan Project which will remove the permanent discharge of waste water into Loch Ryan - home to sensitive shellfish waters which are Scotland’s only natural native oyster beds.

Audit Scotland Report

An extract from “Protecting and Improving Scotland’s Environment” Report issued by Audit Scotland on 14th January 2010 follows:

Between 2003/04 and 2008/09, Scottish Water invested £292 million to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This has enabled progress towards the directive’s goal of all urban areas having appropriate waste water treatment collection systems by 2005. When Scottish Water was formed in 2002, a quarter of waste water treatment collection systems in Scotland were not appropriate. By the end of 2009, this had reduced to one per cent. All but one urban area in Scotland are scheduled to have an appropriate sewage collection system by the end of 2011, with the final one - Loch Ryan, Stranraer scheduled for completion in 2014.

Tender

The Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) tender phase has entered Stage 3 and contractor returns are expected in early February 2010.   A contract will be awarded in late June/ early July.

Land Purchase

Leswalt and Cairnryan land purchase negotiations are already underway with the local landowners and P&O Ferries respectively.

Port Rodie negotiations have re-started after the planning approval announcement.

Planning

Cairnryan planning application was deferred until February 3rd with a request for further information required to satisfy Councillors that the proposal met residents concerns as expressed against the initial application.

A decision is expected on Leswalt in the coming weeks after technical queries are addressed with SEPA.

Investigations

Marine site investigations in Loch Ryan and in the North Channel are now complete.

Some minor works are still to be undertaken on land based site investigations.

Community Forum

As the project gets nearer to starting we intend establishing a Community Forum which will be made up of Scottish Water project and appointed delivery partner team members along with invited representatives from local organisations.  The Forum will run up until six months after completion of construction and landscaping.  We are currently working on the details of attendees, frequency, venue and time of meetings and we hope to be able to confirm the details in the next couple of months.  Scottish Water will provide meeting facilities and will chair the meeting.  We will also provide a Minutes Secretary who will provide draft Minutes to all attendees and organisations represented.  Additional distribution of minutes will be agreed by members of the Community Forum. 

We hope the Community Forum will provide an opportunity for close co-operation, promoting open communication between participants whilst acknowledging the independence of each organisation represented to act according to its own constitution and remit.

We will continue to provide regular press statements and E-Letters with project updates. We will also hold further Open days to give as many people as possible the opportunity to communicate with the project team.

We want to hear from you

Updates will always be posted on our website when available.  If you would like to contact Scottish Water about the Loch Ryan Strategic Solution project, you can:
 

•  Phone:                       Customer Helpline:               0845 601 8855
•  E_Mail:                       LochRyan@scottishwater.co.uk
•  Write to:                      Project Manager, Loch Ryan Scheme, Leven House,
   Balmore Road, Glasgow. G22 6NU.
•  Visit our website:        www.scottishwater.co.uk/lochryan
 
•   If you would prefer not to receive this E:Letter in the future, please advise by e-mailing ‘lochryan@scottishwater.co.uk’ with subject heading ‘E:Letter unsubscribe’
 
Finally, thank you for taking time to read through our latest E:Letter.  We’d appreciate your views on how useful you find this and if you can think of any individual or organisation that you think may like subsequent E:Letters, then please let us know.
 
Scottish Water is committed to engaging our customers in the Loch Ryan area in a meaningful, clear conversation.  We hope that this E:Letter continues to demonstrate this commitment.
 
Thank you

Stephen Hepburn
Project Manager
Capital Delivery Investment, Scottish Water

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Scottish Water: Loch Ryan Strategic Solution: E:Letter Nr. 04

Overview/ Recap

The water in Loch Ryan needs to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and standards for Shellfish Waters. These strict European regulations have resulted in cleaner beaches and rivers across Scotland, with Stranraer and surrounding towns amongst the last to adopt these standards. Recreational watercourses and beaches are vital to tourism and the economy of local communities - Loch Ryan is no exception.

Our scheme has the support of our environmental regulator SEPA and the Scottish Government. Youc an find more information on how the proposed new waste water process will work on this website.

Scottish Water’s Loch Ryan project aims to give the town of Stranraer and the smaller communities which surround Loch Ryan the same quality of waste water treatment as the rest of Scotland.

The multi-million Loch Ryan project is designed to:

• improve the environment and water quality of Loch Ryan;
• enable growth in the area; and
• enhance the quality of life for local people.

Our project team are dedicated to delivering a project which improves the environment around Loch Ryan and positively contributes to the regeneration of the waterfront as a great place to live, work, play and do business.
Current Position – Port Rodie Pumping Station

Scottish Water currently awaits a decision from the planning committee and accepts that they wish to defer a decision on the planning application for Port Rodie Pumping Station until 7th of January 2010.   We respect that they would like to see more information regarding the waterfront regeneration proposals which are currently being drafted, prior to making their decision.

The planned Loch Ryan waste water project is a crucial component in the regeneration and future prosperity of Stranraer.  Stranraer is one of the last major towns in Scotland to receive a modern waste water infrastructure that will protect the natural environment and contribute towards Loch Ryan’s compliance with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and SEPA standards for shellfish waters.

Scottish Water has been in full consultation with the council planners and the regeneration group, as well as holding open events to brief the local community on our plans. Upgrading the waste water network will provide a fundamental resource that supports the collective aspirations of the local community and enhance their quality of life.

We trust the planning committee will recognise the profound importance of our project in the future development of Stranraer.

Tender

The Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) tender phase has entered Stage 3 and contractor returns are expected in early February 2010.

Land Purchase

Land purchase negotiations are underway at Port Rodie, Leswalt and Cairnryan and should be complete early in the New Year.

Planning

Planning applications for Cairnryan and Leswalt are anticipated to be approved in January and February 2010 respectively.

Investigations

Marine site investigations in Loch Ryan and in the North Channel are now complete.

Land based site investigations have been undertaken through November, at all major project centres and along the route of the 30km of pipeline for the project.  These works are stopped for the Christmas break and are substantially complete, with a potential for some minor works in the New Year.

Other projects in Stranraer:  A Water Quality Project is underway to assess the impact from intermittent discharges.

We want to hear from you
 
Updates will always be posted on our website when available.  If you would like to contact Scottish Water about the Loch Ryan Strategic Solution project, you can:
 

•  Phone:                       Customer Helpline:               0845 601 8855
•  E_Mail:                       LochRyan@scottishwater.co.uk
•  Write to:                      Project Manager, Loch Ryan Scheme, Leven House,
   Balmore Road, Glasgow. G22 6NU.
•  Visit our website:        www.scottishwater.co.uk/lochryan
 
•   If you would prefer not to receive this E:Letter in the future, please advise by e-mailing ‘lochryan@scottishwater.co.uk’ with subject heading ‘E:Letter unsubscribe’
 
Finally, thank you for taking you time to read through our latest E:Letter.  We’d appreciate your views on how useful you find this and if you can think of any individual or organisation that you think may like subsequent E:Letters, then please let us know.
 
Scottish Water is committed to engaging our customers in the Loch Ryan area in a meaningful, clear conversation.  We hope that this E:Letter demonstrates this commitment.

Stephen Hepburn
Project Manager
Capital Delivery Investment, Scottish Water

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9 July 2009

Planning Applications

Loch Ryan Planning Applications have been submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council, on 18th March, for both the new Treatment Works at Smithy Hill near Leswalt and the new Pumping Station at Port Rodie in Stranraer.

Dumfries and Galloway have approved the application for the development at Smithy Hill and have asked for further supporting information before determining the application for Port Rodie.

We would like to invite you to view the planning applications we have lodged, making any views or suggestions you may have known to the local planners. You can view both the planning applications and the approval here.

Scottish Water attended the last stakeholder workshop with the Waterfront Development Consultants on 13th May and now awaits, like everyone else, the outcome of the public consultation and the reveal on the Waterfront Masterplan.<

The project team have recently met with Westminster MP Russell Brown and again can report a very good level of support for the project and the Waterfront Development in general.

Liaison with Local Residents and Community

We have now spoken to around 70% of the landowners along the route of the pipeline, focussing on those who will be affected by the proposed site investigation works.
Our next phase is to speak to all landowners who will be affected by the installation works, with the first discussions taking place in mid to late July.

Site Based Activities

Land based site investigations were due to start at the end of June but are now more likely to start around mid July.

The project team are in continued discussion with a number of landowners who have raised concerns over the work to try to reduce the impact locally or to agree an alternative to the works proposed.  Through these discussions information, that is useful to the project, is surfacing and like Golf you can’t beat local knowledge. 

Other information being unearthed relates to the history of the peninsula with particular reference to the Army Camp and Sunderland Sea Plane Airfield that were sited near Kirkcolm.

Marine site investigation should be underway by mid July with barges visible at either Broadsea Bay or in the Port Rodie/ Stranraer Harbour area.

Making Contact

Updates will always be posted on our website when available.  If you would like to contact Scottish Water about the Loch Ryan Strategic Solution project, you can:

Phone our Customer Contact centre: 0845 601 8855

Email: LochRyan@scottishwater.co.uk
Write to: Project Manager, Loch Ryan Scheme, Leven House, Balmore Road, Glasgow. G22 6NU.

If you would prefer not to receive this E:Letter in the future, please advise by e-mailing ‘lochryan@scottishwater.co.uk’ with subject heading ‘E:Letter unsubscribe’

Thanks, Stephen Hepburn, Project Manager, Loch Ryan WWTW

5th June 2009

Dumfries & Galloway Council granted approval of the new Waste Water Treatment Works proposed at Smithy Hill near Leswalt.

Keep checking this website for further developments in the project.

6 May 2009

Our first e:newsletter!
 
We will update you every month on the progress of the pre- construction activities being undertaken during this phase of the project.
 
Planning Applications
 
Loch Ryan Planning Applications have been submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council, on 18th March, for both the new Treatment Works at Smithy Hill near Leswalt and the new Pumping Station at Port Rodie in Stranraer.
 
Dumfries and Galloway have acknowledged and verified the applications which have already been advertised in the Stranraer and Wigtown Free Press on 25th March 2009.
 
Discussions regarding the application are ongoing with Dumfries and Galloway Council Planning Department as well as the Waterfront Development Consultants, including Scottish Water attendance at the next Waterfront Open Day to be held in Stranraer on 13th May.
 
You can view these plans, and should you have any concerns or thoughts, you may raise these with the Local Planners.   The planning application has been put up onto our website.

Meeting MSPs
 
The project team have recently met with both Alex Ferguson and Alasdair Morgan, the MSPs for the region, to discuss the planning applications.  Both meetings ended very positively with further shared knowledge of aspirations and expectations, and recognition that Scottish Water are potentially providing the infrastructure support for the future development of the Waterfront.
 
Liaison with Local Residents and Community
 
It is the intention of the project team to try and visit all of those landowners along the route of the pipeline where access is required to complete the surveys discussed further below.  It is hoped that we can discuss the activities required in order to complete the surveys at a time convenient to the specific landowners. 
 
The Project Team are also setting up a meeting with all of the local Councillors to update them on the progress of the project and to discuss any issues that they may have.  Details of this meeting will be issued via future E:Letters and on the website.

Our next step will be to arrange visits to the local Community Councils and any local stakeholders.

Site Based Activities

The project is due to start construction in the Spring of 2010, so there won’t be a lot of activity until then.  However, planned site surveys and investigations will be ongoing from now until the Spring of 2010.

Land Based Topographic Surveys are well underway.  These involve the survey of position, height and gradient of the surface of the landscape including features such as properties, hedges, fences, roads, footpaths, manholes, hydrants, bridges etc. over a 30m wide corridor centred on the proposed route of the pumping main pipeline.

The Topographic surveys are substantially complete on Leg 5 of the Scheme pumping mains, an overview of which can be seen by reading our 8th April update. 

Further topographic surveys will be undertaken, in the immediate future, between the new Waste Water Treatment Works (WwTW) site and Loch Ryan itself, near to Stranraer Golf Club.

Land Based Site Investigation

On completion of the Topographic Surveys, as detailed above, it is the intention of the project team to start sub surface surveys to determine the suitability of the existing material through which the pipeline will be laid and to determine the nature and depth of the rock strata below the pipeline.

This activity will be required along the entire length of the 30km of pipelines;  from Cairnryan to Stranraer, from Kirkcolm and Leswalt to the new WwTW and from the new WwTW to the long sea outfall at Broadsea Bay, Larbrax.   Section 48 notices will be issued during the next few weeks to allow the boreholes and trial pits to start by the middle of May.

Marine Site Investigation - Marine Site Investigation includes;  boreholes on the sea bed along the proposed route of the long and short sea outfall pipes.  Tidal movements, in terms of currents both surface and sub surface and tidal heights, minimum, maximum and mean.

Applications for the Marine Site Investigation for the long and short sea outfalls at both Broadsea Bay and Port Rodie, have been approved by the Crown and should be advertised in the Stranraer and Wigtown Free Press in the very near future with a view to work starting in May of this year.

We want to hear from you

Updates will always be posted on our website when available.  If you would like to contact Scottish Water about the Loch Ryan Strategic Solution project, you can:

Customer Helpline 0845 601 8855

EMail:LochRyan@scottishwater.co.uk
Write to Project Manager, Loch Ryan Scheme, Leven House,Balmore Road, Glasgow. G22 6NU.

If you would prefer to receive th E:Letter directly, please by e-mailing ‘lochryan@scottishwater.co.uk’ with subject heading ‘E:Letter unsubscribe’

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28 April 2009

View the latest planning documents

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8 April 2009

Topographic surveys on one of the pipe legs from Leswalt to Larbrax.

Photo caption: Stephen Hepburn (left) and Andy Wilson (second from left) take local men Mr Burns (second from right) and Mr Irving (right) through the plans for the project.

18 March 2009

Scottish Water lodged the applications for planning for both Port Rodie and Loch Ryan WwTW in a meeting with Dumfries and Galloway Council at their offices in Stranraer.

Scottish Water open day in Stranraer a success

More than 50 local people came to see the proposed plans for a new waste water solution for the area at the John Niven Centre in Stranraer on Thursday 19th February.

In addition to large posters of plans on the wall, there was also a PowerPoint presentation that showed a draft design for the new pumping station at Stranraer and handouts (listed on the right) for local people to take away.

The Scottish Water project team also met up with Alex Fergusson MSP to give him a briefing on the plans before opening up to the public.  Mr fergusson said:

 

"I was pleased to be able to attend this briefing and be updated on Scottish Water's plans for Loch Ryan, which are extensive and thorough. The clear winner will be the waters of Loch Ryan which, given the potential for the redevelopment of Stranraer Harbour Waterfront, can only be a very good thing.

“However, this is a large scale engineering project which will, inevitably, cause a degree of disruption to the communities involved.

I am heartened by Scottish Water's determination to ensure a proper consultation process with those communities and also to liaise with the Council and others, such as Stena and Transport Scotland, who will be undertaking major projects at the same time, in order to minimise that disruption.

That must be the aim, and if it is achieved, the outcome will be very well worth it."

From 2pm until 8pm the project team was on hand to accept members of the public, and they spoke to a range of people including landowners, developers, farmers and local residents.

Stephen Hepburn, project manager, Scottish Water, said:

“This was a fantastic event and really enabled us to interface with the community, allowing them to discuss the project directly with the engineers and designers.

“The proposed solution currently involves transferring waste water flows via a network of pumping stations to a new waste water treatment works near Smithy Hill. This will then pump the treated waste to an outfall pipe in the Irish Sea near Larbrax.

“This will end the current practice of permanently discharging waste water into Loch Ryan, and will enable us to convert the current works at Stranraer into storm water storage tanks. Pumping stations at Cairnryan, Leswalt and Kirkcolm will pump the waste from these communities to the new works, creating a modern waste water treatment process for the area.

The new treatment process will consist of two stages of treatment – an improvement on the single stage process currently in place at Stranraer. The overall cost is currently estimated at around £20million.”