Building Briefs – April 28th

• Roadworks to close Forth Road Bridge

Bus services will divert via the Queensferry Crossing during these times.

The east footpath will remain open to cyclists and pedestrians on both dates.

All non-essential operations on the network have been stood down while the current coronavirus restrictions are in place, however these repairs are essential to ensure the continuing safe operation of the Forth Road Bridge. Work will therefore proceed in strict compliance with government guidance on social distancing and hygiene.

• Glasgow plumbing firm fundraising to buy PPE for NHS and care homes

Staff at Glasgow plumbing firm C Hanlon have set up a funding page for the purpose of buying protective clothing and cleaning products for frontline workers in the Greater Glasgow area.

To get this page up, the company has made a donation of £3,000 which has been used to purchase 2,500 face masks which it has already started to distribute in the area.

Managing director Christopher Hanlon said: “Like many others work colleagues and friends most of us will have family friends and relatives who work in the NHS or care home sectors. I have two daughters who are training to be nurses and I would like to ensure that they and every other person working in these sectors can do so safely. Often these frontline staff are working in circumstances dangerous to their own safety and they obviously live with the fear of taking this virus back home to their families.”

Donations can be made by clicking here.

• Argyll and Bute design awards postponed

Argyll & Bute Council’s 2020 built environment Design Awards have been postponed because of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Councillor David Kinniburgh, policy lead for planning, protective services, and licensing (PPSL), said: “We had to make the sad decision to postpone the design awards at the end of last week. We can’t carry out site visits which makes it almost impossible to run and judge a design competition.

“We will review this decision as soon as it is appropriate. Meantime, I send my sincere thanks to everyone who expressed an interest so far.”

The design awards recognise, promote and celebrate examples of exceptional design quality, with a focus on sustainability, which reflects the council’s commitment to meeting its climate change responsibilities.

They pay particular recognition to new buildings, designed and built to meet the highest standards of energy efficiency, help support our environment in highly imaginative ways.

• South Lanarkshire Council eases access to green energy funding

Applications for community benefit funds generated by wind farms in South Lanarkshire are to be fast-tracked to support local groups and organisations during the coronavirus pandemic.

The wind farm funded grants in the region total about £3.1 million annually and measures have been approved to earmark up to £600,000 during the next three months to deliver assistance and support in response to COVID-19.

Grants from £500 to £10,000 will be made available through a simplified application process.

Funding will be available in two streams:

Priority 1: Immediate Support Fund

Between £500 to £5,000 available to groups and organisations, including community councils, to deliver immediate assistance and relief due to coronavirus.

Priority 2: 3rd Sector Resilience Fund

Between £500 to £10,000 available to constituted community groups, community-based sports and cultural clubs and charitable organisations to relieve pressure through the loss of income or ongoing costs arising from coronavirus.

Generally, the community benefit funds will only make awards to groups and organisations based within 10km of the windfarm that contributes to the specific fund however the Clyde Development Fund can offer support across the whole of South Lanarkshire.

In agreement with the Clyde Wind Farm’s operator SSE, the scope of the Clyde Development Fund, which is geared usually towards supporting training, education and supporting employment, will be extended to offer support to a total of £200,000 to vulnerable groups anywhere in South Lanarkshire. This will ensure grants are also available to areas not close to a wind farm and in particular Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

More information on how to apply is available on the council’s website.