Bank repair starts
Baskets of stones to be used in restoration
Plans to repair a section of riverbank at Stirling’s Old Harbour Park got underway this week.
Stirling Council has set aside £500,000 for the work which is expected to take between eight and 10 weeks to complete.
Officers had been working on proposals for the park since January last year when a section of the River Forth’s banking there collapsed.
Since then, the park has been closed and more of the banking has fallen away into the river.
Residents feared the subsidence could effect Shore Road which runs alongside the park.
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. The project should have been completed by this spring at the latest.
In March, the council applied for planning permission to install a fibre reinforced polymer deck measuring 64 metres long by eight metres wide along the river’s edge at the park. concrete piles, the collapsed banking section is to be repaired using gambion baskets of stones placed on a base of stonework with concrete coping stones on top.
Riverside Community Council secretary Ann Graham, who praised council officials for keeping them up to date with developments in the proposed work, said: “We were told the financial situation was such they were having to cut back on the work that could be done at the moment.
“They are intending to carry out repairs to about 50 metres of banking which has fallen into the river. We are concerned that other areas along that stretch of the river are at risk and have asked for guarantees that parts not subject to repair will be inspected every 12 months to ensure they are not about to subside.”
It is understood the council will provide new picnic benches and renew the path through the park which has been damaged by the collapse.
A spokesman for the council said the specification for the work remains the same as when tender documents for the job were first issued.
Up until now , £130,000 has been spent on the “relatively complex” geotechnical investigation and design works.
Convener of the council’s environment and housing committee Jim Thomson said: “The council engaged with civil engineers on scoping a design for the wall, with geotechnical investigation works carried out in late 2016 to assist in design.
“The work was put out to tender to ensure best value for money, with the contract being awarded in July.
“The project start date is later than we’d hoped but it is good to see that the work is now underway to restore the Old Harbour wall.
“This will allow residents and visitors access to be able to enjoy the riverside picnic site once again.”