Jackie Baillie MSP and local councillors recently visited a major upgrade of the waste water infrastructure in Helensburgh, which will bring substantial environmental improvements to the town when it is completed shortly.
Scottish Water has finished the last of the key projects in the upgrade at Lomond Street and expects to complete the final project, at Craigendoran Pier, by the end of July.
The local environment, including the beach and bathing waters at East Bay, will be significantly cleaner following the completion of a total of 10 separate projects worth about £5.5m which will reduce the frequency and level of sewage spills in storm conditions onto the beach and into the River Clyde.
The work, which started in January 2008, has tackled the ageing network to the east of the esplanade and seafront by improving 10 combined sewer overflows and removing three sea outfalls into the Clyde at George Street, Charlotte Street and Colgrain Pumping Station, which are now redundant.
It will enable Scottish Water to meet regulations laid down by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Ms Baillie, the MSP for Dumbarton, and some local councillors today visited Scottish Water's work at Lomond Street, where the area has been fully reinstated, and Craigendoran Pier, where extra storage and screens will be installed as the final part of our work.
They were given an explanation of the work involved in the projects by Mr Stephen Griffen, Scottish Water's acting regional manager, and Mr Nick Haley, the project manager.
The investment was welcomed by Ms Baillie, who said: "The town has been in urgent need of serious investment for some time in the waste water infrastructure.
"This investment will improve the local environment for residents and visitors to Helensburgh.
"Tourism is a huge part of the economy of the town and finally having a modern, efficient waste water infrastructure will be of tremendous benefit.
"The local environment, including the beach and bathing waters, will be significantly cleaner as a result.
"I know that there has been considerable upheaval for business and residents alike but I am sure that people will acknowledge that this is a major investment in Helensburgh and the benefits to the environment will be clear for all to see in the years to come."
Councillor Al Reay, a councillor for the Helensburgh Central ward on Argyll and Bute Council, was unable to attend the visit today but also welcomed the completion of the work and said: "I have been extremely pleased with the willingness and co-operation of Scottish Water to liaise and work constructively with the council, local businesses and residents during this work and to minimise, wherever possible, the disruption to local businesses and inconvenience to local residents.
"We appreciate the efforts of Scottish Water to restore the East Bay area to its former glory and we believe that this major investment will substantially improve the environment in the area."
The improvements, which were delivered by GMJV for Scottish Water Solutions, began with three projects at Hanover Street Pumping Station, Middleton Drive and Craigendoran Avenue, which were completed in the summer of 2008.
The other projects, at Lomond Street, George Street, Charlotte Street, Glenfinlas Street, Hanover Street, Colgrain Pumping Station, Kidston car park, and Craigendoran Pier, started later last year following consultation with Argyll and Bute Council and the local community.
Mr Griffen said: "We are delighted to be nearing completion of this massively important investment in the waste water infrastructure in Helensburgh.
"Scottish Water takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and we are certain that this investment will substantially improve the environment in the town.
"This project has modernised the waste water infrastructure of Helensburgh to bring it up to 21st century standards."
Scottish Water recently completed the Lomond Street, Charlotte Street, and George Street projects - the last of the most sensitive parts of the work - where we have reduced the frequency spills from outfalls to the Firth of Clyde during storm conditions by increasing the storage and installing screens.
We have also completed the reinstatement of grassland in the East Esplanade adjacent to Lomond Street, and rebuilt footpaths and planters, following consultation and agreement with the Helensburgh Community Council, the East Esplanade Protection Committee, and Argyll and Bute Council.
Mr Haley said: "The contractors have done a quite superb job, working quickly and efficiently to complete these projects on time.
"We also appreciated the patience and co-operation of the local community as the work was carried out."
The work included communications with residents and shop owners and an open day to ensure they were informed. Regular updates were also given to local councillors.
Mrs Jane McKenzie, Scottish Water's community affairs manager, said: "Communicating with local residents, business people and councillors was an important part of the success of these projects."
The Helensburgh projects are part of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for Argyll & Bute, a £78m two-year programme of investment across the region.
Figures show that in 2008-09 Scottish Water invested a total of £40m in Argyll and Bute and will invest another £38m in 2009-10 as it brings clearer, fresher drinking water to almost 60,000 people, upgrades almost 20 water treatment works, makes environmental improvements, reduces leakage and allows for growth and economic development in the two-year period.
We expect to have invested a total of £129m throughout Argyll and Bute in the 2006-2010 investment period.
Additional information
In periods of heavy rainfall Scottish Water is allowed by SEPA and the regulatory bodies to spill certain amounts of sewage but the frequency of these spills will be greatly reduced and the sewage significantly diluted as a result of the investment.
The Helensburgh projects have been carried out by a workforce of about 30 and a seven-strong management team and the work involved the installation of about 300 metres of pipes.
Various approvals were required for the work, including a licence to work near an otters' habitat at Colgrain Pumping Station.
The contractors also had to deal with Japanese knotweed, whose roots can damage pipes and other structures, and scheduled a small amount of work around Redshank birds near the Colgrain Pumping Station to minimise disruption to their habitat.
