Burnside Square is transformed
The installation of a storage tank under Burnside Square began on Monday, as good progress continues to be made on the Campbeltown Flood Protection Scheme works.
That is according to Argyll and Bute Council’s roads and infrastructure services team which issued an update on the £15 million project this week.
As part of the scheme, which is 80 per cent funded by the Scottish Government and 20 per cent funded by the council, a variety of measures are being put in place to reduce the impact of flooding on residents and businesses in the town.
In the last few months, contractors have installed new pipelines under many of the town’s roads to increase the capacity of the drainage sys- tem so that it can cope better with heavy rainfall.
Many of these pipes will lead into the new storage tank underneath Burnside Square. This tank will safely store water and allow it to slowly discharge.
The Burnside Square part of the project kicked off in earnest when contractors returned to work on Thursday January 5 following the Christmas and New Year break.
Since then, they have excavated the square ahead of starting work to install the tank which involves the use of a piling rig.
“We had hoped to save some of the old trees from the square for possible replanting elsewhere but unfortunately they were not able to be saved," said a roads and infrastructure services spokesperson.
“We are continuing to work on design options for the reinstatement of the square following the public consultation which concluded in favour of a flexible space which could be used for events, and for parking when not in use for events.
“We would expect to have these updated designs for sharing shortly.”
Site investigation works into the creation of a safe water storage reservoir at Millknowe also began on Monday, with the main works due to start in the spring.
Given its location and the type of works involved, this part of the project is expected to be the least disruptive.
Under phase one of the project, which began in September last year, new pipelines and safe water storage ponds are being created in the Meadows area.
This should be finished in June; contractors are currently waiting for the area to dry out before topsoiling the ponds and reinstating the fields.
This is expected to be followed by resurfacing of the roads around the works.
A public pop-up information event will soon be held to update the community on plans to install a new culvert under the existing road at Dalaruan Street. The contractor, design team and council will all be present to discuss the works in detail, the phasing plan and how disruption to the community will be minimised.