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The Grouch - August 06

The wastewater treatment works and both pumping stations on the north side of the Tay around Weem and Boltachan are almost complete. The Weem Environmental Improvements Scheme had some problems along the way, to put it mildly, some of which we have chronicled in Comment.

There have been over 2500 metres of new sewer laid and just the final connections to the many properties will be made once the main sewer is “live”. That was the glad news sent out by Scottish Water to house holders just recently but, the bad news came in the very next paragraph.

“Unfortunately” at this stage we are experiencing problems with the installing of permanent power into our pumping stations, and this may not be resolved for some time. We have looked at the possibilities of a temporary power supply by way of large generators but this is not feasible due to excessive costs involved. As a public company we cannot justify this expenditure and therefore we intend to carry out the final drainage connections after the power has been installed. Although we will be scaling down the workforce, please be assured that we remain committed to our obligations of completing reinstatement works etc.

“Hopefully this will cause a delay of only a few months and we thank you for your patience and understanding. We will of course ensure that you are updated on any further developments.”

That letter caused howls of disbelief among the natives. Now the betting on November as the final completion date is even looking unlikely, with 2007 a better bet. The folk can’t wait to find out what the “further developments” will be. Could it be that Alfred McAlpine Infrastructure Services will admit to another cock up in that their “planners”  forgot to advise the electicity supplier in time for them to lay in new power connections? I doubt it.

Oh, and the diggers have been in action again on the road between the Weem and the Ailean Chraggan Hotel. One-way traffic systems, big holes, rock drilling machines, tons and tons of infill stones, access tracks closed off, more dust, and of course the NOISE. As for the final cost to the public purse (originally priced at £1.5 million) poor planning and management could have doubled the price: I wonder if our political servants, or are they masters, will ask the searching questions?

Now for a prediction! Because the water pipes serving the citizens of the area are ancient and fragile’ as the all too frequent bursts over the last year have shown, replacement must be imminent. Work could start early in 2007 and all the roads and tracks around Weem will be dug up, yet again, to lay pipes alongside the new sewage pipes. Comments should be addressed to Scottish Water Solutions, “Making It Clear, Investing In Quality”, Alba Campus, Rosebank, Livingston, EH54 7HH with copies to Alfred McAlpine.

Getting the message across

All that - and the hot, hot summer - has really got this grumpy old fellow sweating. I tried to get a parking place in Pitlochry just the other day to drop off a parcel at the Post Office. Despite the thronging tourists, there were spaces available, but not enough to get my wee car into. Inconsiderate drivers had taken up much more of their share by leaving unnecessarily big spaces between cars.

 I thought I might park so tight up to one bumper that the driver would be trapped. But that would be childish so, I am printing off stickers to place under offending driver’s windscreen wipers saying, “Please park thoughtfully and leave space for others.”

While I am on my high horse, I’d like to catch hold of the louts who have been leaving their picnic rubbish all over the river banks and other beautiful places. I’d like to stick a message or two on their backsides.