The Ness and Struie Drainage Project may be considered substantially complete when the Ness and Struie Pumping Stations are commissioned, even before the Treatment Plant comes into operation. Permanent plant, such as that within the settlement tanks, will be in place and functional by the end of the month. At time of writing only the sea outfall remains to be completed of the critical path works.
All pipelines have passed their prescribed tests and all concrete samples have similarly achieved both their seven and twenty-eight day strengths. Water retaining structures (high culvert, collection chamber, pumping stations and settlement tanks) have also been proven. In the course of construction one serious but non-fatal industrial accident occurred. The Health and Safety Executive has now completed its investigation and it is possible that a prosecution will follow against personnel. The Contractor has been cleared of responsibility.
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Unusually wet weather for much of the contract duration has made surface finishing on the slopes between the two villages impossible and the Contractor will return in the spring to make good. The Client will recall that in the Partnership’s Feasibility Report the Engineer did suggest such a likelihood but a single Works, with concomitant operational savings, was deemed the more economic solution by the Authority over an anticipated forty year working life. Some additional costs will be generated but these may be legitimately ascribed (see below) to the forthcoming Lochdon Project and contracts beyond.
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The Contractor has undergone substantial organisational and operational changes between completion of the Black Isle (Beauly Firth) Project and the present time. Nonetheless, a substantial time saving (half of the allotted duration) has been achieved. This, it should be noted, in the early part of the year when the productive working day is shortest and in this winter’s particularly inclement conditions. Meteorological references indicate the wettest January of the past fifteen years and some of the lowest temperatures.
The Engineer has been impressed by the Contractor’s progress not only with regard to the speedy completion of the Works but also in his internal reorganisations. Experience gained, working relationships developed with the Environmental Agency, the Roads Department, the Engineer’s staff and with the client body itself, are deemed invaluable to the successful completion of the two remaining projects. After discussions with senior personnel within the client body it has been agreed that the Lochdon Project will be constructed under a partnering arrangement as prescribed in the 7th Edition of the Conditions of Contract. It is recommended that Ness and Struie rates be applied with an upward revision of 6%.
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In the interests of fairness it is also recommended that the Ness and Struie Contract be included in the new partnering arrangement and the revised rates applied retrospectively. This will allow for additional costs generated by the Contractor’s spring revisit and one or two other minor matters. All these developments will conform to the recommendations of the Latham Review and the procurement initiatives propounded by the Egan Report.
With these acceptances in place the Contractor may effect a virtually seamless transition to Lochdon with financial savings passed on to the Client as well as the speediest possible addressing of local difficulties as required by the Environmental Agency. A start within the present calendar month will deflect the possibility of a punitive fine to the Client being applied by the Environmental Agency.