Concerns raised over public safety near Islay construction site
The condition of a “precarious” wall near a construction site on Islay has sparked safety concerns.
Councillor Alastair Redman (Independent, Kintyre and the Islands) has reported the concerns of residents to Argyll and Bute Council, saying that additional fencing which was promised to make the site safer has not been delivered.
According to Councillor Redman, the stone wall lining a pathway next to the housing development at Port Charlotte has been “undermined by construction work” and “poses a serious risk of collapse”.
The construction site is being managed by a housing association, in partnership with the council.
A spokesperson for the authority said that site managers had been contacted and confirmation received that work was in progress.
Councillor Redman said: “I am writing to you on behalf of my constituents who have raised significant concerns regarding the safety and condition of the wall, pathway, and drainage systems in Port Charlotte, specifically in the area surrounding the construction site.
“Despite prior assurances from the planning department that additional Heras fencing would be installed to make the area safe, this has not occurred.
“Instead, a rudimentary solution involving white twine tied around traffic cones was implemented, which is insufficient and fails to ensure public safety.
“Pedestrians, including vulnerable groups, have been observed walking through the cones, exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.
“Further compounding the issue are drainage problems caused by construction activities. The road drain at the bottom of the road leading to Daal Terrace is blocked, causing water to spout from the pipes.
“This obstruction has led to water pooling at the corner of the main road, softening the ground, collapsing kerbs, and cracking the pavement. These conditions pose additional hazards to pedestrians and motorists alike.”
Councillor Redman added: “This matter has already been outstanding for over four weeks and the lack of progress is unacceptable. I urge you to treat this as a priority and provide a clear timeline for rectifying these issues.
“My constituents and I would appreciate an update on the planned course of action at your earliest convenience.”
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “We have contacted the site managers to remind them of the requirement to install appropriate fencing and address the drainage issues as a priority.
“The footways should be inspected and any safety issues addressed immediately, and we would expect that permanent repairs are made before the end of the project. They have confirmed that this is being progressed.”
A spokesperson for Macleod Construction Ltd, said: “The wall adjacent to the housing site in Port Charlotte has been removed. The removal was initiated as soon as the relevant permissions were granted.
"Our focus remains on building vital housing for the Islay community and creating much needed jobs and training opportunities through these projects.”
Councillor Redman gave an update last week (Wednesday January 8) to say that a contractor had advised that the wall would be taken down.
The contractor said the existing footpath would be closed from Saturday January 11 onwards and the new footpath will be open to allow the wall to be taken down, which should take a maximum of a week.
They added that someone would be on hand to ensure safe passage for pedestrians during the works and the ground between the old and new walls would be graded to remove any remaining risk while they work with planners for a permanent solution.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson confirmed that this work had been agreed upon, adding: “Building Standards has directed the contractor to install Heras fencing along the entire length of the wall.
"This ensures there is no unauthorised access in the area of the defective wall until the wall is taken down and the area made safe."
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