Furnace

RESIDENTS of Queen Elizabeth Cottages at Furnace have been protected from coastal erosion thanks to a major engineering project.

The £95,000 scheme, paid for by Argyll and Bute Council and Scottish Water, saw the installation of 2,000 tonnes of rock ‘armour’ along a 140-metre stretch of coastline by the Anderson Group of Inverness.

Rock armour is rock or other material used to protect shorelines, stream beds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour and water or ice erosion.

Originally forecast to last 10 weeks, the scheme began in early April and has been completed four weeks early and within budget.

Councillor Ellen Morton said: ‘Something had to be done to protect these houses from coastal erosion and we were pleased to be able to work in partnership with Scottish Water to complete the work.

‘The project was quite complex and involved carrying out strengthening works to a coastal embankment while working next to the Scottish Water plant. We would like to thank people for their patience and co- operation during this work.’

Ruaridh MacGregor, Scottish Water’s community team manager for Argyll and Bute, said: ‘The work involved was challenging. We were pleased to play our part in this effective partnership working between Scottish Water and Argyll and Bute Council, and to help deliver a solution.’