Still no start of work on riverside collapse
Council yet to award contract for Old Harbour repair
Council officials hope within the next few weeks to award the contract for repairs to the harbour wall at Riverside.
A section of the River Forth’s banking at Old Harbour Park, Shore Road, collapsed in January last year.
Since then, the park has been closed and recently more of the banking has fallen away into the river.
Now, only the width of a path and fewer than two metres of grass separates the tidal flows of the Forth from Shore Road.
Geotechnical investigation works were carried out in September and in November to assist in design.
Repair work was due to take place over the autumn and winter, following the relocation of water pipes, removal of a redundant BT line and felling of a tree. And the project should have been completed by this spring at the latest.
In February, Riverside Community Council were advised that Stirling Council hoped to have a contractor in place that month. However, there has been no work to repair the banking since then.
On Monday, a spokesman for the council said staff had been working with civil engineers on a design for the harbour wall.
“We recently sought tenders for this work from contractors experienced in working in tidal waters and are currently assessing the returned tenders to ensure best value for money,” added the spokesman.
“We hope to award the contract later this month with work commencing shortly thereafter.
“As the necessary geotechnical surveys and relocation of services have already been undertaken, we expect that the actual construction works should be completed by the autumn. This includes restoration of the footpath and grassed area.”
Stirling Council, which has set aside £500,000 to spend on the harbour, has also lodged plans to lay at the harbour over 60 metres of wood-effect decking and a pontoon which would be used by a new river taxi service proposed as part of the City Region Deal.
Councillor Jim Thomson, the council’s new environment and housing convener, said he would be discussing the riverbank repair and other infrastructure projects with officials in the next few weeks.
He added: “I am disappointed that the work has not been done but believe the delay was to do with the public utilities. Hopefully, it will now be done as quickly as possible because I would hate to think they are waiting for the winter months to carry out the work.”