This Project is the latest in a series to be undertaken in sequence along the Ross-shire, East Sutherland and Caithness coast and is programmed to follow on from the Black Isle (Beauly Firth) Project now approaching completion and preceding three more located further to the north, Lochdon, also in East Sutherland, and Dunpark and Fishertown in Caithness.
Although not geographically distant the communities of Ness and Struie are separated by a range of relatively low hills. They have a combined population of around 1000 people that is more than doubled in the middle third of the year by summer residents and tourists. Both are served by septic tanks which have been the subject of complaints from the local Community Councils over many years.
* * *
The septic tank for the coastal village of Ness has its outfall directly into the North Sea. Given that it is considerably undersized for the summer population, and its location renders access for the Authority’s tankers virtually impossible, it is never emptied and there is frequent contamination of the shore by gross solids.
The septic tank for the inland village of Struie discharges its effluent into a slow moving stream that has its lowest flow in the months of highest usage. This leads to a very considerable odour nuisance with, it is claimed, an effect on tourism and the local economy. The Environment Agency has written to the Authority’s Chief Executive threatening fines if these conditions are not addressed within the next financial year.
The Authority’s Operations and Maintenance Department has stipulated a single Works rather than the Consultant’s preferred option of two. Predictive calculations indicate that the additional costs involved will be justified over a forty year lifespan.
The Authority has retained the services of the Consultant Engineer used for the Black Isle (Beauly Firth) Project, The Russell Partnership of Glasgow, with Sir Graham Russell designated as the ‘Engineer for the Works’.
* * *
The Russell Partnership’s strategy for meeting these requirements entails the construction of a new sewage treatment plant on the coast approximately four hundred metres south of Ness, where any odour nuisance will effectively be removed from the village. The Works will consist of a collection chamber close to the A9, two circular concrete settlement tanks and an outfall to sea for treated effluent.
The flow from Ness will be taken by a new concrete pipeline to the collection chamber and the existing septic tank demolished.
The flow from the inland village of Struie will be pumped uphill in a 150mm diameter uPVC flexible pipe where, at the top, it will enter a new, reinforced concrete culvert which will be two metres in section, large enough for any future increase in flow should the Planning Department’s plans for future housing development be realised. At the east side of the hill the flow will enter another new concrete pipeline to flow downhill and under the A9 to the new collection chamber where it will join with the flow from Ness and enter the new sewage treatment plant.
The culvert and pipelines will all be underground with top surfaces reinstated to the satisfaction of both the landowners and the Environment Agency.
* * *
Our Consultant proposes to supervise the Contract with a permanent Resident Engineer and Clerk Of Works. Costs for these necessary positions have already been built into the Overall Project Estimate.
The Allowable Contract Period will be six months beginning on 1st January. This should lead to least disruption of tourist activities as well as conform to the Authority’s planned spending profile and work will run on from the Black Isle (Beauly Firth) Project.
* * *
The recommended tender has been placed by Strath Construction Ltd. However, the company has been purchased by Syme Atwood (Contractors) Leicester, and is now their wholly owned subsidiary. Strath Construction is well known to this Authority and has carried out many Contracts of this scale and approximate value.
In purchasing Strath Construction, then in the course of completing the Black Isle/Beauly Firth Project, Syme Atwood acquired the local base necessary to meet the Authority’s stipulated requirements. It is likely that the acquisition will bring economies of scale that will ultimately be to the Authority’s advantage.
* * *
The Contract duration will be eight months. The Contractor has committed to employ locally.