Month: February 2019

Compass have informed us they need to close access to the Millennium Hall for the first 2 weeks in April “to allow deep drainage and soakaway works to be completed in front of the building.” They’ve gone to great trouble to keep access open till now but this shut-down is unavoidable. If affected groups can manage to book space in the school instead, SCD will pay the difference. Tricia will put up a poster in the hall and ensure anyone who has a booking for this period is informed. Please spread the word.

The work is timed to follow on from the drainage and sewage work previously announced. Here’s a reminder of those road works in March :

(1) From the hall to Old Mill Rd junction : Traffic lights will be installed and vehicles will be restricted to a single lane. Beginning 18th March, scheduled for 3 weeks.
(2) From top of Shop Brae to water treatment plant :  Road closure, traffic detoured via Raigbeg. Beginning 18th March, scheduled for 2 weeks.

Pedestrian access down shop brae will be maintained during this period, and in response to fears of a wine bottle mountain, Compass will allow access to the bottle bank from the lower side.

We apologise for the inevitable inconvenience.

Visit 16

Date : Wednesday 16th February 2019

Weather : Temp 8°C, Dry, overcast, light winds.

Principal Contractor : Compass Building & Construction Services Ltd

Site Manager : Robbie Tewnion & Jake Reid

Time Lost : 3 days lost to wet trades (3rd Dec 0°C, 4th Dec -1.5°C, & 5th Dec -7°C)

Compass have still to quantify any recent lost time due to temperature. Will be quantified for the next project meeting.

Site Personnel

1 Site Manager + 0 Trainee Site Manager 0 Pre cast installer 1 Forklift Driver 1 Crane 4 Glulam Erection Squad 0 Groundworkers 0 Concrete Squad 0 Brick laying squad 0 Site Engineer

Sub Contractors Appointed

Shane MacLennan Groundworks Scotframe Kit supply & design Glulam Solutions Kit and glulam erection FP McCann Precast concrete supply & install. C MacPhee Bricklayer Gartec Lift supplier & installer. Andrew Cowie Concrete slab installer FP McCann Precast Concrete McLeod Roofing Slate Roofing

2

Activities on site

The 1st lift of blockwork forming the stair enclosure has been built. Low temperatures are hampering progress on site. Compass are looking at an alternative to the concrete blocks and cap slabs above 1st floor. An amendment to warrant will be required due to proposed change in fire proofing the stairwell. This is ongoing.

The GF Slab has been poured and is complete. Much of the slab is covered in snow and ice however it was noted that the areas of exposed slab are suffering from a degradation of the surface. Possibly due to low temperatures overnight after the pour. See photos below. Proposals required from Compass as to how the issue will be rectified.

Glulam erection has commenced on site. The main posts and tie beams have been erected and braced with temporary props. Glulam structural elements have fitted together well thus far.

The wall plates have been fitted and kit panels distributed around the site for installation to commence. Winds on Tuesday 12th Feb hampered progress with the crane to install the panels.

Carpark works have been suspended for now. Area required for sturctural frame and kit deliveries.

Normal practice would be to have washers between the baseplates and the HD nuts. Why have washers not been fitted? The contractor advised that washers will be installed on the HD Bolts.

Upcoming Activities

Kit deliveries are ongoing with the 2nd load now on site.

Blockwork construction to stairwell is on the critical path since the cap slab needs to go on before glulam is installed. Design works for the revised stair wall and capping detail are ongoing and proposals are awaited. This will now be installed after the glulam frame has been built.

Progress car park works once structural frame and panels have been completed and the car park area has been cleared.

• The full report includes photos, tables and diagrams which can’t easily be separated from their original PDF format. Click HERE to view the full report.
• An archive of these construction updates is available HERE.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks have sent us an update on their enterprising gateman Peter. In the May issue of Strathdearn Newsletter we heard how he had befriended a pair of coal tits. The word has obviously got around that birds receive a friendly welcome at the A9 gateway to Tomatin substation, for now he has many more visitors, some of them quite rare. Louise Anderson from S.S.E. writes …

Knocknagael – Tomatin project – February 2019

Our gateman Peter is quite the bird charmer

Back in May 2018 we introduced the community to our gateman Peter via an update in the Strathdearn newsletter.

The 2 Coal Tits he managed to rescue and bring back to health last winter have clearly spread the word wide and far on Peter’s love for birdlife how welcoming the area around the A9 compound gatehouse is.

He has had over 30 different species of bird visit him and his bird feeders these include; Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskin, Twite, Wren, Thrush, Yellow Wagtail, Goshawk, Jay, Woodpigeon, Partridge, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Gold Crest (Britain’s smallest bird), Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Dipper, Buzzard, Red Kite, Heron, Sparrow Hawk, Hedge Sparrow, Wood Cock, Tree Creeper, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Gold Finch, House Martin and a Brambling all the way from Iceland.

However, it’s not just birds that love to visit our friendly gateman, he’s also had visits from red squirrels, a weasel and a lizard.

Visit 15

Date : Friday 8th January 2019

Weather : Temp 6°C, Dry, sunny.

Principal Contractor : Compass Building & Construction Services Ltd

Site Manager : Robbie Tewnion & Jake Reid

Time Lost : 3 days lost to wet trades (3rd Dec 0°C, 4th Dec -1.5°C, & 5th Dec -7°C)

Compass have still to quantify any recent lost time due to temperature.

Site Personnel

1 Site Manager + 1 Trainee Site Manager 0 Pre cast installer 1 Forklift Driver 1 Crane 4 Glulam Erection Squad 0 Groundworkers 0 Concrete Squad 0 Brick laying squad 0 Site Engineer

Sub Contractors Appointed

Shane MacLennan Groundworks Scotframe Kit supply & design Glulam Solutions Kit and glulam erection FP McCann Precast concrete supply & install. C MacPhee Bricklayer Gartec Lift supplier & installer. Andrew Cowie Concrete slab installer FP McCann Precast Concrete McLeod Roofing Slate Roofing

2

Activities on site

The 1st lift of blockwork forming the stair enclosure has been built. Low temperatures are hampering progress on site. Compass are looking at an alternative to the concrete blocks and cap slabs above 1st floor. An amendment to warrant will be required due to proposed change in fire proofing the stairwell.

The GF Slab has been poured and is complete. Much of the slab is covered in snow and ice however it was noted that the areas of exposed slab are suffering from a degradation of the surface. Possibly due to low temperatures overnight after the pour. See photos below. Proposals required from Compass as to how the issue will be rectified.

Glulam erection has commenced on site. The main posts and tie beams have been erected and braced with temporary props. Glulam structural elements have fitted together well thus far.

Carpark works have been suspended for now. Area required for sturctural frame and kit deliveries.

Normal practice would be to have washers between the baseplates and the HD nuts. Why have washers not been fitted?

Upcoming Activities

Glulam deliveries will progress.

Kit deliveries have commenced with the 1st load on site. The next delivery is due 13th Feb

Blockwork construction to stairwell is on the critical path since the cap slab needs to go on before glulam is installed. Design works for the revised stair wall and capping detail are ongoing and proposals are awaited. This will now be installed after the glulam frame has been built.

Progress car park works.

• The full report includes photos, tables and diagrams which can’t easily be separated from their original PDF format. Click HERE to view the full report.
• An archive of these construction updates is available HERE.

(in association with, and funded by, The Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust)

In March 2011, an Application was made to the Trust for emergency snowclearing funding.  In answer to the question ‘How will this project benefit the community?’ it was stated on the application that:

• The community will benefit from efforts (supplementing statutory snow clearing work by the Highland Council) made to keep open public routes and other locations of community importance. These additional efforts will aid the movement of people and essential goods and services around Strathdearn, helping to minimise disruption. 
  

• Snow clearing help around their homes (access to fuel supplies etc) will also be made available to vulnerable members of the community during times of extreme snow fall.

• Safeguarding elderly or ill people from trips and falls for example could prevent additional pressure on medical and social services and assist with people’s quality of life.

The Community Council (CC) appointed Michael McKay (T: 07831895394) as the snow clearing Coordinator on the understanding that he would make a judgement based on need and observation as to the extent and quality of additional snow clearing required.  A local person with extensive experience of snow clearing work, contacts with other local contractors and an excellent working knowledge of the local area e.g. local place names, routes and locations prone to drifting etc, it was agreed that the Michael would contact local contractors as required to carry out a pre – arranged package of clearing work. 

The CC unanimously agreed in February 2015 that Michael was doing a very good job as Co-ordinator, and that he had the Community Council’s support to make any judgments regarding snowclearing he felt necessary, including the clearing of junctions.

The CC has agreed a simple 10 point protocol for ongoing management of the snow clearing scheme::

1. Snow clearing in Strathdearn is not an exact science and this scheme is intended to be applied when conditions extend beyond what is considered ‘normal’. The CC has agreed the scheme will have to rely on the trust and judgement of the Coordinator and local contractors.
2. The CC will support the coordinator’s judgement as to how, when and what standard priorities are met and the best form of action.  
   
3. Snow clearing under the CC scheme is ADDITIONAL to that provided by Highland Council who will still be encouraged, along with BEAR Scotland on the A9, to provide the best service they possibly can and to which tax payers are entitled.
4. Community members will have to understand, in the event of a deep covering of snow, it will take a day or two to get the CC snow clearing scheme under way.
5. All individuals in the community will NOT have an automatic right to snow clearing help as the scheme is intended to target locations which benefit the majority (junctions, bus stops etc) and thereafter less physically able or vulnerable members of the community (elderly, infirm or ill etc) who may need help clearing a safe access to their fuel supply, outside shed, garage, drive way etc. The CC has agreed with the Coordinator a provisional pre – arranged list of locations and has identified some of the more vulnerable members of the community who would benefit from the scheme. This list can be altered as required, should new or amended deserving situations come to light and vulnerable persons requiring help can phone Michael direct on 07831 895 394.   (5a)  On 10th February 2015 the CC further agreed that when a wedding or funeral is held at Dalarossie Church in wintry conditions, the clearing of the field and paths to the Church be added to the CC Snowclearing Scheme.
6. Emergency help (access for ambulances etc) would be given priority as required.
7. The able bodied in the community will be expected to help themselves and others to a reasonable extent. However…
8. Once these priorities have been satisfied additional help (plough, digger etc) may be made more available to individuals with reasonable requests. The Coordinator would consider such applications and some charges may be applied. In the interests of transparency, pre agreed hourly rates for snow clearing by machine, snow clearing by hand and gritting or salt spreading will be made publically available as will contractor hours. (Currently daily rates for clearing at £25/hour for machine plus driver and £14/hour for hand work if required have been agreed.)
9. Funding for the Coordinator and snow clearing contracting work will be provided by the Strathdearn Charitable Trust up to a pre agreed limit. The Coordinator and contractors will bill the SCCT Administrator at the end of the month in which the work was undertaken.
10. Until further notice contractors will supply their own Public Liability Insurance and use their own machinery and equipment. 

(Updated 8 February 2019)

Visit 14

Date : Thursday 31st January 2019

Weather : Temp -8.5°C, Dry, sunny.

Principal Contractor : Compass Building & Construction Services Ltd
Site Manager : Robbie Tewnion & Jake Reid

Time Lost : 3   days lost to wet trades (3rd Dec 0°C, 4th  Dec -1.5°C,  & 5th  Dec -7°C)
Compass to quantify any recent lost time due to temperature.

Site Personnel

1   Site Manager +   1   Trainee Site Manager
0   Pre cast installer
1   Crane
4   Glulam Erection Squad
0   Groundworkers
0   Concrete Squad
0   Brick laying squad
0   Site Engineer

Sub Contractors Appointed

Shane MacLennan : Groundworks
Scotframe : Kit supply & design
Glulam Solutions : Kit and glulam erection
FP McCann : Precast concrete supply & install.
C   MacPhee : Bricklayer
Gartec : Lift supplier & installer.
Andrew Cowie : Concrete slab installer
FP McCann : Precast Conscrete

Activities on site

Bolt pads have been stripped and Pads have been put back over the bolts to keep the pockets clean and free of debris.

The 1st lift of blockwork forming the stair enclosure has been built. Low temperatures are hampering progress on site. Compass are looking at an alternative to the concrete blocks and cap slabs above 1st floor. An amendment to warrant will be required due to proposed change in fire proofing the stairwell.

The GF Slab has been poured and is complete. Much of the slab is covered in snow and ice however it was noted that the areas of exposed slab are suffering from a  degradation of the surface. Possibly due to low temperatures overnight after the pour. See photos below. Proposals required from Compass as to how the issue will be rectified.

The 1st delivery of Glulam materials has arrived on site. Low temperatures and ice underfoot have made the site unsafe. All the bolts are frozen solid in the cones. Between the frozen bolts and ground conditions the PC has deemed works on site too unsafe to proceed until temperatures rise. Materials were offloaded and works halted till w/c 4th February.

Carpark upfill is ongoing.

Upcoming Activities

Complete escape stair blockwork and cap slab.

Glulam deliveries will progress as works get going.

Blockwork construction to stairwell is on the critical path since the cap slab needs to go on before glulam is installed. Design works for the revised stair wall and capping detail are ongoing and proposals are awaited. This will now be installed after the glulam frame has been built.

Progress car park works.

• The full report includes photos, tables and diagrams which can’t easily be separated from their original PDF format. Click HERE to view the full report.
• An archive of these construction updates is available HERE.

Construction company Compass have applied for permission for roadworks in Tomatin beginning 18th March. This is to allow drainage work to be done and connections to the sewer system from the new community hub.

(1) From the hall to Old Mill Rd junction : Traffic lights will be installed and vehicles will be restricted to a single lane. Beginning 18th March, scheduled for 3 weeks.
(2) From top of Shop Brae to water treatment plant :  Road closure, traffic detoured via Raigbeg. Beginning 18th March, scheduled for 2 weeks.

It is hoped the works will be completed in shorter time periods than above, but provision has been made for unforeseen delays.