Building Briefs – December 7th

Mortonhall wideEdinburgh’s Mortonhall Memorial Garden opens

The Mortonhall Memorial Garden has opened in Edinburgh following a series of consultation events held earlier in the year with parents affected by practices relating to the cremation of babies at the Mortonhall Crematorium.

Created by Edinburgh company Green Edge, the memorial was one of the 22 recommendations in Mortonhall Investigation report produced by Dame Elish Angiolini and commissioned by Sue Bruce in January 2013 after concerns were raised about practices at the crematorium.

Specially designed plaques run along the inner walls of the garden inscribed with the names of 149 babies and short messages. The name plaques have been sensitively designed to include a dragonfly and floral motif to complement feature dragonflies that are in the garden.



The walled circular water feature garden includes beech hedges, birch trees, a stone ball water feature, rocks, pathway, seating and is located off the existing memorial walkway within easy reach of the main chapel.

In line with parents’ wishes an alternative memorial is being proposed as some families had strong views that they did not wish to return to Mortonhall. The preferred location for the second memorial is Princes Street Gardens.

 

Dunoon’s £2.83m pier restoration expected to be complete by the end of the year



Argyll and Bute Council’s £2.83million structural repair and refurbishment of key elements of Dunoon’s iconic Victorian-era wooden pier is almost complete, with local companies making a significant contribution and a new venue being created for hire.

Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Dick Walsh, welcomed the progress, saying the council is already looking to use it for area committee meetings in the New Year.

Local contractors to have contributed to the project include:



  • Shearwater Marine Services, Dunoon – major sub-contract package to provide diving and marine support. All employees are resident in Dunoon and surrounding area
  • John Tyre & Sons, Dunoon – providing metalwork
  • Cowal Building Supplies, Dunoon – main source for all general building materials
  • Ross MacArthur, Dunoon – Plant and labour hire


  • West Coast Tool & Plant Hire, Dunoon – plant hire
  • Campbell’s Decorators, Kirn – providing cherry picker and operators
  • Storie Argyll Ltd. – plant and labour for the installation of the foul drainage connection to the local sewer network
  • GH Currie Blacksmith, Sandbank – design, production and installation of the new gates


  • DC7 Vending, Dunoon – drinking water supplies
  • Steven Gibson, Dunoon – electrical services
  • Gleaner Oils, Dunoon – fuel supply
  • Argyll 1st, Dunoon, site welfare service


  • Hunter’s Quay, Dunoon – accommodation
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    Bond Dickinson appointed to Taylor Wimpey’s legal panel



    National law firm Bond Dickinson has been appointed to Taylor Wimpey’s legal panel following a review of the housebuilder’s legal providers.

    This appointment will be effective from 1st January 2016.

    Bond Dickinson advises occupiers, developers, investors and tenants of property in all matters and also has Scottish qualified lawyers, dedicated to providing cross border support.

     



    Stronger Bill ‘essential’ to delivering ambitious land reform, says Holyrood committee

    The Scottish Government’s Land Reform Bill requires strengthening in key areas to deliver on its radical ambitions, according to MSPs.

    A report by the Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs, climate change and environment committee (RACCE) said changes are required to the draft legislation to improve transparency about who owns, controls and benefits from land, and it urged the Scottish Government to consider whether communities will be able to make full use of proposed right to buy provisions.

    Issues in the report include:

    • The Bill needs to state clearly that land is a national asset for the benefit of all the people of Scotland and be firmly and explicitly set within the context of international human rights obligations.
    • Changes are required to the draft legislation to secure improved transparency about who owns, controls and benefits from land, and the Committee suggests how that might be achieved.
    • Steps must be taken to explain more effectively why engagement between landowners, land managers and communities is demanded by the Bill, to ensure that guidance on engagement will not be ignored by any party and make all concerned aware of potential penalties for not adhering to guidance.
    • The proposed new right to buy for communities to further sustainable development is welcome but the committee asks the Government to consider whether the test thresholds are too high and whether communities will be able to make full use of the provisions.
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      Cupar Burgh Chambers could be transformed into holiday home

      Councillors have backed the transformation of an iconic Cupar building into a holiday home to make money for community projects.

      Once the civic heart of the town, the Burgh Chambers has lain empty for years.

      A plan to convert the Fife Council-owned property for let to holidaymakers won the approval of north-east Fife councillors, who heard profits would go to the Cupar common good fund.

      They will recommend that the proposal by Fife Historic Buildings Trust and the council is given the go-ahead by the council’s executive committee.

      Transformation of the near 200-year-old pink building on the corner of St Catherine Street and Crossgate, which houses the town clock, will be carried out over the next two years.

      It will form part of the town’s lottery and Historic Scotland-funded Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.

       

      Top of the class for Bellway trainee site manager

      Gerard Boylan
      Gerard Boylan

      Christmas has come early for Gerard Boylan who works for Bellway, the fourth largest housebuilder in the UK, for the trainee site manager has just been presented with a top industry award by Glasgow Caledonian University.

      The 23 year old, from Cumbernauld, received the Brookfield Multiplex Award for the Top Student Performance in Health & Safety in Construction Process Management. As well as receiving a certificate, Gerard was presented with an iPad and £200 by the award sponsor.

      Gerard began work with Bellway just over a year ago based at the company’s Marches development in Stepps. He combines working on site with studying towards an Honours Degree in Construction Management and is the only part-time student on the course.

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